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
Pressey 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 five persons
of African descent of the names of Eliza Ann, John
Thomas, George Albert, Laura
Ann Virginia, and James
Thomas— 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
Eliza Ann of the age of
twenty three 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 mulatto woman—somewhat lame
- John Thomas, dark colored man twenty years of age
about five feet eight or nine inches in height
- George Albert very black boy twelve years of
age
- Laura Ann Virginia dark mulatto girl nearly six years
of age
- James Thomas, bright mulatto boy about six months of
age
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said five 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.
The mother of the first named three persons was acquired
by marriage and said Laura and
James are the children of said Eliza
Ann born while she was owned by petitioner
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said five persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of three thousand six
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.
- Eliza Ann is an honest and industrious servant is
a good cook, ironer and washer—valued at $1000—
- John Thomas is a first rate servant perfectly
honest, has been hired out by petitioner as driver of a cart at a wood
yard for twenty dollars per month—valued at $1500—
- George Albert strong and healthy boy, smart and
active raised as house servant—valued at $700—
- Laura and James are strong
and healthy children valued respectively at $300 and $100.
These persons with the exception in Eliza
Ann's case 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 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) his X mark William
Pressey
Witness
H. Naylor