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,
Achsah Dorsey
of
Anne Arundle Co.
Maryland
by this her
petition in writing, represents and states, that she 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 colored girl, then in the
employment of
Rev
Reverend
. B Peyton Brown, of Washington
City; taken there about the middle of March last a person of African descent of the name of
Georgeana Bacon
for and
during the life of said
untill
until
said Georgeana Bacon should arrive at the age
of twenty years; at which time she will be free by a deed of manumission
executed by myself and now on record in Md
and
that by said act of Congress said
Georgeana
Bacon 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
Georgeana Bacon was of
the age of thirteen years and six 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.
Bright Mulatto; likely; black hair, quite straight and
glossy, about five feet high (quite tall for her age) spare, and somewhat stooped in the
sholders
shoulders
.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said girl
Georgeana Bacon
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.
Born in her service; of her slave woman,
Maria; whom she has since manumitted, and is now a
free woman in Maryland
.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Georgiana Bacon
was, at the
time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Three
hundred and sixty dollars $360.00 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.
Your petitioner has here estimated the
value of said girl for the next three years at thirty-six dollars per year:
and for the following three, when she could do the full work of a woman,
Eighty-four dollars per year—the amount servants are now bringing in
Washington.
Said girl is active and smart: a good nurse, and an Excellent
Chamber-maid: and gives
promis
promise
of being a valuable woman. Her health is good. So far as I know she is
clear of all forms of
deseas
disease
, and all moral, mental or bodily infirmities or defects
Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true
and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United
States, and that she 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 she has not brought said
Georgeana
Bacon
into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said
Georgeana Bacon
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
Georgeana Bacon
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 her said claim to the service or labor
of said
Georgeana Bacon
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)
Achsah Dorsey