Title: Petition of Sarah Webster, 18 July 1862
Date: July 18, 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.01086
TEI/XML: cww.01086.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."
This the Petition of James E. Morgan the next friend and Agent of Mrs Sarah Webster a married woman, represents and states, that he believes her to be a person loyal to the United States and that she at the time of the passage of the said act of Congress held a claim to service or labor against the following person of African descent of the name of Rosetta Ghentt for and during the life of said Rosetta Ghentt and that at the time of the passage of said Act, the said person so held to service was living in said District where she has lived for many years & she was then about thirty one or two years old and of the personal description following mulatto, stout built, & healthy appearance
The said Mrs Webster acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Rosetta Ghentt by the last will and testament of Mary A Carroll which is on record in Baltimore County Maryland & was [illegible]
31st January 1860.
that said claim to the service or labor of said Rosetta Ghentt was at the time of said discharge therefrom of the value of one thousand Dollars in money
The said Morgan hereby declares that he believes the said Mrs. Webster bears true & faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States & that she has not in any way given aid or comfort to the rebellion and said Morgan further states and alleges, that he knows that said Mrs Webster has not brought said servant into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Rosetta Ghentt was held to service or labor therein under & by virtue of said Mrs Websters claim to such service or labor. The said Morgan states and alleges that said claim to the service or labor of said Rosetta Ghentt 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 said Morgan as said next friend prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of Mrs Websters claim to the service or labor of said Rosetta Ghentt 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.
James E. Morgan
Washington County, ss.
I, James E. Morgan, being duly sworn, do depose and say, that all the several matters & things which are set forth & stated in the foregoing petition, as of my own knowledge, are true in substance & in fact—; and that all the several other matters & things therein set forth & stated, as from the information of others, I believe to be true in substance & in fact.—
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 18th day of July A.D. 1862—
Chas. Walter J. P. seal
I hereby bequest James E. Morgan to act as the next friend and agent for my wife in presenting her claim for the value of her servant Rose Ghentt before the board of Commissioners recently appointed by the President to determine the value of negroes freed in the district of Columbia by an act of Congress I also authorize him to act for me in the said case.
John Lee Webster
May 28th 1862.
