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, Frances J.
Jones of Washington,
D.C. by this her
petition in writing, represents and states, that She 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
One female and two male Servants, persons of African descent of the name of Susan Page
James Page and Edward Page
for and during the life of said Susan
Page, James Page and Edward
Page and that by said act of Congress said Susan Page, James
Page and Edward Page 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 Susan Page was about forty years old,
of the age of
James Page in his Seventeenth year
and Edward Page in his twelfth year 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.
Susan, the mother of the said
James and Edward above named,
is of dark complexion, of pleasant countenance and address, of sound health
and bears no particular mark of which She may be known
James Page, born in
Petersburg, Va. on the 6th day of November 1845, of Slight, Straight figure, light
brown complexion and has no particular mark of which he might be identified,
and is of Sound bodily health, and has no infirmity of body or
mind.
Edward Page, born on the 23rd day of June 1850, is also of slender figure,
but a shade or more darker than his brother James,
possesses no infirmity of body or mind, or and particular mark by which he may
be identified. Said Edward was born in
Washington City, D.C.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Susan, James and
Edward 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.
George H Jones purchased in December 1839 of Benj. H. Cumpland, MD, of Petersburg,
Va. Susan Meredith (now Susan
Page) for the Sum of Seven hundred dollars ($700.) Said money
being a legacy left to claimant and wife of Said George H.
Jones (now his widow) who being desirous to Secure to said
claimant and equivalent therefore did purchase the Said
Susan for
claimants
claimant's
Sole use and benefit, as an indenture made on the 29th January 1840, recorded in the Clerks
office of the Court, in the town of Petersburg
will more fully set forth and prove. Said Susan was
married in June 1842 at the residence of
Geo. H. Jones to James Page a
slave owned by John Pollard Esq. in
Petersburg aforesaid, by whom she had three
children, two of which are now living and herein named and
described.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Susan, James
& Edward Page was, at the time of said
discharge therefrom, of the value of twenty one
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.
The Said Susan Page accompanied the
Said Geo. H. Jones on his removal from
Petersburg to the City of
Washington in the year 1845,
bringing with her her two oldest children, and has ever since remained a
member of the household, always sustaining a high character for faithfulness
and honesty, which principles she had endeavored to instill in the minds of
her children. The worth of these Servants to me, especially
Susan, can not be estimated by dollars and cents. I
would again State that I have no knowledge of their having any bodily or
mental infirmity.
Your petitioner hereby declares that She bears true
and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that She 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 She has not brought said Susan, James &
Edward Page into the District of Columbia
since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage
thereof, said Susan,
James & Edward Page
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 her said claim to the service or labor of said
Susan, James &
Edward Page 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 her said claim to the service or labor
of said Susan,
James & Edward Page
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)
Frances J. Jones.