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,
George W Riggs
of
Washington DC
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
Anthony Bell and Mary Belt
for and during the life of said
Anthony and Mary
and that by said act of Congress said
Anthony Bell and Mary Belt
are discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to
such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said
Anthony Bell of the age of about forty three years and
Mary Belt
of the age of about twenty 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.
- Anthony Bell—black—dark
colour
color
thin, and rather tall. stoops & was a house servant but
now saws wood and works as whitewasher
- Mary Belt, Black, with pleasant expression of
countenance. of ordinary size. house maid without any distinguishing
marks that your petitioner can describe
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Anthony and Mary
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.
Anthony was bought by him about eleven years ago from
the estate of Laughlin formerly Recorder of the Land
office
Mary was bought when a child, with her
mother in the fall of 1842 and was brought up in your
petitioners home she was purchased from John E &
Rebecca Dement of the State of
Maryland, and in the purchase it was estimated that
one hundred dollars was paid for her.
Anthony Bell—about 40 years old bought of estate
Saml. H. Lofflin Records of Genl Land office about 12
years ago. Chs Wallace
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Anthony and Mary
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Fifteen Hundred dollars ($1500) 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.
viz;
- for Anthony Bell five hundred dollars. He being a
faithful honest servant but on account of asthma to attacks of which he
is subject he is not so valuable a able to earn as much wages as he
otherwise would.
- Mary is in every aspect a good servant, faithful
and intelligent and of good healthy constitution with to no infirmity
that your petitioner knows of
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
Anthony & Mary
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress;
and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Anthony & Mary
were 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
value of his said claim to the service or labor of
said
Anthony & Mary
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. and your petitioner
prays, that if it can be done whatever may be allowed him for his claim to
the service or labor of the said Anthony Bell may be
paid to the said Anthony
(Signed by)
Geo W Riggs