Title: Petition of Andrew Wylie, 31 May 1862
Date: May 31, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 5. 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.00602
TEI/XML: cww.00602.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,
Andrew Wylie
of
Washington, D.C.
by this his petition in writing, represents
and states, that he is a person loyal to the
United States, who, at the holds at this date
time of the passage of the said act of Congress, held a claim to
service or labor against
Leanna Diggs a person of African descent of the
name of
Leanna Diggs
for and during the life of said
Leanna
and that by said act of Congress said
Leanna Diggs 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
Leanna was of the age of twenty one or thereabouts and of the personal description
following:(1)
A tall well formed very dark mulatto—
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Leanna Diggs in manner following:(2) by deed of trust executed & dated the 31st day of May 1862 from Judson Diggs, in trust for the persons therein expressed which deed has been filed in the Clerks office of the District—Petitioner has been audibly informed & has no doubt of the fact that said Judson Diggs of the date of the passage of sd act was the owner of said Leanna
That your petitioner's grantor's claim to the service or labor of said Leanna was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $1000 dollars in money.(3) —She being in the prime of life of good size, and sound in body and mind, and in all respects a first rate competent servant and is now the employ of Mrs. Kickoffer, of eight dollars per month wages.
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
Leanna Diggs into the District of Columbia since
the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage
thereof, said
Leanna Diggs
was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your
petitioner's claim to such service or labor.
the said Judson Diggs's claim to
such service or labor
Your petitioner further states and alleges, that his said claim to the service or labor of said Leanna 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 value of his said claim to the service or labor of said Leanna Diggs 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.
Andrew Wylie
Trustee &c
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Andrew Wylie 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.
Andrew Wylie
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 31st day of May A. D. 1862.
H Naylor J. Peace
Petition of Andrew Wylie trustee
one female slave named Leanna Diggs
Caleb Cushing
Kickoffer
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.
