Title: Petition of John P. Wheeler, 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 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.00610
TEI/XML: cww.00610.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,
John P. Wheeler
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 time of the passage of the said act of Congress, held
a claim to service or labor against three
persons of African descent of the name of
Sarah Ann Offutt and her two children,
Robert and James Wesley
for and during the life of said persons and
that by said act of Congress said persons are
discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or
labor; that at the time of said discharge said persons
were of the ages
of
following, Sarah Ann Offutt forty
seven, Robert, sixteen and James
Wesley, seven; and of the personal description
following:(1)
Sarah Ann Offutt, of medium stature, rather dark, of
good countenance, and pleasant when spoken to; Robert
is of very dark color, good features, and well grown for his age;
James Wesley is also very dark, and well featured,
and for a more particular description, I would refer to a personal
inspection of them.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons of African descent in manner following:(2) that is to say, by purchase at public sale of the mother to retain her in the family, and the children were born to her since the purchase, that your petitioner purchased the mother of the Administrator of Thomas F. W. Vinson, late of Montgomery County Md, deceased, in the year 1843, and paid about four hundred dollars for her, and has no written evidence of his title, possession having been delivered of her to him—
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of fifteen hundred dollars in money.(3) Sarah Ann Offutt, the mother, is a good cook, ironer, and washer, and is honest, and faithful, and good tempered, and the children partake of the good qualities of the mother, that your petitioner knows of no defects, calculated to impair this value—
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 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 value 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.
John P. Wheeler
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, John P. Wheeler 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.
John P. Wheeler
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 2nd day of June A.D. 1862.
Wm. R. Woodward clk
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.
