Title: Petition of Mary Queen and Elizabeth Queen, 5 June 1862

Date: June 5, 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.00627

TEI/XML: cww.00627.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 Petitioners Mary Queen, & Elizabeth Queen of Washington Co. D. C. by this their petition in writing, represents and states, that they are persons 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 Twenty Four persons of African descent of the names of Fendall Taylor, Charlotte Taylor, Frances Taylor, Louis Taylor, Rachel Taylor, Gabriel Taylor, Catharine Taylor Lloyd Taylor, Olivia Taylor, Mary Abbey Taylor, Andrew Price, Eveline Gutridge, Henry Gutridge Sally Gutridge, Virginia Gutridge Henrietta Gutridge, Charles Gutridge, Albert Gutridge, Francis Gutridge, Basil Gutridge, for and during the life of said persons Albert Bodely, Edward Bodely, George Bodely, Louisa Brooks, who were slaves until they arrive at the age of Thirty Five years, and that by said act of Congress said persons were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioners to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said

  • Fendall Taylor, was of the age of Forty seven years and of the personal description following:(1)Black man, Five feet Six inches high, hump shoulders, (valued at $800.)
  • Charlotte Taylor, his wife was of the age of Forty years, Five feet Two inches high, black woman, corpulent (valued at $500.)
  • Frances Taylor, was of the age of Twenty one years, Five feet Three inches high black woman, good personal appearance (valued at $800)
  • Louis Taylor, was of the age of Nineteen years, black man Six feet—high. (valued at $1200)
  • Rachel Taylor, was of the age of Seventeen years, black girl, Five feet Four inches high, stout, (valued at $80[0?])
  • Gabriel Taylor, was of the age of Sixteen years black boy, Five feet Eight inches high, stout, (valued at $1000)
  • Catharine Taylor, was of the age of Thirteen years black girl Four feet 11 inches high, (valued at $700)
  • Lloyd Taylor, was of the age of Ten years, black boy, Four feet Five (inches high) (valued at $600.)
    • </ul> <ul>
  • Olivia Taylor, was of the age of Seven years, black girl, Four feet—high, (valued at $300)
  • Mary Abby Taylor, was of the age of Five years Brown girl, three feet Seven inches high (valued at $300)
  • Andrew Price, was of the age of Thirty Three years, black man, Five feet Ten ¼ inches high, fine personal appearance (valued at $1200.)
  • Eveline Gutridge, was of the age of Forty Five years, chesnut​ color, Four feet Eleven inches high, (valued at $800)
  • Henry Gutridge, was of the age of Twenty three years, copper color man, Five feet Six inches high genteel looking (valued at $1200)
  • Sally Gutridge, was of the age of Twenty One years, copper color woman, Five feet One inche​ high, stout, (valued at $800)
  • Virginia Gutridge was of the age of nineteen years, copper color woman, Five feet high fine appearance (valued at $800
  • Henrietta Gutridge was of the age of Seventeen years, copper color woman Four feet Ten inches high, large eyes (valued at $800)
  • Charles Gutridge, was of the age of Fifteen years, copper color man, Five feet five inches high, (valued at $1000)
  • Albert Gutridge was of the age of Thirteen years, copper color boy, Four feet Ten inches high (valued at $1000)
  • Francis Gutridge was of the age of Eleven years, copper color boy, Four feet Seven inches high (valued at $800)
  • Basil Gutridge was of the age of Five years, copper color child, Three feet four inches high, (valued at $400)
    • </ul> <ul>
  • The man Albert Bodely, was of the age of Twenty Seven years Five feet seven inches high, Brown man, (term of service valued at $900.)
  • Edward Bodely, was of the age of Twenty One years, Five feet Two inches high, copper color, (term of service valued at $900.)
  • George Bodely was of the age of nineteen years, Five feet six inches high, copper color (term of service valued at $900)
  • Louisa Brooks, was of the age of, Twenty one years Five feet One and one half inch high, (term of service valued at $500.)

 

That your petitioner acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Fendall Taylor, Charlotte Taylor, and their Eight children Frances, Lewis, Rachel, Gabriel, Catharine, Lloyd Olivia and Mary Abbey, also Andrew Price, Eveline Gurtridge, and her nine children, Henry Sally, Virginia Henrietta, Charles, Albert, Francis, (Mary, now dead) and Basil, also Albert Bodely, (Lavinia Brooks set free) Edward Bodely George Bodely & Louisa Brooks, were conveyed to us by our Father, Nicholas L. Queen, about Five years ago, as by Bill of sale herewith filed will more fully appear, (the last four to be slaves until they reach the age of Thirty Five years as by will of John M. Wight, will appear. (The last four to be slaves until they reach the age of Thirty Five years as by will of John M. Wight will appear.

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 $19,000 dollars in money.(3)Charlotte Taylor, has had the scrofula, when young, she now in very good health, an excellent cook washer & ironer.

The other servants I believe to be sound and healthy, They are all strictly moral and honest, some of them practical members of the church, generally intelligent and capable to work and though the value of some may seem to be over estimated, it has been offered and refused, not wishing to part with them.
I know of no moral mental or bodily infirmities or defects in any of them, except Charlotte, who has been sick, but now seems to have good health,
 

Your petitioners hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that they have not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.

And your petitioners further states and alleges, that they have 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 wwere held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.

Your petitioners further states and alleges, that their 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 petitioners prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of their 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.

(Signed by)
Mary Queen
Elizabeth Queen
 

The last Will and Testament of John M. Wight recorded in the office of the Register of Wills Sept. 2nd 1819.

 
Nicholas L. Queen
to
Mary Queen &
Elizabeth Queen
Bill of Sale
Received 3rd October 1857.
To be Recorded and the same day was Recorded in Liber JAS no 137, folios 455, & 456, and of the Land Records as for Washington County in the District of Columbia and Examined by

Jno A Smith clk​
 

Know all men by these Present, That I, Nicholas L. Queen of the County of Washington in the District of Columbia, for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which I have for my daughters Mary Queen and Elizabeth Queen, of the County and District aforesaid, and the further consideration of the Sum of Five dollars, lawful money of the United States to me in hand paid by the said Mary and Elizabeth Queen, at and before the Sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt of which I do hereby acknowledge, Have granted, bargain and Sold, and by these presents, do grant, bargain and Sell and deliver unto them the said Mary and Elizabeth Queen, their Executors, administrators and assigns, the following negro Slaves, to wit: Fendall Taylor aged about Forty years, and his wife Charlotte aged about Thirty five years, and their Eight children, Frances aged about Sixteen years, Lewis aged about Fourteen years—Rachel aged about Ten years—Gabriel aged about Eight years—Catharine aged about Seven years—Lloyd aged about Five years—Olivia aged about three years—and Mary Abbey aged about six months—also Albert Bodely aged about Twenty two years—Edward Bodely aged about Seventeen years—and George Bodely aged about twelve years—Louisa Brooks aged about Sixteen years—  and Lavenia Brooks aged about Fourteen years—Sally Price aged about Sixty years—and Andrew Price aged about Twenty five years—Eveline Gutridge aged about Forty Years—and her nine children—Henry aged about Eighteen years—Sally aged about Sixteen years—Virginia aged about Fourteen years—Henrietta aged about Twelve years—Charles aged about Ten years Albert aged about Eight years—Francis aged about Six years—Mary aged about Four years—and Basil aged about Three months—and William Jones aged about nineteen years—To Have and To Hold all and singular the said negro Slaves above bargained and Sold or mentioned and intended so to be, unto the said Mary Queen and Elizabeth Queen, their Executors, administrators and assigns forever. And I, the said Nicholas L. Queen for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, all and Singular the said negro Slaves, unto them the said Mary Queen and Elizabeth Queen their executors, administrators and assigns against me the said Nicholas L. Queen, my heirs executors & administrators, and against all persons whomsoever, shall and will warrant and forever defend by these present. And all which said negro slaves, I, the said Nicholas L. Queen have this day put into the possession of the said Mary Queen and Elizabeth Queen—

 

In Testimony whereof, I, the said Nicholas L. Queen have hereunto Subscribed my name, and affixed my Seal this first day of October, in the year of our Lord, Eighteen hundred and fifty Seven—


Nicholas L. Queen seal

Signed, Sealed & delivered In the presence of


E. J. Middleton
Geo McHenry
District of Columbia,
County of Washington, To wit:

Be it remembered, that on this First day of October in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty Seven, before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the county and district aforesaid, personally appeared Nicholas L. Queen, who being personally well known to me as the person who executed the foregoing Bill of Sale, and acknowledged the Same to be his act and deed—

Acknowledged before and certified by—
E. J. Middleton J. P. seal
 

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

District of Columbia,
Washington County, ss.

We Mary Queen, & Elizabeth Queen, 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 our 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, We believe to be true in substance and in fact.

(Signed by)
Mary Queen
Elizabeth Queen

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 5th day of June A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
F. I. Murphey J. P.
627
Petition of
Mary Queen &
Elizabeth Queen
Refer to
E. J. Middleton
and
George McHenry
Filed June 5, 1862

 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.