Petition of Auburn, NY, Residents Regarding Harriet Tubman's Claim
ca. 1898
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During the Civil War, abolitionist and former slave Harriet Tubman Davis served the Union side as a scout, nurse, cook and spy. After the war she received a pension as the widow of Union veteran Nelson Davis who had served as a private in the Eight United States Colored Infantry.
Tubman later petitioned Congress for additional benefits for her own service. In this petition to Sereno E. Payne, Chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries in the House of Representatives, residents of Auburn, New York, requested that the claim of Harriet Tubman be called up. Included amongst the signatures is that of Mrs. William Lloyd Garrison.
Congress received numerous documents and letters supporting Tubman’s claim. In 1899 Congress passed, and the President signed, an increase of Tubman’s pension to 25 dollars per month for her service as a nurse.
Tubman later petitioned Congress for additional benefits for her own service. In this petition to Sereno E. Payne, Chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries in the House of Representatives, residents of Auburn, New York, requested that the claim of Harriet Tubman be called up. Included amongst the signatures is that of Mrs. William Lloyd Garrison.
Congress received numerous documents and letters supporting Tubman’s claim. In 1899 Congress passed, and the President signed, an increase of Tubman’s pension to 25 dollars per month for her service as a nurse.
Transcript
To the Honorable Sereno E. Payne.House of Representatives 28th district
State of New York.
Sir: We the undersigned residents of the city of Auburn N.Y. Earnestly request you to call up the claim ofHarriet Tubman (now Harriet Davis) the well known colored woman, a resident of, or near this city. The claim for her personal valuable services to the government during the late war of the rebellion as Scout nurse and Spy was presented to Congress several years ago by the Hon. C.D. MacDougall and a bill was passed allowing her $1800 but no further action was taken and the bill failed to become a law. Will you please bring up the matter again and pass is to a final and successful termination. And your petitioners will ever pray.
Names Residence
Mrs. D.M. Osborne Auburn
T.W. Osborne "
Mr. Mrs. L. Garrison Boston, Mass.
Amie P. Huntington Syracuse NY.
Ednah D. Cheney Boston Mass.
Louisa Wilkinson Wilson New York N.Y.
Dora G.S. Hazard Syracuse NY
T.S. Huntington Syracuse "
Joseph M. Clarke Syracuse "
K.D.S. Huntington Syracuse "
M.O. King "
Mrs. C.B. Sedgwick Syracuse "
Cruenite J. White " "
Katharine Sage White " "
Adelaide M White " "
C H Halcomb " "
Hannah Sumner Teall Halcomb " "
H.R. Binder Auburn, N.Y.
Names / Residences
Georgiana Willard Auburn NY
Mrs. William Allen Auburn NY
Mrs. N P Clark " "
John W Rice " "
C W _____[?] " "
L. Paddock " "
Orlando Lewis " "
Chauncey D Rich " "
H M Cameron " "
[?] " "
C. D Mac Dougall Auburn NY
[ ] Auburn
Georgiana Williard Auburn NY
Jno S [ ] Auburn NY
J Warren Mead
W H Meakin [?] Auburn NY
Geo Underwood Auburn NY
Theo. M Townson [?] Auburn NY
Wm H Seward Auburn NY
Jas.Seymour Jr Auburn
M L Walley Auburn
Geo. E Barber Auburn NY
Herbert Price Auburn NY
Edward H Townsend Auburn NY
G H Nye Auburn NY
A E Andrews Auburn NY
B J Ives Auburn NY
E E Phillips Auburn NY
A B Chamberlain Auburn NY
E P Cady Auburn NY
Geo. S Chamberlain Auburn NY
John Brainard Auburn NY
John Choat
W H Hubbard Auburn NY
Danforth R Lewis Auburn NY
John H Osborne Auburn NY
G V Loughborough Auburn NY
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. House of Representatives.
National Archives Identifier: 306577
Full Citation: Petition of the residents of Auburn, New York, requesting that the claim of Harriet Tubman be called up; ca. 1898; Accompanying Papers of the 55th Congress; Accompanying Papers, 1865 - 1903; Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, Record Group 233; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/auburn-tubman-petition, March 26, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
