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, Sophia
Ridgely of Georgetown
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 the following persons of African descent of the name of Hester and Eliza
Gibson for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons were
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 persons were
was of the age of 21 & 19 years
respectively 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.
Hester Gibson is about 5 feet, healthy,
strong, well built active girl of black complexion
Eliza Gibson is about the same height,
healthy, strong well built active girl of black complexion
That your petitioner acquired her 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.
having been purchased the 14th
July 1848, from William Plater, they being
two of the children of the woman Susan referred to in
the accompanying bill of sale
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of one thousand dollars
each 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.They having been appraised by the board of Assessors of
Georgetown two years since at $800. each as is
shown upon the books in the clerks office of the Corporation of
Georgetown; Both of these girls are faithful,
honest, & industrious servants are smart and intelligent and have been
carefully trained morally and I have no knowledge of any mental, moral or
bodily defect in either of them.
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 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 were
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 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 her said claim to the service or labor
of said persons 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) Sophia
Ridgely
Administratrix of W. G.
Ridgely's Estate.
Bill Sale
Dr Plater to W. G. R
Susan's children
14 July 1848
Know all men by these presents, that I Doctor William
Plater of George Town in the
District of Columbia, for and in consideration of
the sum of Seven hundred and seventy five dollars, to me in hand paid by
William G. Ridgely of the same Town and District,
at and before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt
whereof is hereby acknowledged, have bargained, sold, and delivered, and by
these presents do bargain sell and deliver, unto the said William
G Ridgely, my negro Susan, together with
her four children, viz William Hester,
Eliza and Thomas, to have and
to hold the said negro slaves Susan,
William, Hester,
Eliza and Thomas, unto the
said William G. Ridgely, his Executors, Administrators
and assigns, to his and their own proper use and benefit, forever: And I the
said William Plater, my heirs, Executors and
Administrators the said bargained slaves unto the said William G
Ridgely, his Executors, Administrators and assigns, from and
against all person and persons whomsoever, shall and will warrant and
forever defend, by these presents. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my seal this fourteenth day of July
1848.
William Plater
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
William Sothoron