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, William Jones
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 three persons of
African descent of the names of Richard A. Jefferson,
Susan Hill, Annie
Hill— 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 persons were of the ages 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.
Richard H. Jefferson is about
twenty-one or two years of age, dark color, about five feet six inches in
height, he is sound and healthy in body and mind, is very sprightly, and of
rare intelligence. He is too fond of drink. Susan
Hill is about forty-four years of age, mulatto, about the
medium height, she is sound and healthy in body and mind and is an excellent
house servant. Annie Hill is six years old, dark color
sound & healthy in mind and body.
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.
Richard A. Jefferson is the son of
Ellen Dumas who belonged to my Mother (of
Montgomery City. Md); Ellen
Dumas was left to be free at the age of thirty-five. In the
division of the estate, Ellen became my property, and
during this service, Richard A. Jefferson was born, and
was my slave for life at the time of the passage of the "emancipation
act"
Susan Hill—by purchase from
Fielder Darnall (of Montgomery County
Md. since deceased) in the year 1852
and was warranted by said Darnall a slave for life
Annie Hill is the Daughter of the above
named Susan Hill.
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 seventeen 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.Richard A.
Jefferson eight hundred
dolls
dollars
. Susan Hill seven hundred
dolls
dollars
.. Annie Hill two hundred
dolls
dollars
. I further aver that I know of no infirmity or defects which
impair the value of my claim to said persons except the one mentioned &
I believe that none 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) Wm.
Jones