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,
Rezin Arnold
of
Washington 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 one person of
African descent of the name of
George Crowner
for and during the life of said
Crowner
and that by said act of Congress said
Crowner 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
George Crowner was of the age of about fifty 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.
mulatto man five feet eight inches in height
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said person 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.
George Crowner a gift from Henry
Talbert (deceased) about the year eighteen
hundred and thirty-two see Deed in trust in the City Hall
Washington District of Columia Liber W.B. no 39
folio 412
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said person 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.
George Crowner is an honest and industrious servant
strong and healthy without any infirmity either bodily mental or
moral.
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 person into the
District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the
time of the passage thereof, said person 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 person 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 person 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)
Rezin Arnold