Title: Petition of Mary A. Smith, 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.00943
TEI/XML: cww.00943.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, Mary A
Smith of the City
of Washington 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 Emmeline Jackson, Boker,
James Brown and Thomas
Carter for and during the life of said persons respectively and that by said act of
Congress said persons were respectively discharged
and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor;
that at the time of said discharge said Emmeline was about 40 years of age,
Boker about 45, James about
43, and
of the age of
Thomas about 14 and of the
personal description following:(1)
Emmeline is a light mulatto,
Boker, very dark brown, James,
black and Thomas, black—neither has any
particular marks now recollected
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) The claim for these servants was filed by Thomas Smith then the husband of this petitioner. The said Thomas Smith died on the 14th July 1862 intestate, & without having filed his petition. Your petitioner is by law entitled to administer on his Estate and intends to do so, and in the mean while for greater caution files this petition for herself & the creditors and distributors of said Thomas Smith—Emmeline was purchased from A. Belmain—Booker from Robert Clark—James from Mrs. Barnett and Thomas from Mrs.and in Sarah Craven—
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 Thirty-five hundred dollars in money.(3) Emmeline is a first-rate cook, sound & healthy—Boker and James are perfectly sound healthy & industrious and first-rate Blacksmiths. Thomas is also sound and healthy—a very promising boy—
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 or either of
them into the District of Columbia since the
passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof,
said persons 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 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.
M A Smith
Elizabeth S. Smith
Belle Smith
Ann Lane Smith
Virginia P Smith
- ✓Elizabeth Sarah Smith 29 years
- ✓Isabel Smith 26 years
- ✓Ann Lane Smith 23 years
- ✓Virginia Pearson Smith 20 years
- Marian Barfoot Smith 17 years
- Sarah Anna Smith14 years
- Ella Shipnay Smith 12 years
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Mary A Smith 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.
Mary A Smith
Elizabeth S. Smith
Belle Smith
Ann Lane Smith
Virginia P Smith
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of July A. D. 1862.
Jno. C. Thomas Notary Public
Washington D.C.
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.
