Title: Petition of Jane E. Johns, 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.00760
TEI/XML: cww.00760.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, Jane E.
Johns of the State
of Maryland 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 six slaves persons of African descent of the name of Janus,
Nancy, Alice
Henry, Harriet,
Joanna for and during the life of said
Slaves and that by
said act of Congress said Slaves were
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 Slaves were
was of the age of [no handwritten text supplied here] and of the personal
description following:(1)
| Janus | 25 years of age | dark in color |
| Nancy | 23 " " " | Copper color |
| Alice | 1 " " " | Same color |
| Henry | 60 " " " | Same |
| Harriet | 55 " " " | Same |
| Joanna | 22 " " " | Mulatto |
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Slaves in manner following:(2) The fist five named as above, were inherited by her from her Parents and Brother of Charles County, Maryland, and the last named, Joanna, was the property of her husband Dr. Benjamin T. Johns late of said County.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Slaves was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of four thousand dollars in money.(3)the said servants being in good health, free from bodily defect known to me, three of them; viz, Janus Henry and Harriet being field and garden hands, and Nancy and Joanna being good house servants, Cook and Washers & Ironers. Nancy has a sore on one ancle.
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 Slaves
into the District of Columbia since the passage of
said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Slaves 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said Slaves 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 Slaves— 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.
Jane E. Johns
On leave granted by the Commissioners, servant Joanna was this day stricken from the list of slaves above named
J. Dent
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Jane E Johns 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.
Jane E. Johns
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 21st day of June A. D. 1862.
N. Callan JP seal
Jane E. Johns
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.
