Title: Petition of Christopher A. Thorn, 13 May 1862
Date: May 13, 1865
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.00193
TEI/XML: cww.00193.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 A. Thorn of Washington County 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 Wilson Briscoe person of African descent of the name of Wilson Briscoe for and during the life of said Wilson Briscoe and that by said act of Congress said Wilson Briscoe is discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Wilson Briscoe was of the age of Nine years and six months and of the personal description following:(1) Four feet and one half inch high—very dark complexion—servant remarkably healthy, active and intelligent.—
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Wilson Briscoe in manner following:(2) Inherited by the wife of your said petitioner from the Estate of William Matthews late of Charles County, Maryland, deceased, in October 1857 and was brought to the District of Columbia in October 1860 and has lived in said District since that date.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Wilson Briscoe was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of five hundred dollars in money.(3) Your petitioner has no knowledge of any moral mental or bodily infirmities or defects of said Wilson Briscoe which impair the value of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor he believes none to exist said Wilson Briscoe has been employed by your petitioner as a house servant.
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 Wilson Briscoe into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Wilson Briscoe 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 Wilson Briscoe 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 Wilson Briscoe 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.
Christopher A. Thorn
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Christopher A. Thorn 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.
Christopher A. Thorn
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13th day of May A. D. 1862.
W. R. Woodward Clk.
Petition of Christopher A. Thorn
Charles M. Matthews
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.
