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, Charles S.
Middleton of Princes
Geo Co
Maryland 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 a
negro man a person of African descent of the name of Sam Noble for and during the
life of said Petitioner said Sam
Noble was a slave rightfully acquired by decent and
that by said act of Congress said Sam
Noble is hereby discharged and freed of and from all
claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said
discharge said Sam Noble was hired
in this City being of the age of Thirty
five 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.
Being of a dark Copper
Colour
Color
about five feet eight or nine inches in height, stoutly
built.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Sam
Noble 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.
Inheritance from his father Estate, Theodore
Middleton of Prince Georges
County
State of Maryland
the year eighteen hundred and forty two
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said slave Sam Noble was, at the
time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of 1500 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.hired in this City for two hundred forty dollars per year, being healthy
and sound in every respect. honest and moral in every respect. having no
infirmity to
the knowledge of your petitioner either mentally or bodily
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 slave Sam
Noble into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said slave
Sam Noble 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 Sam Noble 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 Sam Noble 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) Charles S.
Middleton