Title: Petition of James L. Cassin, 16 June 1862
Date: June 16, 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.00693
TEI/XML: cww.00693.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, James L. Cassin, of Baltimore 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 Harriet Ann Thomas and
Catharine Jane Thomas for and during the life
of said two persons and that by said act of
Congress said two persons were
was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to
such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Harriet Ann Thomas was of the age of twenty one years and of the personal description following:(1)
a dark colored female of a medium size and robust and healthy in appearance: That at the time of said discharge said Catharine Jane Thomas was of the age of sixteen years and eleven months and of the personal description following: a dark colored female of a medium size and healthy in appearance.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Harriet Ann & Catharine Jane in manner following:(2) Said persons were claimed and owned by Mrs. Tabitha M. Cassin, (mother of your petitioner) and now deceased, during her life, as slaves for life, they being the children of Hessey Thomas, who was at the birth of each of said persons, owned by, said Tabitha M. Cassin as a slave for life. Said Tabitha M. Cassin died intestate in the month of April AD 1861 leaving your Petitioner, and two other sons her only surviving heirs, thereby leaving your petitioner one third interest in said two persons for each of their lives
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said two persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of six hundred dollars in money.(3)being one third of the total value of said two persons, viz Harriet Ann was of the value of $900.0/100 and Catharine Jane was of the value of $900.0/100 your Petitioner has no knowledge of any moral, mental or bodily infirmity or defect of either of said persons as would impair the value of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor
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 or either of them 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 two 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.
James L. Cassin
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
I, James L. Cassin 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.
James L. Cassin.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of June A. D. 1862.
Pn. Witson JP
I HEREBY CERITIFY, That Peregnue Witson Esquire, before whom the announced affidavit [no handwritten text supplied here] was made, and who has thereto subscribed his name, was as the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland, in and for the City of Baltimore, duly commissioned and sworn.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereto set my hand and affix the seal of the Superior Court of Baltimore City, this 14th day of June A. D. 1862
Geo. E. Sangsten
Clerk of the Superior Court of Baltimore City.
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.
