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,
Robert S. Patterson
of
Washington City 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 one person of
African descent of the name of
John Barnes Johnson
for and during the life of said
John Barnes Johnson
and that by said act of Congress said
John Barnes Johnson
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
John Barnes Johnson
was of the age of twenty four 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.
a light mulatto about five feet eight or nine inches
high
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said person of African
descent 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 gift from his mother (the late Mrs. Margaret
Patterson of George Town DC) without a
proper transfer.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said person of African descent was, at the time of said
discharge therefrom, of the value of twelve
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.
being a first class dining room and family servant
generally, very active and intelligent, your petitioner knows said person is
sound and healthy.
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 person of African
descent into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said person 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 person of African descent 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
value of his said claim to the service or labor of
said person of African descent 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)
Rob. S. Patterson