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, James. W.
Fling of Montgomery Co.,
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
one person of African descent of the nameMary Bell for and during the
life of said person and that
by said act of Congress said person 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 person was of the age of twenty
two 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.
female, dark copper color, medium size, healthy and
active and generally useful
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said person 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.
under the last will and testament of his father
James Fling who died on or about the 12th May
1836—as will appear by the annexed abstract of said will herewith
filed—
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said person was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of one thousand 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.She is able bodied healthy industrious
and useful as a house servant—Has no mental, moral or bodily defects
or infirmities to the best of his knowledge
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 person into the
District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the
time of the passage thereof, said person 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 person 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 person 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)