Title: Petition of Albert B. Berry, 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.00962
TEI/XML: cww.00962.xml
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, Albert B.
Berry of Maryland by this his petition in writing, represents and states, that he 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 three persons of African descent of the
names of Maria Lee
Lee and Sandy Bowie for and
during the life
lives of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons werewas discharged and freed of and from all claim
of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge
said Maria was of the age of
about 27 years and of the personal description
following:(1)
light copper colored woman Lee
(Maria's child) is a copper colored boy seven years
of age Sandy Bowie is about fourteen years old, black
boy
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Maria was purchased of Chas. Eversfield of Maryland and was born while she was owned by petitioner, Sandy's mother was owned by petitioner and Sandy was hired out in the District of Columbia
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 $2400 dollars in money.(3)Maria is an house servant, good cook, washer & ironer, valued at $1200——Lee is strong and healthy valued at $400 Sandy is a strong & healthy boy, valued at $800—To the best of your petitioner's knowledge said persons are free from any infirmities bodily mental or moral
Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that he 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 he 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 his 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 his 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.
A B Berry
[per?]
Benjamin Berry Atty
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Benjamin Berry 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.
Benjamin Berry Atty
For A B Berry
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15th day of July A. D. 1862.
H Naylor J. Peace
Albert B. Berry
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.
