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, Thos C.
Magruder 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 two persons of African descent of the names of Olivia
Anderson and Emanuel Pinkwood for
and during the life of said Olivia
Anderson, and the said Emanuel Pinkwood,
until he arrives at the age of Thirty years, which will be about and
that by said act of Congress said two 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
Olivia Anderson was of the age of about forty 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.
a Black woman, about four feet ten inches high, being a
little deaf—and in all other respects perfectly sound and
healthy—and that at the time of the said discharge the said
Emanuel Pinkwood was of the age of about fourteen
years, and of the personal description following: a copper colored Boy, full
face, and of very excellent good health—
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Olivia
Anderson 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 purchase from a Mr. Kearns of
Charles County Maryland, about four or five years
ago; the written evidence of the said purchase has been mislaid. That
your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid Emanuel
Pinkwood by purchase from Mr. Jamieson of Alexandria,
Va, about thirteen years ago;
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said two persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of nine 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 Olivia
Anderson is a first rate cook, washer and ironer.
The said Emanuel Pinkwood is a good waiter, and carriage
driver—
Your Petitioner knows of no moral, mental, or bodily
defect or infirmities of the said persons other than that mentioned in
regard to the said Olivia—
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) Thos C. Magruder.