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, Alexr A. Greer of Washington 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 two
persons of African descent of the names of Ann Brooks Jerry Sims 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 persons were of the ages of forty five & eighteen 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.
- Ann Brooks, female, aged forty five years, five feet two inches high. healthy and able bodied valued at $500.—
- Jerry Sims (son of Ann) male, aged Eighteen years five feet 6 or 7 inches high, active, sound and healthy valued at $1000.—
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.
They came into the possession of his wife Mary
E. Greer in the division of her grandmothers Estate who died
in Prince George's County Md Jerry was born after Ann came into her possession Her grandmother's name was Mrs. B Webster.
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 fifteen 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.They are both good house servants,
intelligent active healthy and industrious; having no defects or
infirmities either morally, mentally or bodily to your petitioner's
knowledge.
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 were 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)
Alex A. Greer