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,
Thomas Jenkins of Thos.
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 three
persons of African descent of the name of
Jim Queen
Sam Bruce
Nora Bruce for and during the life of said servants and that by said act of Congress said servants 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 servants were of the ages
of
herein after mentioned 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.
- Jim Queen is forty years of age—about five
feet eleven inches high and of a dark Chestnut Color stout and well
made—
- Sam Bruce is twenty five years of age about five
feet ten inches and of a light Chestnut Color and stout and well
made.
- Nora Bruce—is seventeen years of
age—about five feet high and black—
no scars or marks by which they can be more particularly
described
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.
- Jim Queen he inherited from the estate of his
father Thomas Jenkin—
- Sam and Norah were born his
property—
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said servants was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of Thirty three 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.
to wit:
Jim— |
$1500 |
Sam— |
1000 |
Nora— |
800 |
- The two first named are stout able men and first rate field hands and
always healthy.
- Nora is an excellent house servant and healthy.
all of them sound and free from all mental and bodily infirmity
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 servant 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
value 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)
Thomas Jenkin of Thomas