Title: Petition of Eliza Jenkins, 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 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.00628

TEI/XML: cww.00628.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, Eliza Jenkins of the District of Columbia by this her 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 six persons of African descent of the names of Susan, Alice, Mary, Laura, Susanna and James for and during the life lives of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons 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

  • Susan was of the age of thirty five years and of the personal description following:(1) dark copper colored woman about five feet two inches in height—
  • Alice dark copper colored girl twelve years old four feet seven inches in height—
  • Mary girl eight years old about five feet one inch in height—
  • Laura dark copper colored girl seven years old three feet eight inches in height—
  • Susanna a girl five years old about three feet two inches in height
  • James black boy two years of age about two feet six inches in height—

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Susan was bought by petitioner in the year 1843 of Caesar Gantt of Prince George Co. Maryland—see Bill of Sale recorded in Record Office City Hall Washington D. C. Liber W. B. No. 103 folio 239—the other five named persons are Susan's children born while she was owned by petitioner

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 twenty two hundred dollars in money.(3)

  • Susan is a valuable house servant, a good cook, ironer and washer—valued at $600—
  • Alice is a strong and healthy girl, raised as house servant—valued at $500
  • Mary is a strong and healthy girl valued at $400—
  • Laura is a strong and healthy girl, valued at $300
  • Susanna is a strong and healthy girl—valued at $200
  • James is a strong and healthy boy—valued at $200
These persons are free from any infirmity either bodily, mental or moral

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 persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said [no handwritten text supplied here] was were 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 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 her 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)
her X mark Eliza Jenkins
Witness
H. G. Murray
 

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

I, Eliza Jenkins 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)
her X mark Eliza Jenkins
Witness
H. G. Murray

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 4th day of June A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
H. G. Murray J. P.—
628
Petition of
Eliza Jenkins
Filed June 5, 1862
Witnesses
Rezin Arnold
Ezekiel Simpson
near Good Hope Wash. Co. D. C.
 

Know all men by these presents that I Caesar A. Gantt of Prince Georges County in the State of Maryland for and in consideration of the Sum of Two hundred & fifty dollars current money, to me in hand paid by Mrs. Eliza Jenkins of the County of Washington in the District of Columbia, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge Have granted bargained sold and delivered, and by these presents to grant, bargain sell and deliver unto the said Eliza Jenkins my negro Girl named Susan about Sixteen years of age, which said Slave I will warrant and forever defend to the Said Eliza Jenkins her executors administrators and assigns forever as a slave for life, against me my executors and administrators and against all and every person or persons whatsoever & whomsoever.

In witness whereof I have   hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this Tenth day of July in the year Eighteen hundred and forty three.—


Caesar A. Gantt SS
Signed Sealed [illegible] In the presence of us
Hy Naylor
F. Y. Naylor

On this Tenth day of July 1843 personally appears Caesar Gantt party to the above & foregoing Bill of Sale & acknowledged the same to be his free act & deed and the negro Girl therein named to be the right & Estate of Eliza Jenkins, her Exersadmins​ or assigns forever

Acknowledged Before
Hy Naylor
J. Peace
 

Reacknowledged Before me this 30th August 1843


H Naylor
JPeace
 
628
Filed July 15, 1862
Paid
Caesar Gantt
To
Eliza Jenkins
Bill of Sale
10th July 1843
Recd​ 30th August 1843. to be recorded and the same day was recorded in Liber W. B. No. 103. Folio 239. one of the land records for Washington County in the District of Columbia and examined by—

Wm. Brent 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.

Transcription and encoding: Nima Najafi Kianfar, Janel Cayer, and Kenneth J. Winkle.