Title: Petition of Lyde Griffith, 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.00570
TEI/XML: cww.00570.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, Lyde Griffith of Montgomery County State of Maryland by this his petition in writing, represents and states, that he 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 two person of African descent of the name of Mary Washington and Romulus Washington for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Mary Washington was of the age of fifty five years and the said Romulus Washington was of the age of about thirteen years and of the personal description following:(1) the said Mary is of a dark Copper Color rather stout and fleshy, and the said Romulus Washington is of a dark Copper Color and about Medium Size
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) I purchased the said Mary Washington of a Mr George Mearing of Carroll County Maryland the 11th day of April 1844 for the Sum of one hundred and ninety dollars which will more fully appear by bills of Sale hereunto annexed the said Mary was purchased by me at the request of her husband
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons were
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of nine hundred dollars in money.(3)that is to say the said
Mary was worth one hundred Dollars and the said
Romulus was worth eight hundred Dollars. Few person
of her the said Marys age enjoy better health than she
does
Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that he 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 he has not brought said persons into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons were
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 his said claim to the service or labor of said persons 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said persons 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.
Lyde Griffith
Sold to Mr George Maring a colored woman by the name of Mary Washington about thirty five years of age for the sum of Two Hundred Dollars to serve as a slave for life in the state of Maryland
Abrm Crapster
Know all men by these presents, that I Abraham Crabster of Frederick County and State of Maryland for the consideration of the sum of two hundred dollars current money, to me in hand paid by George Mearing of Fredk of Carroll County and said State, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, have granted, bargained, sold and delivered, and by these presents, do grant, bargain, sell and deliver unto the said George Mearing my negro Slave Mary, which said Slave Mary I will warrant and defend to the said George Mearing his executors administrators and against every other person or persons whomsoever. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty fifth—day of March—in the year eighteen hundred & forty two
Abrm Crapster seal
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of
Received this 11th day of April 1844 of Lyde Griffith of Montgomery County and State of Maryland, his note of hand for one hundred and ninety dollars for the entire rite of negro Woman Mary alluded to in the above Bill of Sale which when paid will be in full of claims in relation to the same.
George Mearing
Abraham S Crabster
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Lyde Griffith 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.
Lyde Griffith
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 29 day of May A. D. 1862.
D. Rowland
Justice of the peace
Elisha J Hall
Jahoness Owen
Elisha J. Hall
Jahoness Owen
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.
