Title: Petition of Susan M. Burche, 7 July 1862
Date: July 7, 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.00853
TEI/XML: cww.00853.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, Susan M.
Burche of the city of
Washington D.C. 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 Virlinda
Silvy, Anna Patterson and
Maria Edmonia Silvy persons of African descent of the name of Virlinda Silvy, Anna
Patterson and Maria Edmonia Silvy—
for and during the life
lives of said Virlinda Silvy, Anna
Patterson and Maria Edmonia Silvy
and that by said act of Congress said
Virlinda Silvy, Anna Patterson
and Maria Edmonia Silvy 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 Virlinda
Silvy was of the age thirty five years, Anna
Patterson of the age of Fourteen years, and Maria
Edmonia Silvy of the age of Four years and of the
personal description following:(1)
- Virlinda Silvy 35 years of age Black, about 5 feet 3 or 4 inches high, Slender made very fine woman, good Cook, Washer and Ironer &c.—
- Anna Patterson 14 years of age, very Black, about 5 feet high & well made
- Maria Edmonia Silvy 4 years old, Dark Copper Color, about 3 feet hight, very healthy and sprightly—
- A. Patterson and M. E. Silvy are the children of said Virlinda Silvy.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Persons in manner following:(2) to wit: to Virlinda Silvy and Anna Patterson by purchase from Sheckels and Company, called Negro Traders—Maria E. Silvy was born my property after the purchase aforesaid
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 $2000 dollars in money.(3)[no handwritten text supplied here]
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 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 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 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 her 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.
S. M. Burche
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, S. M. Burche
being duly sworn, do truly and sincerely affirm and disclose
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.
S M Burche
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 7th day of July A. D. 1862.
H. Naylor J. Peace
Mrs. Susan M. Burche
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.
