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,
Andrew Mercer of R. of
Lisbon, Howard Co. Md.
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 one male
person of African descent of the name of
Thomas Orem, for a term of years ending in November 1869, in addition to the time he has
been a fugitive from service since March
1861, which time the laws of Maryland
would add to the above term.
for and during the life of said and that by said act of Congress said
Thomas Orem 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
Thomas Orem was of the age of about twenty three years, and of the personal
description following: Here
describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than
one slave, describe each one separately.
Mullatto
Mulatto
color, about five feet eight inches high, thick hair, well
proportioned;—healthy and strong.
(I have reason to believe that said Thomas
Orem is, and was at the passage of the above Act, residing in
Georgetown or Washington, in
the District of Columbia,
altho
although
' I have no positive proof of it. Since he absconded in March 1861, I have not been able to find him, and
cannot state what his condition now is, nor where he is. I have therefore
requested the Clerk of the Court, in my schedule, that when said
Thomas applies for his free papers, the Clerk will require him to call upon the Commissioners of
Emancipation and identify himself.)
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Thomas Orem
in manner following:
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.
By purchase about nine years ago, from William
Norris, Administrator of John McElfresh
of Frederick County, Maryland, for three hundred and
fifty dollars, to serve as stated on preceding page. He believes that the
Record of his Title may be found in the Frederick County Court,
Maryland.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Thomas Orem
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of four hundred dollars in money. 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.
For the reasons stated on the preceding page.—He
knows of no moral, mental, or bodily infirmities to impair his value, and
does not believe that any such 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
Thomas Orem
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress;
and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Thomas Orem
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
Thomas Orem
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
Thomas Orem
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.
(Signed by)
Andrew Mercer of R. of Lisbon Village,
Howard Co. Md.—