Title: Petition of Caroline E. Sanders, 3 June 1862

Date: June 3, 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.00616

TEI/XML: cww.00616.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, Caroline E. Sanders of the District of Columbia by this my 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 seventeen male and Female slaves as per the accompanying lists No. 1 & 2 fully described & valued persons of African descent of the name of John Dodson, Wm. Snoden, Sylvester Brooks, Edward Howard, Henry, Marie, Sallie, Henry Howard, Nelly Arnold, Jim Dodson, George, Frank Hepburn, Louis Adams, Tom, Jenny Hepburn, Fanny Wallace & Kate. for and during the life of said Slaves as described in the lists 1 & 2 herewith filed, and that by said act of Congress said seventeen slaves were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said slaves, seventeen in number were of the ages of mentioned in list numberd​ one (1) and of the personal description following:(1) in list numberd​ two (2) and were Mulattoes and Blacks in Color


Caroline E. Sanders
 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid services or labor of said seventeen slaves in manner following:(2) some by inheritance some by purchase and the balance reared from infancy, by herself. Such Bills of sale as are now in her possession are filed herewith. Bills are not required in Maryland or District of Columbia, as the mere delivery on payment is sufficient.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said seventeen Slaves was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $ 13.600— dollars in money.(3)as will be seen by list No. 2, as valued by my neighbors, both Gentlemen of the highest respectability and practiced Experts, being experienced Planters themselves. These Servants were such, as House Servants, cloachmen​, Teamsters, Florists & Gardeners and Farm Hands trained for years to their respective duties, and that she cannot now replace, and leaves her destitute of income.

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 seventeen slaves into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said seventeen 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 seventeen 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 seventeen 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.

(Signed by)
Caroline E. Sanders
 

List No. 1

John Dodson, aged 37 Wagoner 5 ft 8½ [Inch?]
William Snowden " 36 Carriage Driver 5 ft 6.
Sylvester Brooks " 24 Gardener 5 ft 11½
Edward Howard " 22 Ostler 5 ft 3½ [Inch?]
Henry— " 19 Field Hand 5 ft 1½
Maria— " 33— Cook 5ft 2 Inch
Sallie Wallis " 33 Sempstress 5ft 4 Inch
Henry Howard " 20 Nurse & chambermaid 5 ft 1½ Inch
Nellie Arnold " 50. Cook
Jim Dodson " 12. Waiter 4ft 4½ Inch
George " " " 10 4 ft 3— Errand boy
Frank Hepburn " 11 Waiter Errand boy
Louis Adams " 11 4 ft 4 Inch waiter
Tom Adams " 9 3 ft 10 Inch
2500
—do
Jenny Hepburn " 9 4 ft—
2900
4050
2600
—do
Fanny Wallis " 3 3 ft
1550
13600
Child
Kate " " 2 2 ft 4 In do
 

Received of Caroline E. Sanders the sum of four hundred Dollars, in full—for a negro boy Sylvester—whom I have this day sold to her a slave for life


Ann L Contee
 
$600/

Received of Mrs. Caroline E Fairfax six hundred Dollars in full for negro Boy Henry bought by her at the administrator's sale of Thomas [Duckite?] on the 23rd December 1855


John Contee
 
Printed and Sold by J. Robinson 117 Baltimore Street.

(Bill of Sale.)

Know all Men by these Presents, That I Richard Nicols Snowden of Anne Arundel Co and State of Maryland, for and in consideration of the sum of eight hundred Dollars lawful money of the United States, Cash in hand paid by Caroline E Sanders at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged: HAVE granted, bargained and sold, and by these present DO grant, bargain and sell, unto the said Caroline E Sanders her Executors, Administrators and Assigns, one negro man named William Snowden slave for life


R. Nicols Snowden
 
Appraisement of Mrs. C. E. Sanders servants by Two Gentleman May 2nd 1862
Theodore Mosher & Chas. Digges
make a copy for W Snowden
 

We, Theodore Mosher & Charles Digges, neighbors of Mrs. Caroline E. Sanders, having been requested by her to value the within described servants, seventeen in number, her property, & all slaves for life, recently emancipated by an act of Congress approved 16th April 1862, have fixed the rate and value of each one as set opposite their names, & amounting in the aggregate (for the Seventeen,) to Thirteen Thousand and Six Hundred Dollars

$13,600

Theodore Mosher.
Charles, Digges
 

List No. 2

John Dodson, aged 37 worth $1200
Wm Snowden " 36 " " 1300
Sylvester Brooks " 24 " " 1500
Edward Howard " 22 " " 1400
Henry—not bright " 19 " " 600
Maria " 33 " " 1000
Sallie " 33 " " 1000
Henry Howard " 20 " " 1200
Nellie Arnold " 50 " " 350
Jim Dodson " 12 " " 700
George " " 10 " " 600
Frank Hepburn " 11 " " 650
Louis Adams " 11 " " 650
Tom " " " " 9 " " 550
Jenny Hepburn 9 " " 550
Fanny Wallace 3 " " 250
Kate " " 2 " " 200
Total 17 Servants $13,600
 

[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]

I, Caroline E. Sanders 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.

(Signed by)
Caroline E. Sanders

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 31st day of May A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
John D. Clark J. P
616
Caroline E. Sanders
Filed June 3, 1862
C. Andrews
Theodore Mosher
Charles Digges


 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.

Transcription and encoding: Nima Najafi Kianfar, Janel Cayer, and Kenneth M. Price.