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, Rosa E. Hall, a
minor Twelve years of age by her father and guardian Baruch
Hall of the City of
Washington 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 a certain female colored
person of African descent of the name of Mary
Ann Sprigg for and during the life of said Mary Ann Sprigg and that by
said act of Congress said Mary Ann
Sprigg 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 Mary Ann Sprigg was of
the age of about 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.
Girl—Dark brown complexion, black curly hair,
black eyes, medium size for her age, Hearty and healthy
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Mary Ann
Sprigg 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 a bequest to your Petitioner contained in the last
will and testament of Jacob Hall of Prince
George's Co. Md—her uncle—who departed this life
in the Fall of the year 1858—And that the
said will is admitted to record in the said last mentioned County—And
that no one claims any right title or interest in or to the said
Thomas Sprigg but your Petitioner.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Mary Ann Sprigg 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.
That the said Mary Ann Sprigg is a
hearty & healthy girl—Of a very quick and sprightly mind, and
remarkably intelligent for her age—That she has no moral, mental or
bodily defect or infirmity whatsoever known to your Petitioner—and he
believes that none such exist.
Your petitioner by her guardian, and her guardian for
himself hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government
of the United States, and that they
hasve not borne arms against the
United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort
thereto.
And your petitioner by her guardian, and her guardian for
himself further states and alleges, that they hasve
not brought said Mary Ann
Sprigg into the District of Columbia since the passage of
said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Mary Ann Sprigg was held to
service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such
service or labor.
Your petitioner by her guardian and her guardian for
himself further states and alleges, that his said claim to the service or labor of said Mary Ann Sprigg 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 by her guardian prays the said
Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of her said claim to the service or labor of said Mary Ann Sprigg 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)
Baruch Hall as Guardian for
Rose
Rosa
E Hall