Dist. Court of the U. S. for the Dist. of Col.
Clerk of the Court
“Fugitive Slave Cases, 1862,” May 15-19, 1862
(By file date or affidavit)
Original papers in fugitive slave cases before the Circuit Court of the U.S. for the District of Columbia consisting of claimants petitions, affidavits for arrest of fugitive slaves, warrants of arrest, depositions, court orders to deliver fugitive slaves to claimants, and related papers.
Transcribed from National Archives Microfilm Publication M433 “Records of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia Relating to Slaves, 1851-1863, Roll 3.
Mrs. Margaret A. Smoot affidavit as to fugitive slave. Filed 15th May 1862.
District of Columbia
Washington County, to wit
On this 15th day of May 1862 personally appeared in open Court in the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia Mrs. Margaret A. Smoot a citizen of and residing in Montgomery County in the State of Maryland, and made oath according to law, that she is the lawful owner, and possessor or a certain Negro man slave named Tilghman Rivers, about nineteen years of age, a slave for life to this applicant and residing with her in said Montgomery County; that the said slave whilst residing in said Montgomery County in the service of affiant absconded therefore one Monday night last the 12th of May, without the knowledge and against the will of this affiant and is now a fugitive from service and labor lawfully and justly due to this affiant in said Montgomery County; and she has good reason to believe, and says she believes that the said slave is now in the District of Columbia; and she prays, proves, and that said slave may be taken and delivered to this affiant by order of this court, according to the statute in such cases made and provided.
Test Jno. A. Smith, Clk
James E. Hollyday. Filed 15th May 1862.
District of Columbia
Washington County, to wit
On this 15th day of May 1862 in open Court in the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia personally appeared James E. S. Hollyday a citizen of the United States residing in Prince George County and state of Maryland, and made oath according to law that he is the lawful owner, and possessor of two slaves named respectively James Clark aged about thirty four years; and Philip Clark aged about thirty two years, slaves for life, that the said slaves left the house and residence of affiant in Prince George County aforesaid, on the night of the 26th April last without the knowledge or consent and against the will of affiant; that said slaves are now fugitives from service and labor due by them to their affiant in Prince George County aforesaid, and he has reason to believe and does believe they are now in the District of Columbia; and he prays, proves, and that said slaves be taken and returned to him by order of this court, according to the statute in such cases made and provided.
Test. Jno. A. Smith, Clk
Benjamin R. White affidavit as to fugitive slaves. Filed 15th May 1862.
District of Columbia
Washington County, to wit
On this 15th day of May 1862, personally appeared in open Court in the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia, Benjamin R. White, a citizen of the State of Maryland, residing in Montgomery County in said State, and made oath according to law that he is the lawful owner and possessor as slaves for life of two Negro men slaves named Lane Anderson and Jim Warren, and they were residing with him and in his service in said Montgomery County, and without his knowledge or consent and against his will absconded from his said service, the said Lane on Wednesday the 7th May last, and Jim on Tuesday the 13th May last; that the said slaves are now fugitives from service and labor lawfully due to this affiant in said Montgomery County, and he has good reason to believe and does believe they now are in the District of Columbia: and he prays, proves, and that said slaves may be taken and delivered to him by order of this Court, according to the statute in such cases made and provided.
Test. Jno. A. Smith, Clk
Benjamin R. White, Order to deliver Slave
Saml Anderson
Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Be it known, and it is hereby certified that on this 21st day of May 1862, the Marshal of the District of Columbia, by virtue of and in execution of a certain warrant by this court and issued and to him directing on the affidavit and petition of Benjamin R. White claiming Samuel Anderson and other Slaves.
The said Marshall now produces in Court here the above named Samuel Anderson, and thereupon this court examined Daniel T. White as a witness for said complainant and being satisfied by the evidence of the said Daniel T. White that the said Samuel Anderson is a slave for life, the property of the said Benjamin White a citizen of and residing in Montgomery County in the state of Maryland; that the said (blank) that he has ever since resided with the said Benjamin White in Montgomery County and that the said Samuel Anderson escaped from the possession of said Benjamin White.
As witnessed the 7th May 1862, and pled to the District of Columbia.
It is this 21st day of May 1862 ordered by the Court that the Marshal of the District of Columbia deliver the within named slave now in his custody to Benjamin R. White to be taken back to the State of Maryland to be dealt with according to law, with authority to the said Benjamin R. White, his agent or attorney to use such reasonable force and restraint as may be necessary under the circumstances to remove the said slave back to the said State of Maryland; he the said Benjamin R. White paying the duty and charges for his capture and detention.
By Order of the Court
Test. Jno. A. Smith, Clk
Benjamin R. White
Depo. Of Danl White
Samuel Anderson
Benjn White
vs.
Saml Anderson
Witness Danl T. White resides in Mont. Co. Md. is an brother of claimant who also resides in Mont. Co. Md. on the adjoining farm. To witness-he knows the servants of claimant, and recognizes one of them now in Court his name is Samuel Anderson and is a slave for life belonging to his brother-he was in claimants possession in Mont. Co. up to 2 weeks today-
Daniel T. White
Affidavit of John E. Bowie. Filed 15th May 1862
District of Columbia
Washington County, to wit
On this 15th day of May 1862 in open court in the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia personally appeared John E. Bowie a citizen of the United States residing in Prince George County and State of Maryland and made oath according to law that he is the lawful owner of the Negro slaves hereinafter named, slaves for life, residing with him in his service in said Prince George County, to wit, a Negro man named George Dyson about 51 or 52 years of age-Gassaway (his other name if he has one, not known) about forty years old, Benny about twenty years old; a woman named Norah Ross about twenty years of age; (ink spot) the said slaves absconded from the home and service of the affiant in Prince George county aforesaid George Dyson, Gassaway and Norah Ross (inkspot) of the last Christmas, and Benny last Sunday without the knowledge or consent and against the will of affiant and are now fugitives from labor and service due to him by them in said Prince George County, and he has reason to believe and does verily believe the said slaves are (ink spots) of them in the District of Columbia, and he prays hisself, and that said slaves may be taken and returned to him by order of this Court, according to the statute in such case made and provided.
Test. Jno. A. Smith, Clk