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,
James Riordan
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
Martha Anne Blaxton a person of African descent
of the name of for and during the life of said
Martha Anne Blaxton
and that by said act of Congress said
Martha Anne is discharged and freed of and from
all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said
discharge said
Martha Anne Blaxton was of the age of twenty eight 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.
African features, about five feet in height, and of robust
frame. She is a model servant, taciturn in disposition, and every way
trustworthy. She has always been treated as one of my family, and we have always
reposed entire confidence in her truth and honesty. No temptation could induce
me to sell her
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Martha Anne
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.
Said Martha Anne was born in the
house of my father in Law, Bartholomew Rochfort, Esq.
of Alexandria, then in the District of
Columbia, of his two domestic Slaves,
Joe and Eliza Blaxton, in
lawful wedlock united; and that said Martha Anne was
presented by her Master to my Wife, and received by me as a portion of her
dower on her marriage, and has continued to live with me as a trusty and
faithful servant ever since, upwards of twenty years.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Martha Anne
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Eight 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.
Martha has been trained in the principles of strict
morality—her manners are pure, and she does not associate with people of her
color—she attends at church every Sunday—accompanies her Mistress to the
communion table—loves my children, and is entrusted with the keys of my Desk.
Her loss to me is irreparable.—She is free from all moral, mental, and bodily
infirmities.
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
Martha Anne
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress;
and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Martha Anne
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
Martha Anne
does not originate in or by virtue of any transfer heretofore made by any
person who has in any mAnneeer 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
Martha Anne
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)
James Riordan
May 6, 1862