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,
Jessee W Kitchen
of
Georgetown 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 Female, being a
person of African descent of the name of
Jane Berry
for and during the life of said
Jane Berry
and that by said act of Congress said June
Berry 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
Jane Berry
was of the age of 13 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 a Dark Color and about five feet high
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Jane Berry
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.
that is to Say by purchase of L.
Thomas for the Sum of two hundred & Sixty Dollars on
condition that She Should not be carried out of the District of
Columbia as her Receipt of Sale herewith filed
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Jane Berry
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Eight hundred & Sixty Dollars
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.
as being the Sum which has been offered for her prior to
the passage of the act of Congress dated April 16th
1862
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
Jane Berry into the District of Columbia since
the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage
thereof, said
Jane Berry
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
Jane Berry 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
Jane Berry 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)
Jesse W. Kitchen