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, J. Frank
Brown of Baltimore
Maryland 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
person of African descent of the name of
Henniretta
Henrietta
Johnson for and during the life of said
Henniretta
Henrietta
Johnson until the year 1870 and that by said act of Congress said
Henniretta
Henrietta
Johnson discharged and freed of and from all
claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said
discharge said
Henniretta
Henrietta
Johnson of the age of 22 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.
Bright Mulatto about Five feet six inches high
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Henniretta
Henrietta
Johnson 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.
Purchased from Joseph H. Donovan on the 29th of
January 1859 and Recorded among the chattel Records of
Baltimore City in Liber G E. S. no 21 folio 15 as
per
inclosed
enclosed
paper
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Henniretta
Henrietta
Johnson was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of Four 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.
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
Henniretta
Henrietta
Johnson into the District of Columbia since
the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage
thereof, said 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
Henniretta
Henrietta
Johnson 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
Henniretta
Henrietta
Johnson 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)
J. Frank Brown
Bill of Sale.
Jos. Lucas & Son's Steam Press
Known all Men by these Presents, that I,
Joseph S. Donovan of Baltimore City and State
of Maryland, for and in consideration of the sum of Four hundred dollars lawful money of the United States, to me in hand paid by J. Frank. Brown. of the State and City,
aforesaid at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents,
the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged: HAVE granted, bargained and
sold, and by these present DO grant, bargain and sell unto the said J Frank Brown his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, My Negro girl Henrietta who is
to Serve until the year Eighteen hundred and Seventy
[1870] She being the Same negro girl bequeath to viz
H. M. Fuller by the last will and testament of
Robert L. Hall. dated January 26th 1847 and recorded in records of the office of
the Register of Wills of Baltimore County in
Liber D. No 21 folio 405 &c
TO HAVE and TO HOLD the said described Negro Girl
Henrietta to the said J Frank Brown his Executors, Administrators and Assigns
for ever: AND I the said Joseph S Donovan for Myself my Heirs, Executors and Administrators,
the said Negro Girl Henrietta unto the said
J. Frank. Brown his Executors and Administrators against me the said Joseph S Donovan viz Executors and
Administrators, and against all and every other person or persons
whomsoever, shall and will warrant and for ever defend by these
presents.
In Witness Whereof, we have hereunto set our hand and seal this Twenty Ninth day of January eighteen hundred and fifty Nine
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of
Jno. Shau
Joseph S Donovan Seal
J. Frank Brown Seal
State of Maryland, City of Baltimore,
Sct.
Be it Remembered, That on this Twenty Ninth day of January 1859, before the subscriber, a Justice
of the Peace for said City, appeared Joseph S. Donovan and acknowledged the
foregoing Instrument of Writing to be his act
and deed, according to the true intent and meaning thereof. And now at the
same time before me personally appeared also J. Frank Brown the within named
bargainee and made oath in due form of law that the consideration set forth
in the foregoing bill of sale, is true and bona fide, as therein set
forth.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name on
the day and year aforesaid.
Jno Shou J. P.
Bill of Sale
from
Jos. S. Donovan
to
J. Frank. Brown
Received for Record 29 January 1859 at 10
½ o. clock and Same day Recorded among the chattel Records of City in
Liber G E. S. no 21 folio 15 &c and Ex
Geo E Langston
clk
clerk