Title: Petition of Lucretia R. Higgins, 11 June 1862
Date: June 11, 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.00654
TEI/XML: cww.00654.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, Lucretia R. Higgins of Washington D. C 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 one person of African descent of the name
of William Johnson for and during
the period of Nineteen years from the 17th day of
July 1847 for and during the life of said and that by said act of Congress
said William Johnson 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 William Johnson was of the age of twenty nine years and of the personal description
following:(1)
about five feet nine or ten inches high of a dark brown
color, and stout and well made.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said William Johnson in manner following:(2) he was purchased by the husband of your petitioner from Wm Veere Bowie adr. of R. S. Anderson on the 1st of November 1847—as appears from the Receipt hereto annexed
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said person was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of seven hundred dollars in money.(3)he is a first rate servant and yields your petitioner two hundred and sixty dollars per annum—
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 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 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 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said person 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.
Luretia R Higgins.
Thomas L. F. Higgins Sr.
To Wm Veers
Bowie, admr of R. S. Anderson.
1847 Nov. 1
| To one writing Desk | $1.99 |
| " Negro Boy Bill to serve as a Slave for about nineteen years from July seventeenth eighteen hundred & forty seven | 310.00 |
| $311.99 | |
| [illegible] By single heir of Thos Connelly & others— | 218.00 |
| $93.99 |
Received the above balance in full—As of Nov 1—1847—
George D. Spencer
John H. Johnson
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.
