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, Wm S
Colquhoun of Washington
City Dis Cola 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
slave person of African descent of the name of James Dyson for and during the life of said
James Dyson and that by
said act of Congress said James
Dyson 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 James Dyson was of the
age of Twenty 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.
black—five feet four inches high—his left
hand and arm paralyzed at his birth—but he uses it in aid of his right
hand—he is healthy & strong
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said James
Dyson 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.—a born slave his
mother being my property at his birth, and so continued till her
death
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said James Dyson was, at the time
of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Two
hundred dollars $200 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.
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 has has not brought said James
Dyson into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said James
Dyson 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 James Dyson 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 James Dyson 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) Wm S.
Colquhoun