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, John H. Smoot of Georgetown, D. C. 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 female and two male persons of African descent of the names of Sophy Hawkins, and Dick, her son;—and Rebecca McPherson, and her Son, for and during the life of said four persons respectively, and that by said act of Congress said four persons 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 four persons were of the ages of hereinafter stated, and of the personal description following:(1) Sophy Hawkins, aged about forty years, a dark mullatto​, about 5 feet 6 inches high, a good Cook and Washer, occasionally troubled with rheumatism but not so as to lay her by. She is otherwise sound and healthy. Dick, her Son, is four and a half years old, a light mullatto​, very smart, and perfectly healthy.—Rebecca McPherson, aged eighteen years, dark color—about 5 feet 2 inches high—and perfectly sound and healthy.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said four persons, in manner following:(2) Sophy Hawkins by marriage, and her son Dick was born since he owned her.—Rebecca McPherson was purchased by your Petitioner four years ago from Mr. Belt's Estate in Montgomery County, Maryland, for six hundred and fifty dollars, much less than she would have brought if sold to go South. (see Receipt of the heirs, hereunto annexed.)

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said four persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of the amount of dollars in money.,(3)stated below. Sophy and Dick, one thousand dollars. Rebecca and her child, twelve hundred dollars.—He believes they are all sound and healthy, and he believes no moral, mental, or bodily infirmities to exist in either, except the rheumatism of Sophy before mentioned, which does not impair her value as a cook and washer.—

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