Title: Petition of Virginia S. Wood, 21 June 1862
Date: June 21, 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.00749
TEI/XML: cww.00749.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, Virginia S.
Wood of Washington
County, Dist Cola. by this her petition in writing, represents and states, that she 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 Sarah Jones a
person of African descent of the name of for and during the life of
said Sarah Jones, and that by
said act of Congress said Sarah
Jones 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 Sarah Jones was of the
age of forty five years, and of the personal
description following:(1)
Dark brown woman, [height 5 to 6?] having several scars on her right shoulder from [Biles?]
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Sarah Jones in manner following:(2) By purchase for her by her Father the late Robert S. Wood, from Joseph S. Donovan, on the 7th day of October 1851, for the sum of $500, as will appear by a receipt herewith exhibited—
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Sarah Jones was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Five hundred dollars in money.(3)Said Sarah Jones is a good cook, washer & Ironer, has been in the family since I purchased her and is perfectly honest and trustworthy—I know of no moral, mental or bodily defects or infirmities of the said Sarah Jones.
Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she 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 she has not brought said Sarah Jones into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Sarah Jones 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said Sarah Jones 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said Sarah Jones 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.
Virginia S. Wood
Received of Miss Virginia S. Wood Five Hundred Dollars, being in full for the purchase of a NEGRO SLAVE named Sarah about thirty five years of age the right and title of said Slave I warrant and defend against the claim or claims of all person or persons whatsoever; and likewise warrant her sound and healthy, and Slave for Life.
Joseph S. Donovan SEAL.
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Virginia S. Wood, 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.
Virginia S. Wood.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 21st day of June A. D. 1862.
H. Naylor J. Peace
Petition
of
Miss Virginia S. Wood
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.
