Title: Petition of Caroline McAlister, 23 June 1862
Date: June 23, 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.00753
TEI/XML: cww.00753.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, Caroline McAlister of Washington City 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 one person of African descent of the name of Rachael Edmonston for and during the life of said Rachael and that by said act of Congress said Rachael is discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Rachael was of the age of thirty eight years and of the personal description following:(1) about 5 ft in height—dark complexion and stout built.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Rachael in manner following:(2) By inheritance from her father, by whom Rachael was raised from childhood—he having purchased her of the estate of [Mrs?] Nancy Middleton of Montgomery Co Md; Of which facts she can obtain good and sufficient oral testimony but knows of no other evidences within her reach.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Rachael was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Six hundred dollars in money.(3) With the exception of the effects of a burn on her left hand causing the stiffness of one finger I know of no physical defects that detract from Rachael's value as an able bodied servant—Nor do I know of any qualities of mind or body which render her in any way peculiarly valuable, or otherwise.
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 Rachael into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Rachael 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 Rachael 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 Rachael 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.
Caroline McAlister
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Caroline McAlister 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.
Caroline McAlister
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20thday of June A. D. 1862.
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
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.
