Title: Petition of Richard L. Ross, 20 June 1862

Date: June 20, 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.00734

TEI/XML: cww.00734.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, Richard L. Ross of the city 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 19 (nineteen) persons of African descent of the names of Leonard Smith, Henrietta Smith, Lewis Smith, Alfred Smith, George Smith, Julia Smith, Thomas Smith, Henry Smith, Caroline Smith, Rosina Smith Andrew Smith, Sarah Hopkins, Eliza Hopkins, Hellen Hopkins, Charles Hopkins, Edgar Hopkins, Sallie (Sarah) Hopkins William Hopkins, and John Addison. for and during the life of said nineteen persons and that by said act of Congress said nineteen 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 Leonard Smith was of the age of sixty years and of the personal description following:(1) A dark brown colored man, medium height

  • That the said Henrietta Smith was of the age of fifty three years and of the personal description following: a dark brown colored woman, medium height.
  • That the said Lewis Smith was of the age of thirty three years, and of the personal description following; a dark brown colored man, medium height
  • That the said Alfred Smith was of the age of twenty seven years, and of the personal description following; a dark brown colored man about 5 ft. 9 in. high.
  • That the said George Smith was of the age of twenty three years, and of the personal description following; a dark brown colored man, about 5 ft. 7 in. high with a scar on one hand.
  • That the said Julia Smith was of the age of twenty two years, and of the personal description following: a dark brown colored woman, about 5 ft. 3 or 4 in. high.
  • The​ the said Thomas Smith was of the age of twenty years, and of the personal description following; a dark brown colored man, medium height, stout and well built.
  • That the said Henry Smith was of the age of fourteen years, and of the personal description following; a dark brown colored boy, medium height.
  • That the said Caroline Smith was of the age of thirteen years, and of the personal description following; a dark brown colored girl, medium height.
  • That the said Rosina Smith was of the age of eleven years, and of the personal description following: a dark brown colored girl, medium height.
  • That the said Andrew Smith was of the age of three years, and of the personal description following: a light brown boy, about 3 ft. high
 
  • That the said Sarah Hopkins was of the age of forty two years, and of the personal description following; a dark mulatto woman about 5 ft. 5 in. high
  • That the said Eliza Hopkins was of the age of eighteen years, and of the personal description following; a dark brown colored woman about 5 ft. 3 in. high.
  • That the said Hellen Hopkins, was of the age of seventeen years, and of the personal description following; a dark brown colored girl, about 5 ft. 3 in. high.
  • That the said Charles Hopkins, was of the age of thirteen years, and of the personal description following: a dark brown colored boy, about 4 ft 6 or 7 in high.
  • That the said Edgar Hopkins, was of the age of eleven years, and of the personal description following: a dark brown colored boy, about 4 ft. 4 in. high.
  • That the said Sarah Hopkins was of the age of six years, and of the personal description following: a dark brown colored girl, about 3 ft. 6 in high. She has an affection of the eyes.
  • That the said William Hopkins was of the age of eight months, and of the personal description following: a dark brown colored infant.
  • That the said John Adison, was of the age of thirty nine years, and of the personal description following, a black man about 6 ft. high stout and well built.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said nineteen slaves in manner following:(2) In the division of the estate of his father, the late Richard Ross of Montgomery County Maryland, the following slaves, Leonard, Henrietta, Lewis, Alfred, George, Julia, and Thomas Smith, Sarah Hopkins, and John Adison, were assigned to him by the late Nathan Lufborough executor, of which there is no written evidence, unless the said Nathan Lufborough executor, so stated it in his return to, and settlement with the Orphan's Court of Montgomery Co. aforesaid; and that, Henry, Caroline, and Rosina Smith, children of the above named Leonard and Henrietta Smith; Andrew Smith, child of the above named Julia Smith; Eliza, Hellen, Charles, Edgar, Sarah, and William Hopkins, children of the above named Sarah Hopkins, were born in the family of your petitioner

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said nineteen persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $17,100 dollars in money.(3)

  • The said Leonard Smith is a good farm hand and at the time of his discharge from service I was getting six dollars a month and his board for him Value, $400.00
  • The said Henrietta Smith is a good cook and house servant, and has considerable experience in monthly nursing. Value $500.
  • The said Lewis Smith is an excellent farmhand ans wagoner, and at the time of his discharge from service, I was receiving ten dollars a month and his board for him. Value $ 1.400
  • The said Alfred Smith is an excellent farmhand and at the time of his discharge from service I was receiving ten dollars a month and his board for him Value $1.500
 
  • The said George Smith is a good farm-hand, house-servant, and rough carpenter, at the time of his discharge from service I was receiving twelve dollars a month and his board for him. Value $1.500.
  • The said Julia Smith is a good cook, washer and ironer, and house servant Value $1.300
  • The said Thomas Smith is a good farm hand and wagoner, and at the time of his discharge from service I was receiving ten dollars a month and his board for him, Value $1.500
  • The said Henry Smith is a good farm hand, and manager of horses Value $1.000
  • The said Caroline Smith is a good cook and house servant. Value $800.
  • The said Rosina Smith is a good house servant. Value $700.
  • The said Andrew Smith is a sprightly healthy boy Value $250.
  • The said Sarah Hopkins is an excellent cook, washer and ironer, and house-servant Value $1.000.
  • The said Eliza Hopkins is a good cook, washer and ironer, and house-servant Value $1.200.
  • The said Hellen Hopkins is a good house servant, and washer and ironer Value $1.200.
  • The said Charles Hopkins is a good sized boy Value $900.
  • The said Edgar Hopkins is a good sized boy Value $800.
  • The said Sarah Hopkins has a scrofulous affection of the eyes and face. Value $100.
  • The said William Hopkins is an infant Value $50.
  • The said John Adison is a good farm hand and gardener Value $1.000

 
The above named persons are all family servants, and are perfectly honest and reliable—I know of no moral, mental, or bodily infirmities or defect, of the said persons, except the last named Sarah Hopkins, and perhaps Leonard Smith, who sometimes suffers with rheumatism, and Henrietta Smith, who has tetter on one or both hands.
The above named Leonard, Lewis, Alfred, George, Thomas, and Henry Smith, were at the time of the passage of the act of Congress, aforesaid, temporarily hired out of this District, in the ajoining​ County of Montgomery, State of Maryland, though held to service here, by your petitioner being a resident of this City, and being their home before the passage of the said act—
R. L. R
 

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 nineteen persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said nineteen 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 nineteen 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 nineteen 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)
Richard. L. Ross
 
734
Emancipation Commission Claim No ([no handwritten text supplied here])
Assignment and [Power?] by Richard L Ross in favor of Wm R Riley.
[illegible] file [Clerk?]
 
To Wm R Woodward Esq​ Clerk to the Commissioners of Emancipation
Sir:

You will please enter up to the use of Wm R Riley Esq​ the sum of ($209.11) to be paid out of any monies awarded me or my assigns by the Commissioners of Emancipation, on my application No 734 For Compensation for certain persons lately held to service by me, and Freed by Act of Congress. And I do hereby assign so much of my said claim against the United States, as will amount to the sum of $209.11 Two hundred & nine dollars & eleven cents to the said, Wm R Riley—for full value received. And the said Riley is hereby fully authorized and empowered to ask, demand, receive and receipt for the said sum, and in as full and ample a manner as I might or could do. And this power is declared irrevocable. And the Clerk will file this in my case.

Witness my hand ans seal this 28th day of Octr A. D. 1862


Richard. L. Ross

Witness the words "or my assigns" interlined before execution.


John. W. Dame
 

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

District of Columbia,
Washington County, ss.

I, Richard L. Ross 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)
Richard. L. Ross

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20 day of June A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
Wm R. Woodward clk​
734
Richard L. Ross
Filed June 20, 1862

 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: Janel Cayer, Nima Najafi Kianfar, and Kenneth J. Winkle.