Title: Petition of Peter G. Washington, 16 June 1862
Date: June 16, 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.00680
TEI/XML: cww.00680.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, P. G. Washington 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 five persons of African descent of the names of
- 1 Lucinda Black
- 2 Louisa Gantt.
- 3 Georgiana "
- 4 Lucinda "
- 5 Sophia—"
- 1. Lucinda Black of the age of about sixty two years, mulatto, of medium complexion and delicate figure
- 2 Louisa Gantt, of the age of about thirty years, mulatto, of light complexion and delicate figure
- 3 Georgiana Gantt, in the eighth year of her age, mulatto of dark complexion,
- 4 Lucinda Gantt in the sixth year of her age, mulatto of dark complexion
- 5 Sophia Gantt about seven months old, mulatto, of dark complexion.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Upon the purchase of Lucinda in 1829 from one Graham, the property was conveyed to John M Berrien in trust for the benefit of Margaret M Washington wife of your petitioner and subsequently under authority reserved in the deed. Said Margaret directed, and said Berrien transferred the said property to petitioner, as will appear by the deed herewith filed. Louisa Gantt, is the child of said Lucinda and [no handwritten text supplied here] are the children of said Louisa.
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 1,500 dollars in money.(3) as follows, Lucinda Black altho always delicate but rarely sick is uncommonly smart and being a good cook & washer. I estimate as worth $100. Louisa Gantt is uncommonly bright intelligent reliable. Her value would be very great if her health was perfect. As the passage of the act she was much reduced in flesh by nursing her infant and probably by over work, and her condition now is not free from danger. Under these circumstances I estimate her value at 600$. Her three children are uncommonly bright healthy and promising. I estimate the oldest at $400, the next at 300$ and the youngest at 100$ At the passage of the act herein referred to I know of no defect in any of said mulattoes other than herein stated and believe none existed. Within the last ten days Louisa has been under treatment of Dr. Hall, who express some doubt whether she has not incipient bronchitis.
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 mulattoes into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said mulattoes were
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 mulattoes 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 mulattoes 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.
P. G Washington
This Indenture made this Twelfth day of September in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty nine, between
Philip Halbrook Nicklin of the City of
Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania
of the first part, Margaret Washington wife of
Peter G. Washington of the City of
Washington in the District of Columbia of
the second part, and the Honorable John Macpherson Berrien
also now of the City of Washington of the third part:
Whereas by deeds of Indenture bearing date on the Seventeenth day of July eighteen hundred and twenty Six between
Peter G. Washington and Margaret
his wife, Philip H Nicklin and Clement C
Biddle, the lands and tenements which were of the said
Margaret prior to her intermarriage with
Peter G Washington, in the District of
Northern Liberties in the County of
Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,
were conveyed to Philip H Nicklin of the City of
Philadelphia aforesaid, in trust that he would permit the said
Margaret Washington, notwithstanding her coverture to
receive the rents and profits of the said premises to her own use, and that the
receipts of the said Margaret should be good and
sufficient discharges to such person or persons as might be liable to pay the
same, and that the said Philip H Nicklin would convey the
said premises to such persons, and for such uses, and in such manner and form,
as the said Margaret might direct; as by reference to the
said deeds 
of record in the
said County of Philadelphia will more fully and at large
appear; And whereas, the sum of Three hundred and Sixty two dollars and fifty
cents, being part of the proceeds of the said trust estate thus payable to the
separate use of the said Margaret as aforesaid, has been
laid out in the negro slaves hereinafter described; that is to say, one woman
named Lucinda, about thirty [damage] years of age and her male child about
fourteen months old, one girl named Ann about eight years
of age, and one girl named Kitty about Seven years of age:
And whereas the said Margaret has expressed a desire that
the said property shall be conveyed to the Honorable John Macpherson
Berrien under the [like?]
[trust?]. Now therefore this Indenture witnesseth that
the said Philip H Nicklin for and in consideration of the
premises and also of the sum of one dollar current money to him in hand paid at
or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt of which he doth
hereby acknowledge and by direction of the said Margaret
Washington, testified by her becoming a party hereto, hath
granted bargained and sold, and by these presents doth grant bargain and sell
unto the said John Macpherson Berrien his heirs and assigns
all and singular the several negroes herein before named and described. To Have
and to Hold the said negroes, to wit Lucinda and her child,
Ann and Kitty being slaves for
life, to him the said John Macpherson Berrien his heirs and
assigns 
to his and their own
proper use and behoof forever; In trust, nevertheless, to and for the uses
intents and purposes following, to wit: In trust that he the said John
Macpherson Berrien and his Heirs shall and will from time to time
and at all times hereafter, quietly and peaceably permit and suffer the said
Margaret Washington to have possess and enjoy the
several negroes before described, to and for her own free use and service and to
and for such other uses and purposes as she the said
Margaret shall please and think fit at her own free
will and pleasure, and upon this further trust and confidence that he the said
John Macpherson Berrien and his heirs shall and will,
convey, order and dispose of the hereby conveyed negroes, to such person or
persons, and for such uses and purposes, and in such manner and form as she the
said Margaret Washington, notwithstanding her coverture and
as if she were a feme sole, shall by any act or acts, deed or deeds in writing,
or by her last will and testament in writing, or by any writing purporting so to be, order, direct or appoint, and for default
of such order, direction or appointment, then to the right heirs of the said
Margaret, and upon no other trust, use, intent, or purpose whatever, provided
nevertheless and it is expressly agreed by and between the parties aforesaid
that the said John Macpherson Berrien may at any time
hereafter transfer and make over the trust hereby conveyed by a declaration in writing made
upon these presents, with the assent of the 
said Margaret Washington.
In testimony whereof the parties aforesaid have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first herein before written
Philip H Nicklin seal
Margt. Washington seal
Sealed and delivered in the presence of
[John W. Berrian?]
Clement C. Biddle
witnesses to the signature of P. H. Nicklin
Will. [Webb?]
P. G. Washington
witnesses to the signature of Margaret Washington
Be it known that on this Twelfth day of September Anno domini 1829, before me Clement C. Biddle, Esquire, Notary Public for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, residing in the City of Philadelphia, personally appeared Philip H Nicklin, of the said City of Philadelphia, party of the first part, named in the above and foregoing deed of Indenture, and in due form of law, acknowledged the same Indenture to be his voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes their contained.
In testimony whereof, I the said Notary Public have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the day and year last above written.
Clement C. Biddle
Notary Public.
On this Seventeenth day of September, Anno domini 1829 before us two justices of the peace in and for the County of Washington in the District of Columbia, personally appeared Margaret Washington, wife of Peter G Washington, party of the second part named in the above and foregoing deed of Indenture, and acknowledged the said deed or instrument of writing to be her voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein contained according to the true intent and meaning thereof.
P. S. Briscoe J. P.
Will. Webb J. P.
In virtue of the condition reserved in the last clause of this instrument of writing, I hereby authorize and request the Hon John Mcapherson Berrien my trustee therein named to transfer and convey the property mentioned and described to Peter G Washington, his heirs or assigned and hereby declare my full and free assent to such transfer and conveyance
Margaret M Washington
City of Savannah
By virtue of the power vested in me by this deed, and conforming to the request of Mrs Margaret Washington on the first page thereof inscribed, I do hereby assign and transfer to the within mentioned Peter G Washington his heirs and assigns all my right, titles, interest and estate of in and to the within mentioned negro slaves and in testimony thereof have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this sixth day of July one thousand Eight hundred and thirty nine
Jno. Macpherson Berrien
Acknowledged before me,
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, P. G. Washington 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.
P. G. Washington
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of June A. D. 1862.
N Callan JP seal
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.
