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, Lyde Griffith
of Montgomery County
State of Maryland 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 person of African descent of the name of Mary Washington and Romulus
Washington for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons 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 Mary Washington was
of the age of fifty five years and the said Romulus
Washington was of the age of about thirteen 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.
the said Mary is of a dark Copper
Color rather stout and fleshy, and the said Romulus
Washington is of a dark Copper Color and about Medium
Size
That your petitioner acquired his 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.
I purchased the said Mary
Washington of a Mr George Mearing of
Carroll County Maryland the 11th day of April 1844 for the Sum of one
hundred and ninety dollars which will more fully appear by bills of Sale
hereunto annexed the said Mary was purchased by me at
the request of her husband
And the said Romulus Washington is a son
of the said Mary and was born about five years after I
purchased her the said Mary
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons were
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of nine 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 the said
Mary was worth one hundred Dollars and the said
Romulus was worth eight hundred Dollars. Few person
of her the said Marys age enjoy better health than she
does
The said Romulus is a very smart
inteligent
intelligent
honest, obedient and industrious boy, is perfectly healthy, and
neither the said Mary or the said
Romulus have any moral, mental or bodily infirmities or
defects and does not believe that any exist
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 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 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 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) Lyde
Griffith