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, William B.
Robertson of Prince
Georges County, State of
Md
Maryland
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 Lewis
Cammel a person of African descent of the name of Lewis Cammel for and during
the life of said Lewis Cammel
and that by said act of Congress said Lewis
Cammel 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 Lewis Cammel was of the
age of Twenty nine 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 Color, about Six feet high, Straight, Stout and well
made
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Lewis
Cammel 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 the Will of his Father John
Robertson of Prince Georges County
Maryland, (Extract of said Will is hereto annexed which will
fully show your petitioners claim)
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Lewis Cammel was, at the time
of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $1500
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.Your Petitioner further states that
Said Lewis Cammel, was engaged and at work in the
Anchor Shop, at the Navy Yard in the City of
Washington, at the time of the passage of Said act of
Congress, and that Said petitioner
recd
received
for his services at the rate of $300 per Year.
Your Petitioner Knows of no infirmities or defects, bodily
mental or moral, which impair the Value of Petitioner's claim to such service or
labor and that he believes none to exist.
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 Person into the
District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said 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 Person 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 Person 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) W B.
Robertson
State of Maryland
Prince George's County Sct:
Item I give and bequeath to my Son William Basil Robertson,
one negro man William, one negro man
Lewis—
I William A Jarboe Register of Wills for the County and
State aforesaid do hereby Certify that the foregoing is an extract from the
last will and testament of John Robertson late of
Prince George's County; deceased, bearing date
November 19th 1847, and admitted to probate
September 7th 1848, according to law and that
the said Extract is Correctly copied from the Record now remaining in my
office—
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of the orphans
Court for Prince Georges County in the State
of Maryland, this 29th day of May A. D.
1862—
Test Wm A Jarboe
Regr
Register
of Wills for P. G. Cty