Title: Petition of Adam G. Herold, 2 June 1862
Date: June 2, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 4. 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.00592
TEI/XML: cww.00592.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, A. G. Herold
of Washington City 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 (as the parent, for his daughter Alice King
Herold, a minor about ten years of age) one person a
female
person of African descent of the name Charlotte Cambell for and during the life of
said Charlotte Cambell. and
that by said act of Congress said Charlotte
Cambell 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 Charlotte was of the age
of about nine Years and of the personal
description following:(1)
no particular marks four feet four and a half inches
high of a dark Copper Color, with regular features, pleasant &
intelligent countenance
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Charlotte Cambell in manner following:(2) By a free Gift from Peter King the owner of the mother of the said Charlotte (to his (your petitioners) daughter Alice King Herold a minor and now about ten years of age—
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Charlotte Cambell was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of four hundred & fifty dollars ($450.—) in money.(3)Charlotte is as healthy as children are in general, has no contracted disease, and is found useful for light family duties, and at present is worth two dollars and fifty cents to three dollars per month for her services
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 Charlotte Cambell into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Charlotte 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said Charlotte 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 Charlotte 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.
A G. Herold
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Adam G. Herold 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.
A. G. Herold
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 31st day of May A. D. 1862.
Wm R. Woodward clk
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.