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,
W. A. T. Maddox of District of
Columbia (now Temporarily) of
Philadelphia, Pa.
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 the following
named persons of African descent of the
name of
Jerry Mitchell and Phillis
for and during the life
lives of said
Jerry Mitchell and Phillis
and that by said act of Congress said
Jerry Mitchell and Phillis
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
Jerry Mitchell and Phillis
were of the ages of twenty two years and forty years respectively 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.
Jerry Mitchell is of a yellow complexion about 6 feet high
with no particular marks on his face or body
Phillis is of a Black complexion medium size with no
particular marks on her person
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Jerry Mitchell and Phillis
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.
By his marriage to Miss Sarah E.
Moughon of Jones County Georgia at
time of Marriage a resident of Muscogee County
Georgia
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Jerry and Phillis
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of twenty 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.
The said Jerry Mitchell was a smart
active & intelligent boy and free from any bodily or mental infirmities
and was my coachman and in whole morality & integrity I had great
confidence. He was also an excellent farm hand & dining room servant.
Philis was an excellent cook and house servant as
well as a good wash woman and ironer. Strictly honest faithful intelligent
and moral. Your petitioner further declares that he knows of no defects or
infirmities either morally mentally or bodily in either of the two persons
above named
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
Jerry and Phillis or either
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said
act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Jerry and Phillis
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
Jerry & Phillis
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
Jerry & Phillis
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)
W. A. T. Maddox