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,
Martha E. Barnes
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 person of
African descent of the name of
Jess Johnson
for and during the life of said
Jess Johnson
and that by said act of Congress said
Jess Johnson 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
Jess Johnson
of the age of sixty seven 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.
light mulatto about five feet five inches high stout and
well made
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Jess 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.
as the administrator of the personal estate of her
husband James Barnes who purchased him of
Thomas Donnig about twenty two years ago. she has
no knowledge of any writing in relation to said purchase.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Jess Johnson
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of two 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.
he is a good farm hand, and excellent gardener, he is
healthy and sound in mind and body, with the exception of being slightly
ruptured.
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
Jess 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
Jess 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
Jess 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)
X her mark Martha E.
Barnes
Witness