Title: Petition of Joseph H. Bradley, 15 July 1862

Date: July 15, 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.00941

TEI/XML: cww.00941.xml

 

To the Commissioners appointed under the act entitled "An for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia" passed 16 April 1862.

The Petition of Jos. H. Bradley of the City of Washington respectfully sheweth​

That he is loyal to the United States: that at the time of the passage of said act he was residing in the City of Washington, and there held and owned as his slave for a term of years, a girl of African descent, named Louisa Carter, thirteen years of age in this present month of July. The said Louisa is remarkably grown for her age, above the medium height of woman; erect, of easy carriage; with strong personal attractions: a bright mulatto; with hair, by much attention made almost straight. I purchased her for a term of years to expire on the first day of September 1874, from Miss Elizabeth Williams, & I produce and file herewith the original bill of sale from Miss Williams by which it will be seen that any children Louisa might have during her servitude were to serve me till they should be twenty five years respectively. At the expiration of Louisa's term, & as her children born during the term should reach twenty five years of age, She and they are made free by the said bill of sale which was executed acknowledged and recorded, in Liber JAS No 81 folios 2 & 3 one of the Land records of this County

Louisa's mother belonged to Miss Williams and was married to the foreman at my farm Daniel   Carter, a slave for life belonging to me. She was my cook & this girl was born under my roof. She was bred in the family & carefully trained, taught to read, and beginning to write. She has been trained as a lady, maid, chamber maid, and sempstress; has waited at the table often [either?] assisting or in the absence of her brother my dining room servant and is altogether a very valuable servant, healthy and coming of a good stock on both sides. She had no market value with me, for no money price could have induced me to part with her, but I believe with the condition in regard to the children and she having more than twelve years to serve she would have brought in the market upwards of a thousand dollars.

I have always, and do bear true allegiance to the Government of the United States—& have neither borne arms against the United States in, nor in anyway given aid or comfort to those engaged in the present rebellion

I have already stated that I held the said girl to service and labor in this District at the time of the passage of said act; and have shown how I acquired my title to her. I know Miss Williams is & always has been loyal to the government of the United States.

And I subscribe my claim to the adjudication of the Commissioners under the said act


Jos. H. Bradley
 
District of Columbia
Washington County to wit

I, Joseph H. Bradley being duly sworn do depose and say, that all the several matters & 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.


Jos. H. Bradley

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of July 1862.


C. H. Wilberger
Justice of the Peace
 
Elizabeth Williams
To
Joseph H. Bradley
Bill of Sale
Received 17th July 1854. to be recorded and the same day was recorded in Liber J. A. S. N. 81 folios 2 & 3 one of the Land records of Washington County in the District of Columbia, and Examined by,

Jno. A. Smith clk​
 

For value received I hereby bargain and sell to Jos. H. Bradley of the City of Washington my negro slave child named Louisa now nearly five years of age, to serve the said Jos. H. Bradley his Executors administrators, and assigns until the first day of September Eighteen Hundred and seventy four, when said Louisa will be Twenty [four?] years of age. And I do hereby manumit and set free from slavery the said Louisa on the said first day of September Eighteen Hundred and Seventy four.

And it is further hereby agreed by & between the said Jos. H. Bradley for himself his executors administrators and assigns for the like consideration, and myself that if the said Louisa shall have issue during the said term of years, the said issue shall in like manner [serve?] said Bradley his Executors, administrators, and assigns until said issue shall respectively attain the age of Twenty five years, at which period respectively the said Bradley his Executors, administrators, & assigns shall manumit according to law such issue so arriving at said age: and in default thereof that this deed shall operate as a deed of manumission. In witness whereof the   said Elizabeth Williams, and Jos. H. Bradley have hereto set their hands and seals this Eighth day of June Eighteen Hundred and Fifty four.


Elizabeth Williams seal
Jos. H. Bradley seal
Witness as to both
W A Bradley
H. Naylor
District of Columbia
Washington County To wit.

Before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, on this 8 day of June 1854. Eighth day of June Eighteen Hundred and fifty four came Miss Elizabeth Williams, & Jos. H. Bradley whose names are signed to the foregoing deed, and each acknowledged the same to be his & her act and deed.


H. Naylor J. Peace
 
941
Joseph H. Bradley
Filed July 15, 1862
Transcription and encoding: Janel Cayer, Nima Najafi Kianfar, and Kenneth M. Price.