Title: Petition of Christopher Cammack, 8 May 1862

Date: May 8, 1862

Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 2. The original document is held in the Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, 1775–1978, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 217.6.5. Within the National Archives' Archival Description Catalog, see ARC Identifier 4644616 / MLR Number A1 347 (http://arcweb.archives.gov).

Civil War Washington ID: cww.00112

TEI/XML: cww.00112.xml

 

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, Christopher Cammack of Washington City DC 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 a Coloured person of African descent of the name of George Burrel for and during the life of said George Burrel and that by said act of Congress said George Burrel 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 George Burrel was of the age of Ten Years, Eight Months and of the personal description following:(1) a mulatto, very Healthy about four feet, four inches in hight​, active Boy and able very much so for one of his age to Labour

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said George Burrell in manner following:(2) by Purchase of John McKeldin of the City of Washington, who was the owner of his Mother. I purchased him October 21st 1853 When Quite Young and Was Brought up to the present time in My family

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said George Burrell was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Seven hundred & fifty dollars in money.(3) his Being Young active, healthy, and able to the Business I required of him and having to the Best of my Knowledge and belief any moral defect whatsoever.

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 George Burrell into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said [illegible] 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 George Burrell 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 George Burrell 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)
Christopher Cammack Senr.
[illegible]"Eleven" [illegible]
"Ten" [illegible]
 

[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]

I, Christopher Cammack being duly sworn, do depose and say, that all the several matters and things which are set forth and stated in the foregoing petition, as of my own knowledge, are true in substance and in fact; and that all the several other matters and things therein set forth and stated, as from the information of others, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.

(Signed by)
Christopher Cammack [Sen.?]

Sworn to and subscribed before me this Eighth day of May A.D. 1862

(Signed by)
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace
for Washington County
District of
Columbia
112
Petition of Christopher Cammack
Filed May 8, 1862
John C. McKeldon
Wm. Beveredge


 Note (1.)-- Here describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each one separately.

 Note (2.)-- 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.

 Note (3.)-- 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.

Transcription and encoding: Susan C. Lawrence, Elizabeth Lorang, Janel Cayer, Courtney Geerhart, Rhiannon Root, and Robert Voss.