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,
John Hinsley
of
Washington, 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
Cornelius Delevan, Henry Hopkins,
Willian Mansfield
persons of African descent of the names
aforesaid for and
during the lives of said
Cornelius Delevan, Henry Hopkins,
Willian Mansfield
and that by said act of Congress said
Cornelius Delevan, Henry Hopkins,
Willian Mansfield 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
Cornelius Delevan, Henry Hopkins,
Willian Mansfield were respectively of the
ages of as to
Cornelius Delevan 14 years, Henry
Hopkins 20 years & William Mansfield
22 years or thereabouts 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.
Cornelius Delevan is about Four Feet Ten Inches in
height. Has no particular marks, is sound & healthy in every respect.
Henry Hopkins is about Five Feet, Ten Inches in
height, and of a mulatto color. William Mansfield is
about Five Feet Nine Inches in height, of a copper color.
Cornelius Delevan is of a chestnut color
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Three named
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.
Cornelius Delevan was bought by him in April 1861 of William F Beny
of Prince George County, Maryland. Henry
Hopkins was bought by him in May
1860 from M Luckett, of
Baltimore City, and Willian
Mansfield was bought by him from M John
Clow, of Queen Anne County, Maryland
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Three named Persons was, at the time of said
discharge therefrom, of the value of 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.
, as to Cornelius Delevan,
$600.—he is sound & healthy—in every respect. would hire for
$6 a week.—As to Henry Hopkins
——$1000. He is sound & healthy in every respect. would hire
for $6 a week. and Willian Mansfield $1150. Cut in the
face—but sound & healthy. would hire for $6 a week. There are no
constitutional or bodily defects attached either of the above named Persons,
& to the best of his knowledge or belief they are sound & healthy in
every respect both in body & mind & that they are or have been
honest, while with him, as workers in his livery stable he has no reason to
doubt. That he knows of no other infirmities which impair the value of
Petitioners claim to such service or labor that he believes none other to
exist. The prices stated of a sale paid by him
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 named Three
Persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Three named Persons wereheld 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 Three named 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
value of his said claim to the service or labor of
said three named 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)
John Hinsley
Note the aggregate Value as claimed by your Petitioner for said
three named Persons is $2750.