Title: Petition of Samuel Stott trustee of William Worthington, 13 May 1862
Date: May 13, 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.00158
TEI/XML: cww.00158.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,
Samuel Stott trustee of
the City of Washington
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
Sarah and William Cook
for and during the life of said persons and
that by said act of Congress said
Sarah and William
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
Sarah Cook
was of the age of 60 years about and of the
personal description following:(1)
a dark mulatto about five foot 2 inches high, has a lump
under her right jaw about as large as a small hen's egg, she is a first rate
cook.
William Cook is a son of the above thirty two years all
dark brown color five feet inches high and as hack driver.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Sarah & William Clark in manner following:(2) by virtue of being appointed trustee by the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia at the request of the heirs at Law of the late William Worthington
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Sarah Cook was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of one hundred dollars in money.(3) and William Cook of the estate of fifteen hundred dollars in money, Sarah is a first rate cook and washer and ironer and never had infirmity William Cook is an essential house servant in perfect health and without infirmity he has recently been employed as a hack driver and from his knowledge and belief he believes said Sarah and Wm Cook have no moral defect
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 Sarah & William into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Sarah & William 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 Sarah & William 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 Sarah & William Cook 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.
Samuel Stott Trustee
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Samuel Stott Trustee 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.
Samuel Stott Trustee
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15th day of May A. D. 1862.
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
Dr G. Ridgley
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.
