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, Leonard O.
Cook of the City of
Washington 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 Hannah Harper, Maria Harper,
Julia Frances Harper, Susannah
Harper, Chrisa Harper,
Margetta Harper, Harvey Harper
and Levina Harper person of African descent of
the name of Hannah Harper,
Maria Harper, Julia Frances
Harper, Susannah Harper,
Chrisa Harper, Margetta Harper
Harvey Harper, Levina Harper
for and during the life of said persons and that
by said act of Congress said persons were
discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or
labor; that at the time of said discharge said Hannah was of the age of 55 years.
Maria of the age of 26 years. Julia
Frances of the age of 24 years. Susannah
was of the age of 21 years.
Chrisa of the age of 3 months.
Margetta of the age of 4 years
Harvey of the age of 7 months
Levina of the age of 5 months 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.
Hannah about five feet seven inches
in hightheight, black. Maria about five feet five inches in
hightheight black Julia Frances about five feet six inches
in hightheight, black, Susannah about five feet eight inches
in hightheight, bright. Chrisa, child, three months old,
black Margetta, child, four years old, bright
Harvey, child, seven months old, bright
Levina, child, five months old, bright
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said persons 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 of Hannah Harper and
her child Maria from Albert G.
Kidwell on the 19th day of December A. D 1837. The other of said
persons mentioned are the children and Grandchildren of said
Hannah Harper, born since the purchase of said
Hannah by your petitioner
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of Four 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.That all of the adults are first rate
servants and free from any moral mental or bodily infirmity or defect except
Hannah Harper who has been afflicted with a hip
disease which has made her a little lame
That all the children are
likely and promising and free from any moral, mental or bodily 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 he has not brought said persons into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons 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 persons 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 persons 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) Leonard O. Cook