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, Tho. C. Bowie
of Prince Georges County Md 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 Sophia Coolidge person of African descent of
the name of Sophia for and
during the life of said Sophia and that by said act of Congress said
Sophia 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 Sophia was of the age of 45 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.
Bright
Mullatto
Mulatto
, 5 ft 7 inches Well made.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Sophia 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 said Sophia was left to the
Said Tho C Bowie by the will of his Grandmother
Mary Weems of Prince Georges Co. Md
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Sophia 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.The
Said Sophia is valuable as a Seamstress and House
Serveant
Servant
—
And this deponent knows of no mental, or bodily infirmity or
defects that would impair her value
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 Sophia into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said Sophia 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 Sophia 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 Sophia 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) Thos. C.
Bowie