Title: Petition of Leonard Harbaugh, 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.00698

TEI/XML: cww.00698.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, Leonard Harbough, of Washington City 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 four persons of African descent of the name of Henry DiggesSarah Prout and her two children Juliana and Rosa for and during the life of said persons 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 Henry was about twenty four or twenty five years of age—Sarah, about thirty, of the age of Juliana between five and six, and Rosa about two years of age— and of the personal description following:(1)

  • Henry is a dark brown—about five feet eight inches in height, strong and well built—with a scar on his face caused by a burn when he was a child—
  • Sarah is a little lighter than Henry in color—about the same height—rather slender—
  • Juliana and Rosa are both mulattos, and neither they or Sarah their mother have any particular marks which are now recollected—

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) He acquired Henry and Sarah in right of his Wife by marriage and Juliana and Rosa children of Sarah have been born while their mother was in servitude

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 Twenty Seven hundred dollars in money.(3) Henry—is strong, sound & healthy, quite intelligent—can read and write—a capable and willing house servant—Sarah is a good cook, steady and industrious—can read—both Henry & Sarah are perfectly honest and good tempered—Juliana and Rosa are perfectly sound and very promising—Your petitioner avers that neither of said persons have any moral mental or bodily defect or infirmity which should impair the value of his claim.

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 or either of them 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 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)
Leond Harbaugh
 

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

I, Leonard Harbaugh 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)
Leond Harbaugh.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16 day of June A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
Chas Walter J. P seal
Harbaugh 698
Leonard Harbaugh
Filed June 17, 1862
J P. Harbaugh.
Dr. Johnson Elliott
B & B


 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.