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, Ammon Green
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 a person of African descent of the name of Charles Mahorny for and during
the life of said Charles Mahorny,
also against a person of African descent of the name of Friday
Hurbert for and during the life of the said Friday
Hurbert and that by said act of Congress said Charles Mahorny and the said
Friday Hurbert 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 Charles
Mahorny was your petitioner believes, between the age fifty
and sixty years, and the said Friday Hurbert your
petitioner believes was of the age of about
sixty five years. The said Charles Mahorny was and
is
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.
Bright Mulatto about five feet Eight and a half inches
high.
And the said Friday Hurbert was and is of
the personal description following: Black and about Four feet eleven and a half
inches high
That your petitioner acquired his said claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Charles
Mahorny 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.
He bought the said Charles in the
City of Washington between four and five years
ago at a public sale of the personal estate of a Mr.
Bowie deceased. Said sale was made by B.
L. Jackson
Esq.
Esquire
of said city as administrator upon the estate of said deceased.
The price paid by your petitioner for the said Charles
was $475. Your petitioner took no Bill of sale or other written evidence of
title.
Your petitioner acquired his said claim to the aforesaid
services or labor of the said Friday Hurbert in manner
following: He bought the said Friday about twelve years ago
in Montgomery County Maryland at a public sale of the
personal estate of Thomas Geddings, deceased. The price paid
by your petitioner for said Friday was only $40. Your
petitioner would here state that some members of the family of Mr.
Geddings, deceased, being anxious for him to purchase
said Friday and having so expressed publicly the persons in
attendance at the sale declined to bid against him. Your petitioner took no bill
of sale or other written evidence of title.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Chares Mahony was, at the time
of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Five
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.and
that his claim to the services or labor of the said Friday
Hurbert was at the time of said discharge therefrom of the
value of one hundred dollars in money. Your petitioner has great confidence
in the honesty & moral integrity of the said
Charles and has nearly ever since he has owned him.
Kept him employed in driving a furniture car, in acting as bell ringer at
auction sales and in attending to the delivery goods sold from the auction
store of your petitioner. Your petitioner has no Knowledge of any bodily
infirmity or defect of the said Charles except that he
is slightly ruptured and believes no other exists, nor has your petitioner
any Knowledge of any moral or mental defects of said
Charles.
Your petitioner here also states that the said
Friday Hurbert is a good cook, washer and ironer &
as such has been & is now employed in the family of your petitioner. She is
a good & trustworthy servant. Your petitioner has no Knowledge of any moral,
mental or bodily infirmities or defects of said Friday
Herbert except such as are usual with persons of her age, and
believes that none other exists.
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) A.
Green