Title: Petition of Thomas W. Williams, 7 June 1862
Date: June 7, 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.00646
TEI/XML: cww.00646.xml
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 Thos W Williams of Washington City 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 a certain person of African descent of the name of Henrietta Young, a slave for and during the life of said person, and that by said act of Congress said person was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Henrietta Young was of the age of forty four years, well built, of dark complexion, sprightly and active, and in height 5 feet 2 inches. That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Henrietta Young in manner following that is to say, by and through the bill of sale of John C Cook of this City, hereto annexed to this my petition.
April 23rd 1860
Received of Thos. W. Williams Five Hundred dollars in full for the purchase of negro woman Henrietta Young, which servant woman I warrant a slave for life
J. C. Cook
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Henrietta Young was, at the time of said discharge therefrom of the value of One thousand dollars in money She is an excellent House servant, good cook attentive, and obedient in every respect and possesses all the requirements needed in such a position, of good moral character, and your petitioner avers that he knows of no defects or infirmities other than her deafness, which however does not in any respect impair her value to me
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 same 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 person into the District of Columbia since the passage of said Act of Congress, and that at the time of the passage thereof said person 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 person 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 Henrietta Young, 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
T. W. Williams
County of Washington ss
I Thomas W Williams 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
T. W. Williams
On this 5th day of June AD 1862 personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the District of Columbia Thos W Williams, the person who signed the within petition, and made oath on the Holy eveangely of Almighty God, that the facts and particulars as are herein stated are true to the best of his knowledge and belief
W Thompson
Jas. A. Williams
&
George Copenhaven
of Washn D. C.
