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, Thomas Knowles of Georgetown DC 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 name of

• Joe Trusty (Male)
• Andrew Trusty (Male)
• Anna Trusty (Female)

for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons named above are discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said "persons held to service or labor" by your petitioner Thomas Knowles were of the ages of following:

• Joe Trusty 16 years
• Andrew Trusty 15 "
• Anna Trusty 13 "

and of the personal description following:(1)

• Joe Trusty—is very black, with large feet for a boy, has a fine set of white teeth, with a pleasing smile generally when spoken to, House.
• Andrew Trusty—is very black, might be considered a picture of Robust health, has a pleasing expression in his countenance generally—has a large head, with hair short and curly—House servant.
• Anna Trusty is very black, hair short & curly—her face has rather a pleasing expression—lips thick, & might be considered small for her age—has been learned to read—House servant.—

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said servants in manner following:(2) By purchase of their mother (who has since died) and Joe from Susan Elizabeth Smith on Oct. 1st 1847. The bill of sale was recorded Oct. 18th 1847 in Liber WB no. 137 folio 226 in the land records of Washington County, the said bill of sale is herewith attached, Andrew Trusty & Anna Trusty were given birth to in my house by their mother Henny Trusty, for evidence of which, summon Henry M. Hurdle or Dr. Hezekiah Macgruder

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said servants was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Two Thousand dollars in money.(3) estimated as follows, eight Hundred dollars each for the two boys & four Hundred dollars for the girl. This I should suppose to be their marketable value, yet I never looked upon them as being for sale at any price & I know that if three thousand dollars in cash had been offerd​ me for them, it would have been declined. They are perfectly healthy & free as far as I have any knowledge of, of any moral mental or bodily infirmities or defects & I further believe that no mental moral or bodily infirmity exists.

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 servants into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said servants 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 servants 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 servants 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.