Title: Petition of Joseph Downing, 8 May 1862

Date: May 8, 1862

Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 2. 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.00122

TEI/XML: cww.00122.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, Joseph Downing of Washington City DC by this his petition in writing, represents and states, that 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 Certain person of African descent of the name of John Brooks for and during the life of said John Brooks and that by said act of Congress said John Brooks is discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said John Brooks is of the age of about forty five Years and of the personal description following:(1) a mulatto in Copper Colour​ about 5 feet 7 1/2 Inches in Height moderately healthy and able to Labour​ in mechanical pursuits.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said John Brooks in manner following:(2) by marrying with Elizabeth Webster of Prince George Co State of Maryland. Who inherited him from her father the Late William Webster's Estate in said County and State.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said John Brooks was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Four hundred dollars in money.(3) his Being a Good Hand in Mechanical Pursuits. he to the Best of his Knowledge and Belief has no moral defect. but is lame in his Hip from dislocation in infancy or Youth

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 John Brooks into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said John Brooks 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 John Brooks 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 John Brooks 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)
Jos. Downing
 

[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]

I, Joseph Downing 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.

(Signed by)
Jos. Downing

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 7th day of May A.D. 1862

(Signed by)
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
122
Joseph Downing
Filed May 8, 1862
Horatio Moran 7th bet K & L
Henry T. Green L st. bet 7 & 8


 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.

Transcription and encoding: Susan C. Lawrence, Elizabeth Lorang, Janel Cayer, Courtney Geerhart, Rhiannon Root, and Robert Voss.