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, A. P. Hoover
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 two persons of
African descent of the name of Margaret and Addison
Allen for and during the life of said Margaret and Addison
Allen and that by said act of Congress said Margaret and Addison
Allen 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 Margaret Allen was Thirty Two
years of Age and said Addison of the age of Allen was fourteen years of
Age 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.
- Margaret Allen is four feet (4) Ten inches (10)
high Copper Color stoutly built no scars or marks that I know of.
- Addison Allen is of a very Dark Color Four feet
(4) four inches (4) in height
stoughtly
stoutly
built with a scar on his forehead where he had a burn
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Margaret and Addison
Allen 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.
I purchased Margaret &
Addison Allen of B. O. Shekell
in Alexandria Va
Sept 5th 1856 for the sum of Fourteen Hundred
and fifty Dollars, for which I have receipt and bill of sale.
For Margaret Allen I gave one Thousand
Dollars For Addison Allen I gave Four Hundred and Fifty
Dollars he was not then nine years of Age
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Margaret & Addison
Allen was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of
the value of Seventeen 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.as follows
- For Margarett Allen one Thousand Dollars
- For Addison Allen seven Hundred Dollars
I know of no Moral, Mental, or bodily infirmities or defects
that could invalidate my claim
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 Margaret & Addison
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said
act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Margaret &
Addison 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said Margaret &
Addison 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 Margaret &
Addison 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. P.
Hoover