Title: Petition of Theodore Wheeler, 12 June 1862

Date: June 12, 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.00667

TEI/XML: cww.00667.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, Theodore Wheeler of Washington, 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 three persons of African descent of the names of Elizabeth Smith, Lucy Smith and Martha Smith for and during the life of said time until they shall have attained the age of thirty five years each 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 persons were of the ages of nine, seven and two years respectively and of the personal description following:(1)

  • Elizabeth Smith, female, aged nine years dark brown color, medium size for her age, and quite healthy valued at $250.—
  • Lucy Smith, female, aged seven years, dark Mulatto, good size for her age and quite healthy valued at $200
  • Martha Smith—female, aged two years, dark brown color, well grown for her age—and quite healthy— valued at $50.—
No peculiar marks or scars about either of them—

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) by the purchase of their Mother from Thos. Burch of Prince Georges County, Maryland, as will more fully appear by Copy of Bill of Sale herewith filed—

 

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 five hundred dollars in money.(3)All of said persons are healthy, intelligent and quite likely without any defects or infirmities either morally, mentally or bodily about them or either of them—

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 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 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 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 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 his 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)
Theodore Wheeler
 
T. Wheeler
To
Thomas Burch.
Bill of Sale or Bonds, Recorded 19th March 1844. Liber W. B. No 107. page 122.

I have this day purchased of Thomas Burch (late of the City of Washington) now of Prince George County & State of Maryland his negro girl named Maria Ann (Called Smith) about eighteen years of age and her infant child a boy, the said Maria Ann and her issue to serve me until they shall respectively attain the age of thirty five (35) years, And I bind myself, my heirs executors and administrators not to sell or carry her or them out of the State of Maryland or District of Columbia under a penalty of eight hundred dollars.

Witness my hand and seal this eighteenth day of March 1844.


T. Wheeler seal
In presence of
Jos. H. Bradley
True Copy
Test
Jno. A. Smith, clk
 

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

I, Theodore Wheeler, 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)
Theodore Wheeler

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 12th day of June A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
Chas. Walter J. P. seal
667
Petition of
Theodore Wheeler
Filed June 12, 1862
Not Exd​. [9th Dec?]


 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.