Title: Petition of George White, 9 December 1862
Date: December 9, 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.01095
TEI/XML: cww.01095.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, George White of Washington City 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 two persons of African descent of the name of Louisa White and her son Thomas for and during the life of said Louisa and Thomas respectively and that by said act of Congress said Louisa and Thomas, respectively were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Louisa was of the age of twenty six years: and Thomas was about four years of age. and of the personal description following:(1) Louisa is very light skin, about four feet five inches high: perfectly healthy: and Thomas likewise very light skin sound and healthy—
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Louisa & Thomas in manner following:(2) by purchase from a Mr Turner in Maryland about 16 Oct 1858, and to secure the payment of six hundred and forty nine dollars, part of said purchase money he executed to Henry D. Fernandis a deed conveying certain real Estate in the City of Washington, which is of record in this county
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Louisa & Thomas— was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of One Thousand dollars in money.(3)That at the time of the passage of the said act of Congress your Petitioner was in the service of the United States, with the army on the Peninsula, and did not know of the passage of the said Act until long afterwards, and did not return to this City until the month of September last past, when he was still with, and has to this time been and is now employed, in the service of the United States with said Army—and for these reasons and these only he has failed heretofore to file his petition.
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 Louisa and Thomas into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Louisa and Thomas 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 servants 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 Louisa and Thomas 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.
his X mark George White
Witness
A. Thos. Bradley
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, George White 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.
his X mark George White
Witness
A. Thos. Bradley
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 9th day of December A. D. 1862.
Wm R. Woodward clerk
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.
