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, James W. Pumphrey 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 Two persons of African descent of the names of Gusty Jenifer & Bill Coates for and during the life of said Gusty Jenifer & Bill Coates and that by said act of Congress said Gusty Jenifer & Bill Coates 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 Gusty Jenifer & Bill Coates were of the ages of and of the personal descriptions following:(1)to wit: the said Gusty Jenifer was of the age of about Thirty-eight years a strong able bodied man about Five feet Eight or Nine inches high & of copper color complexion—The said Bill Coates also a strong able bodied man was of the age of about Twenty-eight years, about Five feet Six or Seven inches high & of dark copper color complexion.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Gusty & Bill in manner following:(2) The said Gusty Jenifer was purchased sometime in the year 1858 of Joseph Beasley and William H. Thomas Administrators of Levi Pumphrey deceased for the sum of One Thousand Dollars. and the said Bill Coates was purchased by your Petitioner sometime in the year 1861 to wit on the 16th day of April of the said William H. Thomas for the sum of Eight Hundred Dollars.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Gusty & Bill was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Three Thousand dollars in money.(3) The said Gusty & Bill are strong healthy able-bodied men brought-up to stable work & known in this city as possessing superior qualities as ostlers. They are obedient honest & of good moral character & your Petitioner would find it difficult to supply their places in his business. Your Petitioner knows of no infirmity or defect which impairs the value of either of them.

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 Gusty & Bill into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Gusty & Bill wasere 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 Gusty & Bill does not originate in or by virtue ofany 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 Gusty & Bill 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.