Title: Petition of Peter C. Howle, 28 June 1862
Date: June 28, 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.00777
TEI/XML: cww.00777.xml
To the Commissioners appointed under the Act of Congress entitled "An act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia" approved April 16, 1862.
Your Petitioner, as administrator of the Estate of his late father Major Parke G. Howle, held at the time of the passage of the said Act of Congress a claim to service or labor against William Shorter; Ann Shorter wife of William; and Rebecca Shorter, daughter of the said William & Ann, persons of African descent and slaves for life, and states that by the said act of Congress the said persons were discharged and freed from all claim of your Petitioner to such service or labor.
Your Petitioner gives the following description of said Persons, William Shorter is about forty or forty two — years of age, of a dark brown
In view of the above, he is invaluable as a
first class servant about a gentlemans house or farm. I am not aware that he
has any physical defect. His health is very good.
Ann Shorter, wife of William is about William's age.— of a dark brown color She has been brought up as a family servant and is a very superior cook and understands the thousand and one things that make up the knowledge of a House Servant. She was raised by my Father. Has had seven children I am not aware that she has any defect in body or health further than her own statement that she is occasionally troubled with rheumatism.
Rebecca daughter of William & Ann is five years of age, of a dark brown color, is a smart active girl. She has no defect that I am aware of in body or health.
I estimate their value as follows which I consider a low valuation
- William Shorter worth one thousand dollars.
- Ann Shorter worth nine hundred dollars
- Rebecca Shorter worth five hundred and fifty dollars. Two years ago, as such servants were selling, I could have obtained a much higher price for them.
Your Petitioner further declares his allegiance to the Government of the
United States and that he has not born arms
against the
United States during the present rebellion, nor in any
way given aid or comfort thereto
Your Petitioner further declares that the above named persons were not brought into the District of Columbia after the passage of the above Act of Congress, and that at the time of the passage thereof, they were held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioners claim to such service or labor.
Your Petitioner further declares that his said claim to the service or labor of said 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.
P. C. Howle
June 23, 1862
County of Washington To wit
Subscribed and Sworn Before me this 28th day of June 1862
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
14th March 1850
Received of Parke G. Howle, his note for seven hundred & fifty Dollars dated 14th March 1850, payable in Sixty days, with interest from date, which sum when paid will be in full for the purchase of my servant man "William" who calls himself "William Shorter." The said servant I sell as a Slave for life, and which I warrant and defend as such, in witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 14th day of March 1850.
Edward Fenwick seal
Witness:
Peter C. Howle
Washington County, District of Columbia, to wit:
KNOW YE, That on the eighth day of August in the year of our Lord 1857 Letters of Administration of all and singular the goods, chattels, and credits, which were of Parke G. Howle late of Washington County aforesaid deceased, was, by the Orphans' Court of Washington County aforesaid, granted and committed unto Peter C. Howle of the County and District aforesaid the said Peter C. Howle having first entered into bond, with approved securities, for the faithful performance of the duties thereof.
WITNESS, William F. Purcell Esq Judge of the Orphans' Court of Washington County, District of Columbia, this twentieth day of June Anno Domini 1862
Moses Kelly
Register of Wills.
I, P. C. Howle 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 set forth and stated, as from the information of others I Believe to be true in substance and in fact.
P. C. Howle
Subscribed and Sworn to Before me this 28th day of June 1862
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
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 of labor in the District of Columbia.
Gentlemen
I ask permission to file this paper as a supplement to the Petition
filed by me June 28, 1862. As Administrator of
the estate of my late Father Major Parke G. Howle claiming
compensation for William Shorter, Ann
Shorter and Rebecca Shorter persons of
African descent, and slaves for life, freed by the passage of the said act, and
that it may form part of the same. Whereas in said petition & claim I have
inadvertently omitted to state for whose special benefit I have filed the same,
and as it seems to me proper that it should be so specified, although from the
language of the act it does not appear to be required. Now therefore by these
presents, I affirm that I have filed said petition & claim as administrator
aforesaid for the sole use & benefit of Augustine N. Y.
Howle, son & heir of the late Parke G.
Howle who has been absent for the period of some four or five
years or more and that I have not heard of or from my Brother the said
Augustine, directly or indirectly, for the period of
some four years, and that when last heard from he was in the State of
California, and further I have no reason to believe that he was
ever borne arms against the United States during the
present rebellion or in any way given aid or comfort thereto As evidence of his
absence I ask leave to submit the accompanying certificate of
John E. Norris
Esq. atty of Law in this City
Peter C. Howle.
Washington County To wit,
On this 12th day July 1862, personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in said District and County Peter C Howle, and made oath on the Holy Evangelly of Almighty God that the foregoing statement is true to the best of his knowledge and belief
Edgar H. [Baker?] J. P.
July 9th 1862
I hereby certify that Augustine N. Y. Howle a son and heir of the late Parke Howle deceased, has been absent and unheard of for the period of some four years. I have been engaged as Counsel in a proceeding relating to land in the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia, and could only bring him before the Court by order of publication, which was done. I understood at the time that he had last resided in the State of California.
John C. Norris
Attorney at law.
