Title: Petition of George Horsman, 14 May 1862
Date: May 14, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 3. 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.00216
TEI/XML: cww.00216.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, George Horsman of Washington City 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 person of African descent of the name of Sharlott Hatton and Levenia Hatton for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons 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 Sharlott Hatton was of the age of 9 years and 6 months and Levenia Hatton was of the age of 14 years and 6 months and of the personal description following:(1)
- Sharlott Hatton is about medium size. Color dark. A very smart sprightly girl.
- Levenia Hatton is also about medium size and color dark
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) I raised the mother of the said Sharlott and Levenia and I also raised the said Sharlott and Levenia
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Sharlott Hatton was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of seven hundred dollars in money.(3) and the said Levenia Hatton was of the value of six hundred dollars in money. They are both sound, healthy, smart and intelligent girls. They have no mental, moral, or bodily defects or infirmities and to my knowledge none do exist in either of them
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 persons into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons were
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 persons 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 persons 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.
George Horseman
Petition
The undersigned petitioner being a resident of the City of Washington
District of Columbia would respectfully represent to your
honorable body that he did on the Twenty Fifth day of
May AD 1860 purchase of George Horseman of the
City of Washington D.C. for a specific time, the
services of a certain servant girl named Charlott, a slave
for life, and owned by the said George Horseman as
specified in the bill of sale accompanying this petition; and which is made a
part of the same; and whereas by the Act of Emancipation above referred to your
petitioner has been deprived of the services of the said servant girl
Charlotte. before the Expiration of the aforesaid
specified term of service, your petitioner would therefore respectfully ask that
he be allowed and have set apart for his own use and benefit out of any sum that
may be allowed the said George Horseman he having made
application to your honor for the value of the said servant girl
Charlotte, under the Act of Emancipation above refered to, so much as shall indemnify 
him from loss by the opperations of the said act of Emancipation viz.
The sum of twenty one dollars (21$) being for six months unexpired services of the said servant girl from the twenty fifth day (25th) of April AD 1862, to the Twenty Fifth (25th) day of October AD 1862; as set forth in the bill of sale herewith: and also that he be allowed a further sum of eight dollars (8$) for articles of clothing furnished said servant girl, the said George Horseman, having failed to provide sufficient wearing apparell to enable her to perform service as specified, although appealed to at different times to do so, and for which sum your petitioner held his claim as good against the services of the said servant girl Charlotte, under the bill of sale, to indemnify him for such expenses; but which service he has now been deprived of as specified above by the act of emancipation
W D Shepherd
Washington County, ss.
I William D Shepherd being duly sworn, do depose and say that all the several matters and things which are set forth and stated in the foregoing petition are true substance and fact as there in stated
W D Shepherd
Sworn to and subscribed before me this fifth day of June AD 1862
This article witnesseth that I George Horseman of the
City of Washington and District of Columbia for
and in consideration of the sum of sixty dollars to me in hand paid, the
receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, have this day bargained and sold,
and by these presents do transfer and convey unto Wm D
Shepherd of the city aforesaid a certain negro girl named
Charlotte, aged about thirteen years, and a slave
for life: who is now in the possession of the said Wm D.
Shepherd to have and to hold the same unto his own proper use
and of his heirs and assigns for the full term of seventeen months (17) from
the date hereof and in case of the decease of the said servant girl or if
she should by any means pass out of the possession of the said Wm
D Shepherd his heirs or assigns before she shall have
faithfully served for the full term of seventeen months above specified then
I do by these presents bind myself my heirs or assigns to cause to be paid
unto the said Wm D Shepherd his heirs or assigns the
full sum of three dollars and fifty cents per months for all such time as
the said servant girl shall fail to faithfully perform services as specified
above or in case of sickness or disability from any cause to faithfully
perform proper services to pay or cause to be paid unto the said
Wm D Shepherd, his heirs or assigns, the full sum
of three dollars and fifty cents per month for such time as she shall fail
from the specified causes I also bind myself my heirs and assigns to provide
said servant girl with good and sufficient wearing apparell to enable her to perform faithfull service. 
I also
bind myself my heirs and assigns that at no time during the above specified
terms of seventeen months shall the said Wm D Shepherd
be disturbed in the peacefull possession of the said girl by sale or otherwise without first
obtaining the consent of the said Wm D Shepherd at the
end or termination of the above specified term of seventeen months, the said
Wm D Shepherd, shall deliver up to the possession
of the said Geo Horseman the said servant girl
Charlotte provided she shall have faithfully
performed the specified service and in case of failure on the part of said
servant girl to perform the service as specified then she shall be held and
found unto the said Shepherd until the above sum of
sixty dollars or such part as remains unpaid thereof shall be fully
discharged
In witness thereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal this twenty fifth day of May AD 1861
George Horseman Seal
Witness
J. J. Riles
J. H. Johnson
Washington County
[To wit:?]
On this 25th day of May A.D. 1861 personally came before me the subscribe, a Justice of the Peace, George Horseman who being personally known to me and acknowledged the foregoing instrument of uniting both his act and deed.
J. H. Johnson J.P. seal
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, George Horseman 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.
George Horseman
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13th day of May A. D. 1862.
D. Rowland J.P.
George Horsman
William Thidmore
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.
