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, A. G. Herold
of Washington City 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 (as the parent, for his daughter Alice King
Herold, a minor about ten years of age) one person a
female
person of African descent of the name Charlotte Cambell for and during the life of
said Charlotte Cambell. and
that by said act of Congress said Charlotte
Cambell 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 Charlotte was of the age
of about nine 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.
no particular marks four feet four and a half inches
high of a dark Copper Color, with regular features, pleasant &
intelligent countenance
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Charlotte
Cambell 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.
By a free Gift from Peter King the
owner of the mother of the said Charlotte (to his (your
petitioners) daughter Alice King Herold a minor and now
about ten years of age—
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Charlotte Cambell was, at the
time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of four
hundred & fifty dollars ($450.—) 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.Charlotte is as healthy as children are in
general, has no contracted disease, and is found useful for light family
duties, and at present is worth two dollars and fifty cents to three dollars
per month for her services
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 Charlotte
Cambell into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said Charlotte 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said Charlotte 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 Charlotte 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) A G.
Herold
May 31st
1862