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,
William D. C. Murdock
of
Washington County 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
nine persons (four men & five women)
person of African descent of the name of
William Hutchison, William H Lee,
Francis K. Lee, Theodore Lee,
Sophia Hutchison, Mary C. Lee,
Martha A. Lee, Margaret A. Lee
& Ellen Lee
for and during the life of said nine persons
and that by said act of Congress said nine
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
nine persons
was of the age of
were of the ages 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.
That the said Wm Hutchison was of
the age of fifty six years, black in complexion, five feet six inches high
& of pleasant countenance. Wm H. Lee was twenty
years of age, a dark chestnut color six feet tall, stout build &
bashful countenance—that F. H. Lee was twenty years of
age. of copper color, five feet eight inches tall, stout build very
intelligent, serious countenance & very likely—that
Theodore Lee was sixteen years of age, dark
chestnut in color, likely, well made, pleasant, cheerful countenance
& five feet five inches tall—that Mary C. Lee
was twenty six years of age, copper color in complexion, very likely,
intelligent, face & figure good, five feet six inches tall—that
Martha A. Lee was twenty four years; copper color
in complexion, very likely, five feet, five inches in height, good figure,
& pleasant countenance—Margaret A. Lee was of
the age of sixteen years, copper colored in complexion, likely, five feet,
five inches tall, pleasant countenance, & good figure—that
Ellen Lee was fourteen years of age, dark chestnut
in color, very likely pleasant countenance, well made & five feet
two inches tall—that Sophia Hutchison was of the age
of eighty nine years black in color, hair grey, well preserved for her age
and about five feet five inches tall.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said nine 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.
He is the sole child & heir at law of
Addison Murdock, who died in the year 1808. That at the time of his death the said
Addison Murdock was the lawful owner of certain
slaves and among others of Sophia &
Wm Hutchison, before named &
Susan Hawkins. That Susan
Hawkins married & had a daughter named
Eliza Matthews. That Eliza
Matthews married John Lee, negro,
& had by him the following children who are before named that is to
say William H. Lee, Francis H.
Lee, Theodore Lee, Mary C.
Lee
Margaret A. Lee
Martha A. Lee & Ellen Lee. The Said seven Lees together with Sophia &
William Hutchison comprising the nine servants
mentioned in this petition
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said nine persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of nine thousand one
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.
Two competent & disinterested citizens of
Georgetown, lately appraised & fixed the
following valuation upon said negroes—Sophy
Hutchison, old & infirm, valueless, though your
petitioner feels in duty bound to support her—Wm
Hutchison $900—handy honest moral, trusty, good tempered,
has been my foreman of out of door work also a well trained house servant,
gardener, driver & ostler = Wm H Lee $1100.
Young, honest moral good tempered, trusty, good driver, ostler &
farm hand, strong & capable of hard work at present, but has been
slightly ruptured, not however impairing his strength F. H.
Lee $1200, young a well trained driver ostler &
gardener, strong healthy, moral honest, trusty, & good tempered—Mary C. Lee $1400. young, a well trained house
servant healthy honest moral, trusty, good tempered & strong—Martha A Lee $1400 young a well trained cook
& house servant strong, healthy, honest, moral good tempered
& trusty, Margaret A Lee $1100 young good
tempered trained to house work, honest moral strong & healthy.
Theodore Lee $1100—a lad trained to house work
driving and gardening, strong, healthy honest moral & good tempered—Ellen Lee $900—a girl trained to house work and
nursing children, strong healthy, honesty moral & good tempered. The Names of the appraiser are endorsed on the back of this petition as
witnesses if any are required
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 negroes nor any of
them into the District of Columbia since the
passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof,
said servants were
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 servants 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 nine servants 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)
Wm D. C. Murdock