Title: Petition of Sophia Baker, 12 July 1862
Date: July 12, 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.00911
TEI/XML: cww.00911.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, Sophia Baker of Montgomery County in 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 two coloured persons of African descent of the names of Rebecca Johnson and Louisa Johnson for and during the life of said Rebecca & Louisa Johnson and that by said act of Congress said Rebecca & Louisa Johnson and discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Rebecca Johnson is of the age of twenty two years & Louisa Johnson is of the age of fourteen years and of the personal description following:(1)
- Rebecca Johnson is about five feet three or four inches high colour black, lips thick, nose flat — rather good looking
- Louisa Johnson is about five feet four or five inches high colour dark brown, nose flat, low forehead & large eyes
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Rebecca Johnson & Louisa Johnson in manner following:(2) (that is) your petitioner purchased the mother of Rebecca & Louisa Johnson from one John Baker's estate about thirty years since and the said Rebecca & Louisa Johnson were born at the time their mother was a slave to your petitioner
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Rebecca Johnson was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of one thousand dollars in money.(3)The said Rebecca Johnson is healthy sprightly and inteligent and a very good cook and chambermaid and your petitioner knows of no defect or infirmity in the said Rebecca Johnson.
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 Rebecca & Louisa
Johnson into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said Rebecca & Louisa Johnson
werewas 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 Rebecca & Louisa Johnson 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 Rebecca & Louisa Johnson 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.
her X mark Sophia Baker
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
in State of Maryland
I, Sophia Baker 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.
her X mark Sophia Baker
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27 day of June A. D. 1862.
C W Landsdale J. P. seal
I hereby certify that Christopher W. Lansdale Gentleman before whom the aforegoing affidavit was made and whose genuine signature is thereto subscribed was at the time thereof one of the state of Maryland's Justices of the peace in and for Montgomery County duly commissioned and sworn
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court for said County this 28th day of June AD. 1862
Sophia Baker
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.
