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,
Thomas J. Davis
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 two persons of African descent of the names of
Francis Thomas & Harriet
Thomas
for and during the life of said persons and
that by said act of Congress said persons were discharged and freed of and from all claim of
your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge
said
Francis Thomas
was of the age of Sixty five 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.
A copper colored man, five feet one & a quarter
inches high,
said Harriet Thomas, was of the age of
fifty five years, and of the personal description following: A black woman five
feet three & three quarter inches high, a scar on the side of the right
eye.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said persons 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.
Francis Thomas I bought from Wm
Goodwin, for $200. 19 years since, for whom I have Goodwin's
receipts
Harriet Thomas was willed to my wife
Rose Ann Simms, 23 years since by her Father, which
said will is recorded in Port Tobacco Maryland
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of seven hundred &
fifty 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.
Harriet Thomas is an old and faithful servant. I am
sure I could not fill her place I would not like to part with her for any
consideration. Frank Thomas is also an old and faithful
servant both are valuable to me as I can trust them.
I believe them to be sound & healthy, they have no moral,
mental or bodily infirmities that I know of.
Your petitioner hereby declares that he bear true
and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that he have 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 have not brought said persons into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said personswas 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 persons 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 persons 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)
Thos J. Davis