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, Walter Godey,
of Georgetown, 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 male person of African descent of the name of
Minty Clark, for and
during the life of said Minty
Clark, and that by said act of Congress said Minty Clark 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 Minty
Clark was of the age of about
fifty years of age 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.
Mullatto
Mulatto
color, about feet 2 inches high, a good cook, and in fine
health
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Minty
Clark, 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 purchase from Captain Bronaugh
about three years ago for one hundred and fifty dollars, on the 5th of May 1859. She was then sold at a
sacrifice, and your Petitioner could have sold her a month afterwards for
four hundred dollars. Evidence of purchase is hereunto annexed.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Minty Clark, was, at the time
of said discharge therefrom, of the value of four
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.She
is a healthy valuable woman and was worth before the Emancipation Bill
passed at least the above amount. She has no moral, mental, or bodily
defects to impair her value, as far as he knows, and he does not believe any
such exist.
(see explanation on next page.)
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 Minty
Clark into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said Minty
Clark 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 Minty Clark 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 Minty Clark, 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) Walter
Godey