Title: Petition of W. P. Clark, 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 6. 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.00612
TEI/XML: cww.00612.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, W. P. Clark, of District of Columbia 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 George Jenkins and Elizabeth Moore persons of African descent of the name of George Jenkins and Elizabeth Moore for and during the life of said George Jenkins and Elizabeth Moore and that by said act of Congress said George Jenkins and Elizabeth Moore 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 George Jenkins was of the age of twenty six years, and said Elizabeth Moore, of the age of forty one years and of the personal description following:(1)
- (1) George Jenkins is of a dark brown complexion, well proportioned, of an intelligent countenance, about five feet and eight & a half or nine inches in height, and perfectly sound and in good health when discharged from service.
- (2) Elizabeth Moore is of a very dark complexion, of sprightly movements, quite erect in stature, about five feet & four & a half or five inches in height, and sound and healthy in every respect.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons of African descent in manner following:(2) His claim was acquired by purchase, a written evidence of title which is enclosed accompanying the petition, stating the names of the persons, when acquired, from whom, and for what price—
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said George Jenkins & Elizabeth Moore was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $800.00 dollars in money.(3)The only facts that can be brought forward touching value of said persons are that I was repeatedly offered the above sum, before the act of Congress passed freeing them. I aver that there is no defect of said persons, either mentally, morally, or bodily.
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 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.
W. P. Clark
Bill of Sale, of
Negro,
Elizabeth Moore
to
Wm. P. Clark,
from
A H. Morehead.
I, A. H. Morehead of Washington City and District of Columbia in consideration of the Sum of two hundred and fifty dollars current money of the United States do hereby grant bargain and Sell, unto W. P. Clark of the City and District aforesaid, my Negro Slave Elizabeth Moore which Said Negro Elizabeth is at the date of these present aged about forty years, of dark complexion, and I further covenat that Said Negro Elizabeth is Sound and in good health, that I have a right to convey her, and I will hereby warrant and forever defend the title of the Said W. P. Clark to the Said Elizabeth Moore as Witness my hand and Seal this tenth day of February Eighteen hundred and Sixty two
A H Morehead Seal
Hugh Campbell
Bill of Sale of
Negro
George Jenkins
to
W. P. Clark
from
A. H. Morehead
I, A. H. Morehead of Washington City and District of Columbia in consideration of the sum of seven hundred dollars current money of the United States do hereby grant, bargain and sell, unto W. P. Clark of the City and District aforesaid, my negro slave George Jenkins which said negro, George Jenkins is at the date of these present aged about twenty-six years, of brown complexion, and I further covenant that said Negro George is sound and in good health, that I have a right to convey him, and I will hereby warrant and forever defend the title of the said W. P. Clark to the said George Jenkins as Witness my hand and seal this tenth day of February Eighteen hundred and sixty two
A H Morehead Seal
Hugh Campbell
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, W. P. Clark 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.
W. P. Clark
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 2d day of June A. D. 1862.
Wm. R. Woodward clk.
G. H. Clark
John H. Miller
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.
