Civil War Washington

To the Commissioners under the Act of Congress entitled "an Act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia".

Your Petitioner, George M. Sothoron of Georgetown 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 labor and service against one person of African descent of the name of Basil Gross for and during the life of the said Basil Gross, and that by said Act of Congress said Basil Gross, 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 Basil Gross was about the age of thirty nine years and of the following personal description viz: about five feet five inches high of a dark brown color nearly black, scar on left wrist and perfectly sound and healthy: that your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor, of said Basil Gross, in manner following, the said Basil Gross, was owned by my father the late Dr. A. Sothoron, who died possessed of him, and was inherited by my brother John W. Sothoron, and myself,—and Jno. W. Sothoron's conveyance to this petitioner of all his right in and to the said Basil Gross, is duly recorded in the land records of this County of Washington, in the District of Columbia: that your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Basil Gross was, at the time of his said discharge therefrom of the value of One thousand two hundred dollars in money—that your petitioner is unaware of any mental, moral or physical defect in said Basil Gross, who was always healthy and was a sound able-bodied man in Every respect.

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 he also further states and alleges, that he has not brought said Basil Gross into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that at the time of the passage of said act, said Basil Gross was then held to service and labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.

Your petitioner further states that said claim to the service and labor of said Basil Gross 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: Wherefore your petitioner prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of his said claim to the service or labor of said Basil Gross hereinbefore set forth: and if the same be found to be valid, that they appraise and apportion the value thereof in money, and report the same to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, in conformity to said act of Congress.