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, John M.
Roberts of Washington
City 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
one person of African descent of the name of
Eliza Jordan for and
during the life of said Eliza
and that by said act of Congress said Eliza 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 Eliza was of
the age of between Seven and Eight 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.
Black—about four foot ten inches in height with
two scars by burns—one on the right forehead and the other on
the back of one of her hands, but which one, is not recollected.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Eliza
Jordan 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.
by purchase from a man named Thomas
Sheriff in Prince Georges County
Maryland about Three or four years ago. The purchase
included Eliza's Mother and her four children and was
made to prevent their being sent out of the Country; within the past few
months the mother and three of the children have absconded.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Eliza Jordan was, at the time
of said discharge therefrom, of the value of five
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.
Eliza is perfectly sound and
healthy with no infirmity or defect of any kind except the "scars" above
referred to and they do not affect her capability or value. She is quick and
active in every way promising
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 Eliza into the District of Columbia since
the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage
thereof, said Eliza 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 Eliza Jordan 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 Eliza Jordan 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)
John M. Roberts