Civil War Washington

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, John Hinsley of Washington, 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 Cornelius Delevan, Henry Hopkins, Willian Mansfield persons of African descent of the names aforesaid for and during the lives of said Cornelius Delevan, Henry Hopkins, Willian Mansfield and that by said act of Congress said Cornelius Delevan, Henry Hopkins, Willian Mansfield 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 Cornelius Delevan, Henry Hopkins, Willian Mansfield were respectively of the ages of as to Cornelius Delevan 14 years, Henry Hopkins 20 years & William Mansfield 22 years or thereabouts and of the personal description following:(1) Cornelius Delevan is about Four Feet Ten Inches in height. Has no particular marks, is sound & healthy in every respect. Henry Hopkins is about Five Feet, Ten Inches in height, and of a mulatto color. William Mansfield is about Five Feet Nine Inches in height, of a copper color. Cornelius Delevan is of a chestnut color

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Three named Persons in manner following:(2) Cornelius Delevan was bought by him in April 1861 of William F Beny of Prince George County, Maryland. Henry Hopkins was bought by him in May 1860 from M [space]Luckett, of Baltimore City, and Willian Mansfield was bought by him from M John Clow, of Queen Anne County, Maryland

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Three named Persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of [no handwritten text supplied here] dollars in money.(3) , as to Cornelius Delevan, $600.—he is sound & healthy—in every respect. would hire for $6 a week.—As to Henry Hopkins ——$1000. He is sound & healthy in every respect. would hire for $6 a week. and Willian Mansfield $1150. Cut in the face—but sound & healthy. would hire for $6 a week. There are no constitutional or bodily defects attached either of the above named Persons, & to the best of his knowledge or belief they are sound & healthy in every respect both in body & mind & that they are or have been honest, while with him, as workers in his livery stable he has no reason to doubt. That he knows of no other infirmities which impair the value of Petitioners claim to such service or labor that he believes none other to exist. The prices stated of a sale paid by him

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 named Three Persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Three named Persons wereheld 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 Three named 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 value of his said claim to the service or labor of said three named 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.