Title: Petition of Sarah A. Stone, 14 July 1862
Date: July 14, 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.00915
TEI/XML: cww.00915.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, Sarah A.
Stone 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 four persons of African descent of the
names of Thomas Payne, Eliza Stewart,
Alice Payne and Harriet
Jenny for and during the liveslife 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
Thomas Payne was of the age of thirty eight years and of the personal description
following:(1)
copper colored man about five feet eight inches in height
Eliza Stewart black woman twenty two years of age about
five feet in height—
Alice Payne light mulatto girl fifteen years of age
about five feet in height—
Harriet Tenny dark colored girl thirteen or fourteen
years old
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) All four were left petitioner by her late husband John M. Brown, whose will is registered in Marlboro Maryland—see certified copy—
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 four thousand dollars in money.(3)
- Thomas Payne a good field hand and wagon driver sound and healthy—valued at one thousand dollars—
- Eliza Stewart a good house servant cook, ironer & washer sound and healthy—valued at twelve hundred dollars—
- Alice Payne a good house servant sound & healthy valued at one thousand dollars
- Harriet Tenny house servant strong & healthy valued at eight hundred dollars
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.
Sarah A Stone
Copy of John M. Brown's last Will & Testament
In the name of God Amen, I John M. Brown of Prince George's County of the State of Maryland, being sick, but of sound and disposing mind and memory, do hereby make and constitute this to be my last will and testament that is to say Imprimis,
- I hereby give to my well beloved wife Sarah Ann Brown all the negroes I got by her in marriage, together with their increase, with the exception of Jane's youngest child Rosa, which I give to Sarah Ann Waring together with one small bay horse, I further give to Sarah Ann Brown my wife my dwelling house where I now reside with forty acres of land around said house, so long as she may live together with my two carriage horses and carriage and all my household and kitchen furniture also fifty barrels of corn and the hams from as many hogs as may be killed at my farm in Anne arundel County the ensuing winter also one cart, one harrow one plough and two cows,
- Item—I give and bequeath to my nephew John P. Marshall all my real estate where I now live with the exception of about sixty acres that I bought of Washington Berry to him and to his heirs forever also a negro man by the name of Denis who shall serve him for a period of eight years and that the said John P. Marshall may manumit him at the expiration of this time, if the same can be done according to the provisions of the laws of this State,
- Item, I give and bequeath to my nephew James L. Brown that piece of land that was purchased of Washington Berry (containing about sixty acres where Mr. King now lives) to him and his heirs forever,
- Item, I give to my neice Caroline Brown my negro man Ned,
- Item, I give to my neice Alice Brown my negro boy George—
- Item I give to my neice Mary E. Marshall my negro woman Rosella and her child,
- Item—I give to my neice A. B. Marshall my negro woman Jane— </ul>
- Item, I give to my nephew George R. W. Marshall my negro boy William Henry
- Item—I give to my neice Susan A. Waugh my negro boy Charles;
- Item I give to my neice Eveline Waugh, my negro girl Mary,
- Item I give to my neice Aurelia Lodge my negro boy Lewis,
- Item I give to my nephew James Lodge my negro boy Washington
<ul>
It is my wish that all my stock and farming utensil now on the farm should remain on the same for the use of John P. Marshall It is furthermore my will and wishes that my Executors herein after named, shall sell my real estate in Anne Arundel County formerly owned by Solomon Groves, together with two small negroes named Charles and Betty, which I purchased at the sale of Nicholas Nicholson, with my crops on hand and those now growing on both farms, and also the stock and farming utensils on the farm in Anne Arundel County and that the money arising from said sales be applied to pay my just debts—and should there be more than is sufficient for this purpose that the surplus be equally divided between my wife Sarah Ann Brown, Charlotte Marshall and Martha Lodge
I hereby nominate, ordain and appoint My wife Sarah Ann Brown and Robert Marshall to be my sole executors to this my last will and testament, placing implicit confidence in my Executors it is my wish that the Orphans Court will not exact of them a bond exceeding six thousand dollars
John M. Brown seal
Witness by
Joseph Trimble
William Trimble
Hillary S. Williams
Augt. 19th 1859 to wit:
Then came Joseph Trimble and Hillary S. Williams two of the subscribing witnesses to the within will and made oath on the holy Evangely of Almighty God that they did see John M. Brown the testator therein named sign and seal this will and heard him publish pronounced and declare the same to be his last will and testament and that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehensions of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and that they together with William Trimble the other subscribing witness respectively subscribed their names as witnesses to this will at the request of the testator in his presence and in the presence of each other
Prince George's County Sct
I hereby certify that the aforegoing is a true copy of the last will and testament of John M. Brown deceased late of said County, duly proven according to law, and now remaining on Record in my office
In Testimony whereof I hereunto Set my hand and affix the seal of the Orphans Court for Prince George's County this 17th day of January 1860
Reference is here made to Deed in Trust recorded in City Hall Washington D. C. Liber J. A. S. No. 209 folio 256 which deed conveys Petitioners property over to Wm H. Dietz for her benefit she then about to marry her present husband John H. Stone. Wm H. Dietz trustee, is now in a federal regiment in Kentucky and his address unknown
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Sarah A. Stone 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.
Sarah A Stone
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th day of May A. D. 1862.
H. Naylor
J. Peace
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.
