Title: Petition of William R. Birch, 17 June 1862
Date: June 17, 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.00702
TEI/XML: cww.00702.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, William R.
Birch of Alexa Co
Va 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 Lucy Honesty a person of
African descent of the name of for and during the life of
said
the period of twenty Eight years at the expiration of
which time she was to be free by will and that by said act of Congress
said Lucy Honesty has been
discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or
labor; that at the time of said discharge said Lucy Honesty was of the age of ten years and of the personal description
following:(1)
Lucy was very dark and of Clouded
person and possessed regular features and always had good health.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Lucy Honesty in manner following:(2) to wit She was given to my Wife by her mother Mrs Barbary Shrives by deed of gift from love and affection to her daughter about eight years ago Mrs Shrives acquired her right from the will of her sister Solony Swinks who formerly owned the mother of Lucy which will and deed of gift were duly proven and recorded in the Clerks office in alexandria va
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Lucy Honesty was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of nine hundred dollars in money.(3) Lucy had just come of an age to be very servisable either as a house servant or cook and had been well raised and trained to all the ordinary purposes of house keeping and if your petitioner had been disposed to have parted with Lucy for the term of Eighteen years or thereabouts he presumes that he could have got the full sum specified above—and I do aver that I have no knowledge of any infirmity or defect in Lucy what ever but believe her to be perfectly healthy and sound in body and mind.
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 Lucy Honesty into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Lucy Honesty was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor. for some years previous to the fore going act of Congress
Your petitioner further states and alleges, that his said claim to the service or labor of said Lucy Honesty 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 Lucy Honesty 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.
William R Birch
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, William R. Birch 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.
William R Birch
Sworn to and subscribed before me this "17" day of June A. D. 1862.
Wm R. Woodward clk
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.
