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,
Nimrod Farr
of
Washington Co. D.C.
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 Four person of
African descent of the name of
Joseph Hill
Eliza Jane Hill
James David Hill
Mary Elen Hill
for and during the life of said persons and
that by said act of Congress said persons were
discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or
labor; that at the time of said discharge said persons
were of the age of 26 years 22 years 2 years
nine months respectively 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.
Man Joseph Hill age 26 years about 5 ft
8 in high stout build medium healthy 1st class garden and field hand color light
brown
Woman Eliza Jane Hill age 22 years about
5 ft 6 in build medium healthy good garden and field hand color black
Child James David Hill the child of
Eliza Jane Hill age 2 years healthy well grown color
black
Child Mary Elen Hill the daughter of
Eliza Jane Hill age nine months healthy grown and
sprightly color black.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said persons 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 will of my mother Elizabeth D.
Farr of Washington Co. D.C. to
Joseph Hill and by Bill of Sale from my brother
Malachi B Farr for Eliza Jane
Hill about three years ago which bill of sale is recorded in
the Clerks Office for Washington County District of
Columbia. The children of Eliza Jane
Hill viz James David and Mary
Elen were born in my possession.
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 three thousand three hundred
and fifty dollars 3350 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.
Man Joseph Hill age 26 years light brown
about 5 ft. 8 in high very healthy first class Garden and field hand
value |
$1500 |
Woman Eliza Jane Hill age 22 and color black
healthy about 5 ft. 6 in high good Garden and field hand
value |
1400 |
child James David child of Eliza
Jane, age 2 years well grown & healthy
value |
$300 |
child Mary Elen child of Eliza
Jane age 9 months well grown & healthy
value |
150 |
|
$3350 |
The above persons are free from moral mental or bodily
infirmity
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 into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said persons 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 persons 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 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)
Nimrod Farr