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, Matthew H
Stevens of the City of
Washington D.C. by this his petition in writing, represents and states, that 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 Certain persons of African descent of the name of Hannah and
Jane for and during the life of said Hannah and
Jane and that by said act of Congress said Hannah and Jane
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 Hannah was of the age of Thirty five 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.
Plum
Colour
Color
, Upper front teeth defective full size, Good health, and fine
appearance a few White and Grey hairs, in front of Head.
Jane is aged 28 Year Plum
Colour
Color
full size
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Coloured
Colored
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.
Hannah by Purchase from a trader,
from what is termed his Prison or Pen, about 4 years since in
Alexandria, Va, Jane, was
purchased by me about 2 years Since, April 21
1860 from Charles A C. Higgins agent
Mary E. Gott of Montgomery
County
State of Maryland
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Hannah and
Jane was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of Three thousand 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.
Hannah one thousand Dollars and
Jane worth Two Thousand—Dollars. They Both
Being valuable Servants, and to the Best of his Knowledge and Belief. They
have no moral Defect
I have no Knowledge of any physical defect to impair their
value—
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
Coloured
Colored
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
Coloured
Colored
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) M. H.
Stevens.
Know all men by these presents, that I, Charles A. C.
Higgins of Montgomery County
State of Maryland agent for Mary E.
Gott for and in consideration of the sum of eleven hundred
dollars, to me in hand paid by M. H. Stevens, of
Washington City D.C. at and before the ensealing
and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged,
have bargained, sold, and delivered, and by these presents do bargain, sell,
and deliver, unto the said M. H. Stevens a Negro woman
aged 26 Years, named Jane a slave for life, to have and
to hold the said Jane unto the said M. H.
Stevens, his executors, administrators, and assigns, to his
and their own proper use and benefit for ever.
And I, the said Charles A. C. Higgins agent for
Mary E. Gott for myself and my heirs, executors,
and administrators, will warrant and defend the said bargained premises unto
the said M. H. Stevens, his executors, administrators,
and assigns, from and against all persons whomsoever.
In witness whereof, I. have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 21st day April in the Year of our Lord 1860
C. A. C. Higgins Seal
H.
Wm. Burn
Test W. A. Cumming
State of Maryland
Montgomery County sct.
Be it remembered and it is
herby
hereby
certified that on this 21st day of April
in the Year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixty before the
Subscriber a justice of the peace of the State of
Maryland in and for Montgomery County
aforesaid personally appeared Charles A. C Higgins
agent for Mary E. Gott he being known to me to be the
person unto and named and
discribed
described
as and professing to be the party to the within bill of sale and
do acknowledge the said bill of sale or instrument of writing to be his act
and deed. In testimony whereof I. have hereunto subscribed my name on the 21
day and Year aforesaid
Acknowledged before H. Wm. Burn,
J.P.