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, Rufus H.
Speake of the City of
Washington 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
a negro woman who is a person of African
descent of the name of Harriet, now
calling herself Harriet Johnson for and during
the life of said slave
Harriet and that by said act of Congress said
Harriet 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 slave
Harriet was of the age of 30 years & 3 months 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.
of
chesnut
chestnut
color, about 5 feet five inches high, rather full eyes tolerating
thick lips, of strong constitution, and remarkably healthy, having never had
any sickness, except the diseases incident to childhood, such as scarlet
fever, measles and
Hooping
Whooping
Cough; her front teeth are much decayed which is very perceptible
when she laughs.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said negro woman
Harriet 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.
Her mother was given to my first wife in February 1830, by my wife's mother Mrs.
Ann Vinson, of Montgomery County,
Maryland, and the said Harriet was born
my slave in that County on the 15th day of November,
1831 and when I removed to Washington City
in 1849 I
brought her with me, and I have always held her as my slave since. She was
known as my slave in Maryland by Joseph B.
Newtin, now of the Metropolitan Police, and (I believe) by
George Stabler, now of this City. William
N. W. Weaver, a brother in law has known her as my slave
since 1857.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Negro woman Harriet was, at
the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of fifteen 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.
I say $1500 from the fact that I refused to take that amount for her; the offer having been made in
good faith by Mr Samuel C Clive, of this City. She was
worth more than that amount to me, if for no other reasons than that she was
very honest, sober trustworthy nurse and house woman and a good cook. She
suffered under no mental defect or bodily infirmities except the toothache! I have had every opportunity to know positively, as she was my cook and general house servant since
July 1853.
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 said Slave woman
Harriet into the District of Columbia since
the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage
thereof, said Slave Harriet
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 Slave Harriet 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 slave woman Harriet
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)
Rufus H. Speake