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 Dobbyn
of
Washington City in the District of
Columbia
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 one person of African descent of the
name of
Elizabeth Baily
for and during the life of said
Elizabeth Baily
and that by said act of Congress said
Elizabeth Baily
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
Elizabeth Baily
was of the age of about fifty seven 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.
She is a stout, able bodied woman about five feet four inches
in height, black complexion and believed to be a full blooded African
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Elizabeth Bailey
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 Elizabeth was purchased in April 1854 from Benjamin Taylor, by
me for the sum of two hundred dollars. At the time I purchased said
Elizabeth she was in ill health, but has since entirely
recovered and is now strong and hearty
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Elizabeth Baily
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Two hundred and fifty 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 Elizabeth Baily was employed by
your Petitioner as a cook and general household servant. She is a good cook and
washer and ironer. It would cost your Petitioner to employ a person in his house
to do the work heretofore done by Elizabeth, about seven
dollars per month. Your petitioner has no knowledge of any mental, bodily or moral
infirmity or defect in said Elizabeth as would impair your
Petitioner's claim to her service or labor and he believes that none such
exist
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
Elizabeth Bayly
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and
that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Elizabeth Baily
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
Elizabeth Baily
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
value of his said claim to the service or labor of said
Elizabeth Baily
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 Dobbyn