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, Frederick
Bates 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 person of African descent of the name
of Jemima Johnson &
Jane Johnson 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 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.
- Jemima Johnson 50 years of age of medium height.
very black of delicate make.
- Jane Johnson daughter of
Jemima aged fifteen above five feet high and
very black.
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.
by purchase from E. F. Barnard as
will appear by bill of sale hereto annexed Jane being
described in said bill of sale "Tobey"
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 eight 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.to wit:
Jemima—$100. Jane
$800.—
They are both good house
servants—Jemima enjoys indifferent health but of
sound mind—Jane is very healthy and sound in mind and
body
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) Fredk.
Bates.