Title: Petition of Laura V. Tayman, 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.00596
TEI/XML: cww.00596.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, Laura V Tayman of Washington 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 a certain person of African descent of the name of Steven Queen a Slave for and during the life of said person and that by said act of Congress said Steven Queen 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 Steven Queen was of the age of Fourteen Years and of the personal description following:(1) Light Brown Five feet high well formed, active an intelligent boy.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Steven Queen in manner following:(2) that is to say by inheritance from her Fathers (Wm W Cooksells) Estate and was brought to this City from Maryland in the year 1858, and is duly registered in the Office of the Register of the Corporation of Washington
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Steven Queen was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of one thousand dollars in money.(3)and that she has refused to dispose of said Steven at that price, that I could not have obtained a servant, at this price to give more entire satisfaction. Said Steven is strictly honest, and of excellent moral character, and your Petitioner knows of no mental or bodily infirmities to impair his value
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 Stephen Queen into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Steven 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 Steven 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 Steven Queen 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.
Laura V Tayman
other heirs sign here
Mary A. Cooksey
Sarah A A Cooksey.
Last will & testament
of
Marcus S.S. Waring
An Extract from the Will of Marcus S.S. Waring—late of Prince George's County, deceased.
Item I give and bequeath to my three Grand daughters, Laura Virginia Cooksey, Maria Angelica Cooksey & Sarah Ann Amelia Cooksey (daughters of Eleanor and William Cooksey) the following negroes viz: Barbara and Mary, both young Women & Sisters—also Betsey the child of Barbara, who together with their increase, to be equally divided between them share and share alike—Item I give and bequeath to my Grandson Richard Cooksey, my riding Horse, Saddle & bridle. Item I further desire that my son John L Waring, shall give my son Thomas Henry (should he return home) a good feather Bed and furniture, And Lastly I do hereby, constitute and appoint my sons Richard M. Waring and John L. Waring Executors of this my last will and testament, revoking and annulling all former wills by me heretofore made ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testament.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this tenth day of December, in the year of Our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Thirty eight.
Marcus S. S. Waring seal
Signed, sealed, published and declared by Marcus S. S. Waring the above named Testator as & for his last will & testament In the presence of us, who at his request in his presence & in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses.
Horo. C. Scott
Benjamin B. Hodges
Edwd. J. K. Scott
October 17th 1843
Then came Horatio C. Scott one of the subscribing
witnesses to the within will and solemnly confirmed, and also came 
Edward J. K. Scott and made oath on the Holy Evangely
of Almighty God, that they did see Marcus S. S. Waring
the Testator therein named sign and seal this will and heard him publish
pronounce and declare, the same to be his last will and Testament, that at
the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehensions of sound
and disposing mind memory and understanding, and that they together with
B. B. Hodge's the other subscribing witness
respectively subscribed their names as witnesses to this will in the
presence of the testator at his request and in the presence of each
other.
I William A Jarboe Register of wills for Prince George's County, in the State aforesaid do hereby certify that the aforegoing is a true and perfect extract of part of the last will and testament of Marcus S. S. Waring Late of said County, deceased, duly proven according to Law, and now upon Record remaining in my office
In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of the Orphans Court for Prince George's County this third day of December 1862
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Laura V Tayman 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.
Laura V Tayman
other heirs sign here
Mary A. Cooksey
Sarah A A Cooksey.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 22nd day of May A. D. 1862.
Jno. H Johnson, JP Seal
G P Nicholson JP Seal
A A County
Mary A & Sarah A. A. Cooksey
Petition
T. Rollins
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.
