Title: Petition of Nancy Allnutt, 2 June 1862
Date: June 2, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 4. The original document is held in the Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, 1775–1978, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 217.6.5. Within the National Archives' Archival Description Catalog, see ARC Identifier 4644616 / MLR Number A1 347 (http://arcweb.archives.gov).
Civil War Washington ID: cww.00568
TEI/XML: cww.00568.xml
PETITION.
To the Commissioners under the act of Congress approved the 16th of April, 1862, entitled "An act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia."
Your Petitioner, Nancy Allnutt of Montgomery County State of Maryland by this her petition in writing, represents and states, that she is a person loyal to the United States, who, at the time of the passage of the said act of Congress, held a claim to service or labor against one person of African descent of the name of Aquilla Butler for and during the life of said person and that by said act of Congress said Person was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said person was of the age of forty seven years and of the personal description following:(1) Dark Copper Color well Built healthy and able Bodied five feet nine inches high
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said person in manner following:(2) under a distribution of the personal estate of her Father John Allnut who died on the 11th day of October 1836 in Montgomery County State of Maryland and she herewith files the evidence from the register of wills of said County that the said Aquilla Belonged to her Later Father and that she is one of the heirs
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said person was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of eight hundred dollars in money.(3)She represents that said person is healthy active and of industrious habits and that she hired him in Washington to great advantage to herself Said person has no defects or infirmities either Mentally Morally or Bodily to the best of your petitioners Knowledge
Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she has not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.
And your petitioner further states and alleges, that she has not brought said person into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said person was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.
Your petitioner further states and alleges, that her said claim to the service or labor of said person does not originate in or by virtue of any transfer heretofore made by any person who has in any manner aided or sustained the present rebellion against the Government of the United States.
And your petitioner prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of her said claim to the service or labor of said person herein above set forth; and if the same be found to be valid, that they appraise and apportion the value of said claim in money, and report the same to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, in conformity to the provisions of said act of Congress.
Nancy Allnutt
I hereby certify that negro Aquilla aged twenty one years was appraised as a part of the property of John Allnutt late of Said county deceased and returned and admitted to file by the Orphans' Court of the County aforesaid on the 21st day of March 1837 as by the records appears, and that Nancy Allnutt appears in the final account of the administrator as one of the heirs of said deceased.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 22nd day of May 1862
John W. Spates Register Wills for Monty. Co. Md.
I Rebecca Allnutt of Montgomery County in the State of Maryland after being Sworn deposeth and saith that Aquilla belonged to my Father John Allnutt a Slave for Life that my Father died on the 11th day of October 1836 Leaving no will that their was no sale of the personal estate that the property was divided amongst the heirs of my Father and that my sister Nancy Allnutt received Aquilla as part of her proportion of the personal property of my Late Father John Allnutt
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 27th day of May 1862
Henry N. Harris J.P
I hereby certify that Henry N. Harris Gentleman before whom the aforegoing affidavit was made and whose genuine signature is thereto subscribed was at the time thereof one of the State of Maryland's Justices of the peace in and for Montgomery County duly commissioned and sworn
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court for said County this 29th day of May A. D. 1862
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
I, Nancy Allnutt being duly sworn, do depose and say, that all the several matters and things which are set forth and stated in the foregoing petition, as of my own knowledge, are true in substance and in fact; and that all the several other matters and things therein set forth and stated, as from the information of others, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.
Nancy Allnutt
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27th day of May A. D. 1862.
Henry N. Harris J. P
I hereby certify that Henry N Harris Gentleman before whom the aforegoing affidavit was made and whose genuine signature is thereto subscribed was at the time thereof one of the State of Maryland's Justices of the peace in and for Montgomery County duly commissioned and sworn
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court for said county this 29th day of May AD 1862
Nancy Allnut
Wm. Bryan
Ewd. Hall
Note (1.)-- Here describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each one separately.
Note (2.)-- Here state how the claim was acquired, when, from whom, and for what price or consideration; and, if held under any written evidence of title, make exhibit thereof, or refer to the public record where the same may be found.
Note (3.)-- Here state such facts, if any there be, touching the value of the petitioner's claim to the service or labor of the person, as may enhance the same, and also such facts, if any, touching the moral, mental, and bodily infirmities or defects of said person, as impair the value of the petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and conclude such statement with an averment that the petitioner knows of no other infirmities or defects of said person which impair the value of petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and that he believes none other to exist. If the petitioner specify no such infirmity or defect, then his statement touching the value of his claim should conclude with an averment that he has no knowledge of any such infirmity or defect.
