Title: Petition of Daniel W. Middleton, 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.00762
TEI/XML: cww.00762.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,
Daniel W. Middleton
of
Washington City, District of
Columbia
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 six persons of African descent of the name of
Eliza Jane Berry and her three children,
James, John and Mary
Ann, and Clara Thomas and her child
Helen
for and during the life of said six persons
and that by said act of Congress said six persons
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
Eliza Jane Berry
was of the age of Thirty three years and of
the personal description following:(1)
Bright Mulatto woman four feet eleven inches high, of
ordinary size, having a full suit of long black hair and her upper front
teeth defective.—
- That the said James Berry was of the age of about three years and six months, and of the personal description following: A bright mulatto boy, with full suit of black hair.—
- That the said John Berry was of the age of about two years and six months, and of the personal description following: A bright mulatto boy, with full suit of straight black hair.
- That the said Mary Ann Berry was of the age of one year, a bright mulatto girl.—
- That the said Clara Thomas was of the age of about thirty years, and of the personal description following: a bright mulatto woman four feet, eleven & a half inches high, of ordinary size, having a mole on her upper lip, and a full suit of long black hair.—
- That the said Helen Thomas was of the age of about three years and of the personal description following: A bright mulatto girl having a full suit of black hair.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Eliza Jane and Clara in manner following:(2) by purchase of John P. Ingle Esqr., Executor of Edward Ingle decd about the month of July, Eighteen hundred and forty. That the said James, John, and Mary Ann are children of the said Eliza Jane—and that the said Helen is the child of the said Clara—all born whilst living with me in my family.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said six persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of $2500
dollars in money.(3)
- The said Eliza Jane Berry is a good cook, washer and ironer, and a good servant in every other respects, perfectly honest & reliable & is worth $1000.00.
- That the said Clara Thomas is in every respect a first rate house servant, perfectly honest and reliable and is worth $1000.00.
- The said Eliza Jane and Clara have been raised in my family since they were purchased by me, being then of the age respectively of Eleven and Eight years.—
- That the said James is worth $200.—That he said John is worth $100.—
- That the said Mary Ann is worth $50.—That the said Helen is worth $150.—
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 six persons
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and
that, at the time of the passage thereof, said six
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 six 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 six 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.
D. W. Middleton
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Daniel W. Middleton 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.
D. W. Middleton
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of June A. D. 1862.
F. I. Murphey, J.P.
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.
