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, William R
Riley of the City of
Washington, D. C. 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
males, and One female persons of African
descent of the name of Isaac Bailey
Grace Fortune and Adam
Brown, for and during the life of said Isaac Bailey, Grace
Fortune, and Adam Brown and that
by said act of Congress said Isaac
Bailey, Grace Fortune, and
Adam Brown 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 Isaac Bailey,
Grace Fortune and Adam Brown
were of the ages following: viz: Isaac Bailey of
the age of Sixty (60) years, or thereabouts, 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.
a Black Complexion, a little stiff in one
Leg—Medium height to wit, about 5 ft. 7 in in height;—tolerable
stout. Intelligent.
Grace Fortune was of the age of
Sixty-five years (65.) or thereabouts and of the personal description following:
a Black Complexion—Medium height—rather Stout
Built—Intelligent. (Grace is a Sister of
Isaac Bailey.)
Adam Brown was of the age of Forty two
(42.) years, or thereabouts, and of the personal description following: of a
Black Complexion—Medium height—Stout and Strong—likely and
intelligent. Blind in one eye.
Your Petitioner further represents that he has filed his
Schedule, or Statement, of said persons in the Clerk's Office of the
District of Columbia, agreeably to the provisions of said Act of
Congress.—
That your petitioner acquired his said claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said 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.
that is to say: by virtue of the Last Will and Testament
of his father Thomas R Riley (
decd
deceased
), who departed this life in January
1846, and your Petitioner begs leave to produce the said Will, or
a Certified copy thereof duly recorded in the Office of the Register of
Wills of the District of Columbia.—and that the
same may be read and considered as a part of this petition. Your Petitioner
further says: that the said Isaac and
Grace, were old family domestics, and that the said
Adam, was acquired by your Petitioner's father some
considerable time before his death.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Isaac, Grace,
and Adam was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of Seventeen (17) 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.that is to say: Isaac
Bailey. $400. Grace Fortune. $300, and
Adam Brown $1000. that the said
Isaac is a Sound, healthy man, of good habits
generally—and amiable disposition—He is a good working hand.
Grace Fortune—is usually healthy—very
pious,—she is capable of doing almost any kind of
housework—being a good Cook—nurse, &c.—She is a very useful
old woman—; Adam Brown is a Stout able bodied man,
healthy and active—He is a smart excellent teamster and Hostler, is a
man of good habits generally—and can command good wages at any time.
And your petitioner avers that he has no knowledge of any moral, mental, or
physical defects in any of said persons other than what are
mentioned.
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 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 Isaac,
Grace, & Adam, 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) Wm R.
Riley