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, William G. H.
Newman of Washington
City 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 Ann
Bounds, a female, about 47 years old, Black Color, and delicately
built—and Mary Bounds
female
about 16 years old, light-black color, well built, persons of African descent of the names of Ann
Bounds and Mary Bounds as
aforesaid for and during the life of said Ann and of said Mary
respectively and that by said act of Congress said Ann and said
Mary were respectively 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 Ann
was about 47 Years of age and said Mary was of
the age of sixteen 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.
both of said persons walk erectly, said
Mary being of rather lighter shade of black than
the said Ann who is her Mother; they are of nearly the
same height and of the respective ages and build above mentioned
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said persons
respectively 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 virtue of the two papers herewith filed N. No 1. and
N. No 2 respectively bearing date Somerset County
Maryland
17th September 1857 and
Washington
24 May 1852. both signed by Charles
Rider the father of your
Petitioners
Petitioner's
wife
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons 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.that both of said persons are of good
habits, healthy, well instructed in their duties as house servants and of
greater value to your Petitioner than the money estimate placed upon them as above
Your Petitioner avers he knows of no defect of infirmity bodily, mental or
moral to impair the value of his claim to their Services, and believes none
to 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 persons or either of
them into the District of Columbia since the
passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof,
said persons respectively were 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 persons or either of them 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 persons respectively 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) William G. H.
Newman