Title: Petition of Rachel E. White, 13 June 1862
Date: June 13, 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.00674
TEI/XML: cww.00674.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, Rachel E White of District 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 certain persons of African descent of the names of Martha Nelson and her daughter Mary Jane Nelson for and during the life of said Persons and that by said act of Congress said Persons are 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 about thirty and nine years and of the personal description following:(1) Martha, dark complexion medium Size rather stoutly framed Mary Jane, Light Complexion
That your petitioner acquired Her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Persons in manner following:(2) Purchased Said, Martha, in Alexandria Va, of a Trader named Martin about the year 1852 Price paid Eight Hundred Dollars, Mary Jane daughter of Martha born after my purchase
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)Martha Twelve Hundred Dollars Mary Jane Eight Hundred Dollars, Martha is of very kind disposition pleasing in her manner first rate cook and valuable House Servant Mary Jane bright promising girl. "I know of no infirmities"
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 Persons 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 the 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.
Rachel E. White
City and County of New- York, ss.
I, HENRY W. GENET, Clerk of the City and County of New-York, and also Clerk of the Supreme Court for the said City and County, being a Court of Record, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That W. C. Relts before whom the annexed deposition was taken, was, at the time of taking the same, a Notary Public in and for the State of New-York, dwelling in said City and County, duly appointed and sworn, and authorized to administer oaths to be used in any Court in said State, and for general purposes; and that his signature [no handwritten text supplied here] thereto is genuine, as I verily believe.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said Court and County, the 12 day of June 1862
H W Genet
Clerk.
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
City and County of New York ss
I, Rachel E White 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.
Rachel E. White
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 12 day of June A. D. 1862.
W. C. Relts
Notary Public
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.
