[It is believed the following form of a Petition embodies all the facts
necessary to be stated in an ordinary case of a claim under the act to the
service of one person only. Where the value of the service of more than one
person is claimed in the same petition, the form must be modified and adapted to
the circumstances of the case:]
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, Lucy E.
Mattingly of Washington
City D.C. by this her
petition in writing, represents and states, that she 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 a
Male person of African descent of the name of
Leonard for and during
the life of said Leonard and
that by said act of Congress said Leonard 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 Leonard was of
the age of about Twenty five 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.
Five feet six and a half inches high, Copper-Colored
Complexion, and black Eyes
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Leonard 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 at Public Auction, at the sale of
John Mattingly
decd
deceased
in the Year 1854, Mar 10th for the
sum of Twelve hundred dollars.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Leonard was, at the time of
said discharge therefrom, of the value of Sixteen
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.And
that she knows of no moral, mental or bodily defect or infirmity to impair
this valuation.
Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true
and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she 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 she has not brought said Leonard into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Leonard 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said Leonard 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 her said claim to the service or labor
of said Leonard 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.
Lucy E Mattingly