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,
Benjn F Middleton
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 names of
James Frather, Moses Powell,
Amos Horkins
for and during the lives of said persons
and that by said act of Congress said persons 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 persons
were of the ages of 35, 40 & 23 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.
James Frather, male, aged 35 years, copper color 5 ft 10 or
11 inches high healthy active and industrious valued at $1100.
Moses Powell male aged 40 years
mullatto
mulatto
5 ft 5in inches high. healthy and and able bodied. valued at
$1000.
Amos Horkins male aged 23 years copper
color 5 ft 5 or 6 inches high. healthy active and industrious valued at
$1000.
No peculiar marks about either of them.
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.
he acquired James and
Moses by purchase from Benjn
Beall and Amos he got by by he being
born my slave, having owned his mother
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 three thousand one
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.
All of said persons are healthy honest and faithful and
generally useful to your petitioner.
They have no moral, mental or bodily defects or infirmities
to the best of your petitioners' knowledge and belief
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 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)
B. F. Middleton