Title: Petition of Catharine McKnight, 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.00928
TEI/XML: cww.00928.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, Catharine McKnight of Washington City 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 one person of African descent of the name of Mary Murray for and during the life of said Mary Murray and that by said act of Congress said Mary Murray has been discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Mary Murray was of the age of Sixty five years and of the personal description following:(1) in height about five feet two or three inches,—complexion dark brown not black, the first joint of one of her forefingers lost.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Mary Murray in manner following:(2) by purchase in the latter part of the year 1837 from John A. Wilson deceased for the sum of three hundred dollars for herself and her son then seven years old and afflicted with a scrofulous disease. (See bill of sale hereunto annexed)
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Mary Murray was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of 300 dollars in money.(3) she being active for one of her age perfectly honest and a good cook. That she has always been in good health and that she knows of no mental or bodily infirmity or defect which would impair her value.
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 Mary Murray into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Mary Murray 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 Mary Murray 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 Mary Murray 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.
C P Mcnight
Paid this 13 day of Dec 1837 of Mrs. McKnight one Hundred Dollars in cash and Her rate for Two Hundred dollars to be paid in Six months From date which when paid will be in full for a negro woman name Mary forty five years old more or less and her son Charles about seven years old who has a [scrofulous?] affliction on his neck which servants is sold for life and which servants I will warrant and defend from all persons whatever
John A Wilson
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Catharine McKnight 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.
C P McKnight
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of July A. D. 1862.
Thos J. Fisher J. P. seal
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.
