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 E. Bates
of
Washington City 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
Mary Finick a person of African descent of the
name of
Mary Finick a slave for and during the life of
said
Mary Finick
and that by said act of Congress said
Mary Finick
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
Mary Finick
was of the age of about 18 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.
Dark—about 5 feet 1 inch in height stout healthy
girl. Has not been confined to her bed a day since I have owned her, which
has been upwards of seven years.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Mary Finick
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 of Alfred Richards also
of this city for the consideration of $350.00 Three hundred fifty dollars,
when the said slave was about 11 years old as will appear by the attached
bill of sale.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Mary Finick
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twelve 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.
The said girl has lived in my family since the fourteenth day of February 1855, and that she
is free from all infirmity, so much so, that I have never called in a
physician to attend her.
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
Mary Finick
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress;
and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Mary Finick
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 the said claim to the service or labor of said
Mary Finick
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
Mary Finick
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)
John E. Bates
Know all men by these presents that I Alfred Richards of the
City of Washington in the District of Columbia of the
first part for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and fifty
dollars lawful money of the United States in hand paid on or before the
ensealing and delivery of these presents by John E. Bates
of the second part the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have bargained and
sold, and by these presents do grant and convey unto the said John E.
Bates of the second part his executors, administrators and
ensigns a coloured girl Mary Finick To have and to hold the
same until the said party of the second part, his executors, administrators, and
assigns, forever.
And so do for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, covenant and agree
to and with the said party of the second part to warrant and defend the sale of
the said coloured girl Mary Finick hereby sold unto the
said party of the second part, his executors, administrators and assigns,
against all and every person or persons whomsoever.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fourteenth day of February 1855.
Alfred Richards seal Signed, sealed and
delivered in presence of James Little
Jas Crandell