Civil War Washington

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, William P. Trowbridge of the City of Washington D.C. temporarily engaged in New York 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 one person of African descent of the name of Frank Ingersoll for and during the life of said person and that by said act of Congress said person named Frank Ingersoll 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 Frank Ingersoll was of the age fourteen years and of the following personal description: viz. In color he is brown, not mulatto, he is not very large for his age, but very bright and active

That your petitioner acquired his title or claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Frank Ingersoll in manner following, viz:   by his intermarriage with Lucy Parkman of the State of Georgia in the year 1857 , and the title or claim of your petitioner's wife was acquired by inheritance, the family of said Frank Ingersoll, including his mother and your petitioner thinks his grandmother and grandfather having belonged to the family of his said wife in Georgia and were so held to service or labor from the time of their birth: said Frank was brought by me to Washington in 1858 where he has remained as my property ever since.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Frank Ingersoll was at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of nine hundred dollars ($900) in money. He is in perfect health and I have always paid great attention to his moral and physical training and wants. He is remarkably bright active and efficient,and while I was keeping house in Washington and until I came to New York on public duty connected with the Engineer's department, he had exclusive charge of my dining room and is an excellent dining room servant and waiter. Your petitioner knows of no mental, moral or physical   infirmity or defect to impair the value of said Frank Ingersoll's service or labor.

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 Frank Ingersoll into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that at the time of the passage thereof said Frank Ingersoll 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 Frank Ingersoll 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 Frank Ingersoll 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.