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, James Tucker
of Washington City, D.C. 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 a woman, a
person of African descent of the name of Caroline for and during the life of said
Caroline and that by said
act of Congress said woman
Caroline was discharged and freed of and from all
claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said
discharge said woman was of the age of about 48 years and of the personal description
following:Here describe the
person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave,
describe each one separately.
of tall stature, dark almost black, is a good house
servant cook washer &c. of good health and moral character
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said woman
Caroline in manner following: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.
Purchased at public sale during the fall of the year
1831 said woman belonged to the estate of
John Adams
dec'd
deceased
, does not recollect the price paid, has no written evidence of
title, but can refer to the records of the Orphans Court where the same may
be found
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said woman Caroline was, at the
time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of five
hundred dollars in money.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.
that your petitioner knows of no defect or infirmity
which impairs the value of said woman since acquired by your
petitioner
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 woman
Caroline into the District of Columbia since
the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage
thereof, said woman 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 woman 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 woman Caroline 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.
(Signed by) James
Tucker