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, Henry Cost of
Frederick Co. Md. 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 one person of African descent of the name of Fanny for and during & until
the life of said Fanny
should arrive to the age of Thirty five years at which time she was to be
free by a Deed of Manumission Executed by me in 1857 & recorded in Frederick County
Court Md and that by said act of Congress said
Fanny 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 Fanny was of the age of 15 ½ 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.
mulatto in color about 4 feet 4 inches in
height.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Fanny 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.
She was born a slave, the property and in the family of
Your petitioner, her parents and the family of which she was a member having
been the slaves of Your petitioner before her—
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Fanny was, at the time of said
discharge therefrom, of the value of Eight 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.Fanny is a good
worker and general house servant. Sound in health and a good disposition and
moral—Your petitioner knows of no mental, moral or physical defects to
impair the value of said Fanny's 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 Fanny into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said Fanny 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 Fanny 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 Fanny 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) Henry
Cost