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, Henry
Warrington 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 the following person of
African descent of the name of Margaret
Perry. for and during the life of said Margaret. and that by said act
of Congress said Margaret 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 Margaret was of the age of Eighteen 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.
Margaret was about Eighteen years
of age a dark Mulatto and about five feet four or five inches
high.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Margaret 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.
That is to say: By a "Bill of Sale", from
Charles St J Chubb about three years ago, which is
herewith annexed.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Margaret was, at the time of
said discharge therefrom, of the value of One
thousand 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.Margaret is an excellent chambermaid having been
raised in the family of my late father ComCommodore. Warrington USN. She has no moral mental or
bodily defects known to your petitioner
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 Margaret into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said Margaret 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 Margaret 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 Margaret 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) H.
Warrington