Title: Petition of Susanna G. Henshaw, 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.00591
TEI/XML: cww.00591.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, Susannah G.
Henshaw of Washington
City D. C. 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 Leonard
Taylor, Alexander Taylor and
Leonard Taylor Jr, person of African
descent of the name of
[no handwritten text supplied here] for and during the life of said Leonard Taylor, Alexander
Taylor, and Leonard Taylor Jr and
that by said act of Congress said Leonard
Taylor, Alexander Taylor and
Leonard Taylor Jr are hereby discharged and
freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at
the time of said discharge said Leonard
Taylor was of the age of Seventy years, Alexander
Taylor, about the age of Fifty
of the age of
Five years, and Leonard Taylor Jr
about Twenty Nine years of age and of the personal description
following:(1)
Leonard Taylor is about 5 feet 11
inches in hight of dark Copper Color, Alexander Taylor, about
5 feet 10 inches in hight, of Light Copper Color and Leonard Taylor Jr.
about 5 feet 10 inches in hight of light copper color
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Slaves in manner following:(2) Being the only legal heir to my mother's estate Mrs. Dorothy Wailes who died in the year 1846
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Slaves was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Two Thousand dollars in money.(3)
- Leonard Taylor is quite infirm and is subject to asthma
- Alexander Taylor is of intemperate habits.
- Leonard Taylor is a very valuable servant, no mental, moral or Bodily infirmities
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 Slaves into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Slaves 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 Slaves 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 slaves 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.
Susanna G. Henshaw
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Susanna G. Henshaw 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.
Susanna G. Henshaw
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 31 day of May A. D. 1862.
Wm R. Woodward clk
William Burrows Island
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.
