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, Josiah Burgess,
(colored) of Washington City
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 one male person of African descent of the
name of William Thompson for
and during the life of said William
Thompson, and that by said act of Congress said William Thompson 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
William Thompson was of the age of about 21 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.
About five feet six or seven inches high, dark brown
color, slim made, and healthy and strong.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said William
Thompson, 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.
About 17 years ago, when the said boy was about four
years old, he appeared to be unhealthy, and his master, Mr. George
Parker refused to pay his board and told the colored woman
who boarded the boy that any person who would pay the board might have the
said boy, whereupon I paid the board and have owned and supported the boy
ever since, he working for me.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said William Thompson 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.Being strong and healthy and steady, I consider him worth as much as young
men of his age generally are. I know of no moral, mental, or bodily defects
to impair his value, and do not believe that any such exist. I have no
papers to prove my title and do not know of any public record where the same
may be found.
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 William
Thompson into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said Wm.
Thompson 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 William Thompson 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 William Thompson,
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) Josiah
Burgess. his X mark. (Colored.)
Witness:
Edm. F. Brown.