Title: Petition of George Parker & Thomas Parker, 7 July 1862
Date: July 7, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 6. 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.00849
TEI/XML: cww.00849.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, George Parker &
Thomas Parker of Washington D. C. by this their petition in writing, represents and states,
that they are
is a persons 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 person of
African descent of the name of Horace
Sprigg for and during the life of said Horace and that by said act of
Congress said Horace was
discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioners to such service or labor; that at the time of
said discharge said Horace
was of the age of fifty years and of
the personal description following:(1)
a mulatto of medium height
That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Horace in manner following:(2) he was born the property of your petitioners
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Horace was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of six hundred dollars in money.(3)he is a good servant as has been employed as a porter in and about the Store and Ware House of your petitioners—He is subject to slight attacks of Asthma otherwise he is perfectly sound in mind and body—
Your petitioners hereby declares that
they bears true and faithful
allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that they have not borne arms against the
United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort
thereto.
And your petitioners further states and
alleges, that they have
not brought said Horace into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said Horace was held to service or labor therein
under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.
Your petitioners further states and
alleges, that their said claim to
the service or labor of said Horace 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 petitioners prays the said
Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of their said claim to the service or labor of said
Horace 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.
Thos Parker
Geo Parker
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
We George Parker
& Thomas Parker 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, IWe believe
to be true in substance and in fact.
Geo Parker
Thos Parker
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 7th day of July A. D. 1862.
B. Curran J. P.
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.
