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, Courtney
Reeves of Washington
City 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 George
Champ, Andrew Champ and Mary
M. Champ persons of
African descent of the name of George
Champ, Andrew Champ and Mary
M. Champ for and during the life of said George Champ, Andrew
Champ and Mary M. Champ and that
by said act of Congress said George
Champ, Andrew Champ and Mary M
Champ 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 George Champ, Andrew
Champ and Mary M. Champ are of the
age of
following (viz) George 23 years,
Andrew 18 years and Mary M.
Champ 19 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.
George is bright copper color about
five feet six inches in height, well set broad chest
Andrew is the same complexion about five feet eight
or nine inches in height well built, and Mary M. is of
the same complexion as George and
Andrew about five feet five inches in height well
built weighs about one hundred and fifty pounds
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said servants 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 purchase of one Jane Peak in
Prince William County in the state of
Virginia with their Mother and one other daughter
who with the Mother has since deceased, about the years 1839, 1841 & 1845 and removed with said servants to the City of
Washington in the year 1846 and
then had said servants recorded in the Clerks Office of the Circuit Court in
and for the County of Washington D. C. as a copy of
the same hereunto annexed will more fully show
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said George, Andrew
and Mary M, was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of three thousand 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.Your petitioners claim to said slaves
was undisputed, they are sound and healthy in every respect, of good moral
dispositions and
inteligent
intelligent
for persons in their conditions in life, and your
petitioners
petitioner's
knows of no defects whatever
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 servants into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said servants 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 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) Courtney
Reeves