Title: Petition of William B. Robertson, 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.00710
TEI/XML: cww.00710.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 B. Robertson of Prince Georges County, State of 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 Lewis Cammel a person of African descent of the name of Lewis Cammel for and during the life of said Lewis Cammel and that by said act of Congress said Lewis Cammel was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Lewis Cammel was of the age of Twenty nine years and of the personal description following:(1) Dark Color, about Six feet high, Straight, Stout and well made
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Lewis Cammel in manner following:(2) By the Will of his Father John Robertson of Prince Georges County Maryland, (Extract of said Will is hereto annexed which will fully show your petitioners claim)
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Lewis Cammel was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $1500 dollars in money.(3)Your Petitioner further states that Said Lewis Cammel, was engaged and at work in the Anchor Shop, at the Navy Yard in the City of Washington, at the time of the passage of Said act of Congress, and that Said petitioner recd for his services at the rate of $300 per Year.
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 Person into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said [no handwritten text supplied here] 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 Person 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 Person 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.
W B. Robertson
Prince George's County Sct:
Item I give and bequeath to my Son William Basil Robertson, one negro man William, one negro man Lewis—
I William A Jarboe Register of Wills for the County and State aforesaid do hereby Certify that the foregoing is an extract from the last will and testament of John Robertson late of Prince George's County; deceased, bearing date November 19th 1847, and admitted to probate September 7th 1848, according to law and that the said Extract is Correctly copied from the Record now remaining in my office—
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of the orphans Court for Prince Georges County in the State of Maryland, this 29th day of May A. D. 1862—
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, [no handwritten text supplied here] 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.
W B Robertson
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th day of June A. D. 1862.
H. Naylor J.Peace
Wm. B. Robertson
R. W. Robertson
John Falkner
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.
