Title: Petition of Samuel C. Crawford, 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 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.00672

TEI/XML: cww.00672.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, Samuel C. Crawford of Prince George Co. Md 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 Two persons of African descent of the names of Jane West & Amelia Cross for and during the life lives of said Two persons and that by said act of Congress said Two 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 Jane West, was of the age of Thirty Five years, and of the personal description following:(1) Bright copper color woman, Five feet hight, large eyes & mouth,

Amelia Cross, was of the age of nineteen years, copper color woman, Five feet high, very long hair,
 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Two persons in manner following:(2) said women were the slaves of Mrs. Crawford, (my wife) at the time of our marriage about Fifteen years ago, Jane West, was willed to her by her Aunt about 25 years ago

Amelia Cross, is the child of Lucy Cross, willed to my wife by Thomas R. Cross, about Thirty Two years ago which will are Recorded in Annapolis Md,

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 Two thousand dollars in money.(3)

  • Jane West, is a good cook washer and Ironer, and honest Servant I value her at $800
  • Amelia Cross, is a good Cook washer, and Ironer, she has been in the family of Mr. McElfresh, for Eleven years, where she has given entire satisfaction I value her at—$1200
I know of no moral mental or bodily defects or infirmities in either of said servants they are perfectly sound & healthy

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 persons were held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor. x

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)
S C Crawford
 
Your petitioner further states that he is a Resident of Prince George County Md. but at the time of the passage of said Act, said persons were hired in the District of Columbia, where they have been hired for the past Eleven years, and were made free and manumitted by said act.
 

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

District of Columbia,
Washington County, ss.

I, Samuel C. Crawford, 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)
S C Crawford

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

(Signed by)
H. Naylor J. Peace
672
Petition of
Samuel C. Crawford
Filed June 12, 1862
Witnesses
George S. McElfresh [6th?] st
Mrs. McCormick Duff Greens Row

 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.