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, Alexander F.
Bulley of Washington
City 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 Two persons of African descent of the name of Sarah Fairfax and Allice
Fairfax for and during the life of said Sarah and
Allice and that by said act of Congress said
Sarah and
Allice 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 Sarah and
Allice was of the age of 18 and 2 years 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.
- Sarah Fairfax five feet three inches and
Black
- Allice Fairfax two feet 6 inches in
hight
height
mulatto color
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Sarah and Allice 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.
Your petitioner Purchased them from Nathan
Masters on or about the 1st day of
November 1860 at the price of nine hundred dollars
Masters Residing in Prince Georges
County Maryland as the accompanying paper will
show
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Sarah and
Allice was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of eight hundred dollars
($800) 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
mental, bodily and moral condition is of said Slaves is as Good as I could
wish and that Sarah hires out with the
incumbrance
encumbrance
of her child, Allice at five dollars
pr
per
month there is no infirmities that either of them is afflicted
with to the Knowledge of your petitioner
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 Slaves into the
District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Slaves 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 Slaves 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 the said claim to the service or labor
of said Slaves 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) Alexander F.
Bulley