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. McLain
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 Mary
Louisa Jefferson and Samuel Dorsey,
two persons of African descent of the
name of
Mary Louisa Jefferson & Samuel
Dorsey
for and during the life of said persons and
that by said act of Congress said persons are
discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or
labor; that at the time of said discharge said Mary Louisa Jefferson was of the age of nineteen
years and Samuel Dorsey was of the age of seventeen 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.
Mary Louisa Jefferson has a full,
black face and thick lips & african features
generally—Samuel Dorsey is a Mulatto rather
dark colored is short of stature—smart & active—
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said 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.
Mary Louisa Jefferson came to me
from the Estate of my wifes Father John G. Mosby who
died in the year 1856
Samuel Dorsey was born of Ann See
Dorsey whom I purchased of Mrs. Bland
See late of this city, in the year of 1846, whom I held until her death—
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of Fifteen 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.Mary Louisa
Jefferson, $600.00—& Samuel
Dorsey $900.00 They are capable
servants—Samuel has some Education & is a
fine specimen of a boy—
Their
There
are no infirmities or defects which impair their value
- # # Mary Louisa Jefferson six hundred dollars
- Samuel Dorsey nine hundred dollars—
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 persons into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons 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 persons 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 persons 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. McLain