Title: Petition of Joseph T. Jenkins, 5 June 1862
Date: June 5, 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.00629
TEI/XML: cww.00629.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, Joseph T.
Jenkins of the District
of Columbia 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 three persons of African descent of the names of Maria, Kitty, and
John for and during the life lives 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
- Maria was of the age of fifteen years and of the personal description following:(1) dark copper colored girl about four feet ten inches in height—
- Kitty, black girl about thirteen years old about four feet ten inches in height—
- John black boy eleven years old about four feet ten inches in height—
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Hannah the mother of the said three persons was purchased by petitioner out of the estate of Geo. Kirby of Prince George's Co. Maryland—Petitioner bought Hannah (now dead) and her children Maria and Kitty and John was born while said Hannah was owned by 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 sixteen hundred dollars in money.(3)
- Maria is an honest and industrious girl and very good house servant, strong and healthy—valued at $600—
- Kitty is a strong and healthy girl, raised as a house servant—valued at $500—
- John is a strong and healthy boy valued at $500
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 were 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.
Joseph T. Jenkins.
Received of Mr. Joseph T. Jenkins the sum of five hundred dollars for servant woman Hannah aged about twenty five years, also her two youngest children one aged about three years & the other nine months, belonging to the estate of Geo. Kirby decd The said slaves I warrant sound in mind & body—The said negroes are sold for life—
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Joseph T. Jenkins 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.
Joseph T. Jenkins.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 4th day of June A. D. 1862.
H. G. Murray J. P.
Joseph T. Jenkins
Rezin Arnold
Ezekiel Simpson
near Good Hope Wash. Co. D. C.
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.
