Title: Petition of John Q. Wilson, 15 May 1862
Date: May 15, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 3. 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.00229
TEI/XML: cww.00229.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, John Q. Wilson guardian for C H Williams 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 a person person of African descent of the name of Clinton Billingsler for and during the life of said Clinton and that by said act of Congress said Clinton 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 Clinton was of the age of 7 years and of the personal description following:(1) Bright Copper Color
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Clinton in manner following:(2) By gift from my Aunt Anna M L Forrest which gift is hereby attached
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Clinton was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of five hundred dollars in money.(3) Your petitioner avers that the said Clinton by reason of intelligence honesty industry and physical ability was very valuable that he was not to my knowledge of any moral mental or bodily infirmity which would impair the validity your petitioner claims to his service or labor
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 Clinton into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor. of said Clinton
Your petitioner further states and alleges, that his said claim to the service or labor of said Clinton 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 Clinton 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.
John Q Wilson
Guardian for C H Wilson
SOLD BY ROBT. FARNHAM, WASHINGTON, D.C.
This indenture made this Eighth day of March eighteen
hundred and sixty-one between Anna M S
Forrest of the Town of Rockville, Montgomery
County in the State of Maryland of the one part and
Charles Horace Willson son of John Q
Willson and Ellen Willson of the
City of Washington in the District of Columbia of
the other part: witnesseth, That the Said Anna M S
Forrest, as well for and in consideration of the natural love
and affection which she the said Anna M. S Forrest
hath, and beareth unto the said Charles Horace Willson
as also for the better maintenance, support and livelihood of him the said
Charles Horace Willson hath given, granted,
aliened, enscoffed and confirmed and by these presents dost give, grant,
alien, enscoff, and confirm unto the said Charles Horace
Willson his heirs and assigns a Bright Mulatto Boy named
Joseph Clinton Billingsler now of the age of five
years and all the right title interest property claim and demand whatsoever
of her the said Anna M S Forrest of in and to the said
boy Joseph C Billingsler To have and to hold the said
Boy unto the said Charles Horace Willson his heirs and
assigns to the only proper use and behoof of him the said Charles
Horace Willson his heirs and assigns forever and the said
Anna M S Forrest for herself her heirs, executors
and administrators doth covenant, grant and agree to and with the said
Charles Horace Willson his heirs and assigns by
these presents that he the said Charles Horace Willson
his heirs and assigns, shall and lawfully may, from time to time and at all
times hereafter peaceably and quietly have, hold, honor and enjoy the said
Boy hereby granted or confirmed and he and his heirs be indemnified and kept
harmless in the possession of said Boy of 
from and against the said Anna M S
Forrest her heirs executors administrators and assigns and
against the claims of all persons whomsoever. The said boy is not to be sold
by the said Charles Horace Willson during the lifetime
of his Father John Q Willson and Ellen
Willson his mother without the written consent of his said
Father and Mother and in the event of the death of either the Father or
Mother then the written consent of the surviving parent will be required and
be necessary before any sale of said boy can be made by the said
Charles Horace Willson.
In witness where of the said Anna M S Forrest hath hereunto set her hand and seal this Eighth day of March Eighteen hundred and sixty one
A. M. S. Forrest seal
A. E. Willson
S M Baily
Deed of Gift To
Charles Horace Willson
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, John Q. Wilson 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.
John Q Willson guardian for C H Willson
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of May A. D. 1862.
John S. Hollingshead Notary Public
John Wilson guardian
Charles M. Bolster Jr.
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.
