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, Joseph T.
Jenkins of the District
of Columbia 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 three persons of African descent of the names of Maria, Kitty, and
John for and during the life lives 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
- Maria was of the age of fifteen 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. dark copper colored girl about four feet ten inches in height—
- Kitty, black girl about thirteen years old about four feet ten inches in height—
- John black boy eleven years old about four feet ten inches in height—
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.
Hannah the mother of the said three
persons was purchased by petitioner out of the estate of Geo.
Kirby of Prince George's Co.
Maryland—Petitioner bought Hannah
(now dead) and her children Maria and
Kitty and John was born while
said Hannah was owned by 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 sixteen 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.
- Maria is an honest and industrious girl and very good house servant, strong and healthy—valued at $600—
- Kitty is a strong and healthy girl, raised as a house servant—valued at $500—
- John is a strong and healthy boy valued at $500
These persons are free from any infirmity either bodily, mental or moral—
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 were 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) Joseph T. Jenkins.