Title: Petition of James W. McDaniel, 1 July 1862
Date: July 1, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 6. 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.00834
TEI/XML: cww.00834.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, James W. McDaniel of Washington DC 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 the following persons of African descent of the names of Jemima and Lucy Ellen McDaniel for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Jemima was twenty seven years of age and Lucy Ellen was of the age of eight and of the personal description following:(1)
- Jemima is a Brown complexion about four feet six inches high—
- Lucy is of a light complexion and about three feet high—
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) They were bought at a private sale from a negro trade in Alexandria Virginia—
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of twelve hundred dollars in money.(3)That is to say Jemima is valued at $1000 and Lucy
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 persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons 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 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 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.
his X mark Jas W McDaniel
Witness
N Callan
James Maguire
Received of James McDaniel One Hundred Dollars in Part pay for his wife Jemmima and child this the above date
Peter [Trisler?]
per
David G. Watkins
Washington, D.C.,
- Hon. N. H. SWAYNE, Judge Supreme Court of the United States.
- Hon. JACOB BRINKERHOFF,
- Hon. MILTON SUTLIFE,
- Hon. JOSIAH SCOTT, Judges of the Supreme Court of Ohio.
- Hon. WILLIAM V. PECK,
- Hon. WILLIAM Y. GHOLSON,
- Hon. R. P. SPALDING, Cleaveland, Ohio.
- Hon. R. P. RANNEY, Cleaveland, Ohio.
- Hon. WILLIAM DENNISON, Jr., late Governor of Ohio.
- Major General C. M. CLAY,
- Rev. WILLIAM H. BRISBANE, Arena, Wisconsin.
(Copy)
A few weeks [ago?] I received a letter from James McDaniel asking that I should write to thee and say something about him—how long he lived with us how he conducted himself—what he was engaged at &c &c. and requested that I should write immediately—I have been much engaged since its receipt—but would now say that whilst I lived at the Woollen Factory in Goose Creek Neighborhood, James McDaniel lived with us for probably near two years, a great part of the time boarded with me—and worked in the Factory mostly at the Fulling Dyeing and Finishing department. I found him steady and industrious—attentive to business—entirely clean of the use of Liquor and circumspect in his language and upon the whole regarded him as trusty. I do not know his object in writing to me but feel easy to say this much in his favour.
[illegible]
Recd of James W. McDaniel Seventy dollars in part pay for his wife the above date
Peter Trisler
per
David G. Watkins
Received of James McDaniel One Hundred Dollars in part pay for his wife Jemima & Child this the above date
his X mark Peter Trisler
per
David G. Watkins
Recd of James W. McDaniel four Hundred Dollars being Part Pay for his wife Jemima and Child Lucy Ellen this the above date,
his X mark Peter Trisler
Witness
D G Watkins
Received of James W. McDaniel Three Hundred Thirty dollars in part Pay for a woman & Child now in the Possession of me which shall be given up to him when the amount is paid as per, Bill of Sale and Interest—Included
Peter Trisler
pr
David G. Watkins
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, James W. McDaniel 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.
his X mark John McDaniel
Witness
James Maquire
N Callan
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 19th day of June A.D. 1862.
N. Callan JP seal
The Petition of
James McDaniel
336 Pa. Ave.
J P. Klingle
John Coburn Jr
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.
