Title: Petition of Leonard O. Cook, 21 June 1862
Date: June 21, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 5. 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.00604
TEI/XML: cww.00604.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, Leonard O. Cook of the City of Washington 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 Hannah Harper, Maria Harper, Julia Frances Harper, Susannah Harper, Chrisa Harper, Margetta Harper, Harvey Harper and Levina Harper person of African descent of the name of Hannah Harper, Maria Harper, Julia Frances Harper, Susannah Harper, Chrisa Harper, Margetta Harper Harvey Harper, Levina Harper 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 Hannah was of the age of 55 years. Maria of the age of 26 years. Julia Frances of the age of 24 years. Susannah was of the age of 21 years. Chrisa of the age of 3 months. Margetta of the age of 4 years Harvey of the age of 7 months Levina of the age of 5 months and of the personal description following:(1) Hannah about five feet seven inches in hight, black. Maria about five feet five inches in hight black Julia Frances about five feet six inches in hight, black, Susannah about five feet eight inches in hight, bright. Chrisa, child, three months old, black Margetta, child, four years old, bright Harvey, child, seven months old, bright Levina, child, five months old, bright
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) by purchase of Hannah Harper and her child Maria from Albert G. Kidwell on the 19th day of December A. D 1837. The other of said persons mentioned are the children and Grandchildren of said Hannah Harper, born since the purchase of said Hannah by your petitioner
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Four thousand dollars in money.(3)That all of the adults are first rate servants and free from any moral mental or bodily infirmity or defect except Hannah Harper who has been afflicted with a hip disease which has made her a little lame
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 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.
Leonard O. Cook
Received of Leonard O Cook fifty dollars in cash forty two dollars fifty cents for order excepted to Robert Windsor also three Note one of fifty dollars—one of twenty five dollars—one of twenty two dollars and fifty—to be paid in sixty days which when [paid?] will be in full for the payment of Negro woman and her child
Albert G. Kidwell
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Leonard O. Cook 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.
Leonard. O. Cook
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 21st day of May A. D. 1862.
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
Leonard O. Cook
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.
