Title: Petition of George N. Cochran, 4 June 1862
Date: June 4, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 6. 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.00623
TEI/XML: cww.00623.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, Geo. N. Cochran, of Washington, DC 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 persons of African descent of the names of Nora Coquia, and Adele Francis Coquia for and during the life of said Nora Coquia, and Adele Francis Coquia and that by said act of Congress said Nora Coquia, and Adele Francis Coquia, 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 Nora Coquia was of the age of thirty-seven years, and said Adele Francis Coquia, of the age of fifteen years and of the personal description following:(1) Nora Coquia, Dark Mullatto Woman, aged Thirty-seven Years. No particular marks, as far as known.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Nora & Adele Francis Coquia in manner following:(2) By purchase from Sarah A. I. Burch & Jno. H. Burch, on the 19th day of March, 1858, as per the following copy of the bill of sale:
Received of Geo. N. Cochran the sum of One Thousand Dollars, being payment in full for the purchase of a negro woman named, Nora, aged 33 years, and her child named Adele aged 11 years, the right and title of said negroes we warrant and defend against the claims of all persons whatsoever and [illegible] warrant them sound and healthy in body and mind, and slaves for life
Sarah A. I. Burch
Jno. H. Burch
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Nora and Adele Francis Coquia was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of fifteen hundred dollars in money.(3)Your petitioner has placed the money value of said negroes at the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, but is free to say he does not think a purchaser could have been found at the time of the passage of the Act to have purchased them at that price. He would further aver, that they were both free from any moral or mental defects. That said Nora, although a delicate woman, had never been laid up with sickness since she had been in his possession, and was of incalculable value to him as a servant to be relied on in every particular. That said Adele is a very likely young negress, strong and healthy, honest, and thereby a valuable servant. Your petitioner knows no other defects in said negroes, and believes none other to exist
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 Negroes into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Negroes 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 Negroes 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said Negroes 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.
Geo. N. Cochran.
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Geo. N. Cochran 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.
Geo N. Cochran
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 4 day of June A. D. 1862.
W. E. Howard
Notary Public
Francis A. Lutz
William Morgan
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.
