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,
Catherine Thompson
of
Alexandria Va
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
Nancy King also to her sons
William, John,
James, Thompson and her
grandson Lucien. persons of African descent of the name of
Nancy King
William King
John King
James King
Thompson King; also Lucien a
grandson of the said Nancy. for and during the
life of said
Nancy, John
James
Thompson andLucien respectively
and that by said act of Congress said
Nancy, John
James
Thompson andLucien have 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 thirty six, sixteen, fifteen, thirteen, ten and four
years respectively 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.
Nancy
|
a fine looking, |
stout mulatto |
William
|
tall & strong |
Do |
John
|
Do Do |
Do |
James
|
Do Do |
Do |
Thompson
|
Do Do |
Do |
Lucien a very bright healthy looking child
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said slaves 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.
the said Nancy Kings mother was a
slave owned by the mother of your petitioner, on whose decease the said
Nancy Kings mother became the property of your
petitioner in the distribution of the estate. The said
Nancy was born while her mother was the slave of
your petitioner the mother died several years ago.
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 four thousand & 100
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.
Nancy
|
$1000 |
William
|
1000 |
John
|
800 |
James
|
600 |
Thompson
|
500 |
Lucien
|
200 |
|
$4100 |
These servants are all of the best & most valuable
description, sound in body & mind well trained well behaved and
manageable.
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 slaves 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 her 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
validity of her 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)
Catherine Thompson
By Andrew Wylie her attorney