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 L
Barbour of the District
of Columbia by this his
petition in writing, represents and states, that he is a person loyal to the United States, who
that one Horace Edelin since
deceased who in his lifetime was also a loyal citizen of the United
States, 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 Alfred for and during the life of said Alfred and that by said act of
Congress said Alfred was discharged
and freed of and from all claim of said
Horace Edelin deceased & of your petitioner to such service or labor;
that at the time of said discharge said Alfred was of the age of Thirteen 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.
copper colored well framed & likely in
appearance
That your petitioners intestate acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said
Alfred 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.
To wit: the said boy Alfred was
purchased from Dr. Alfred Edelin of Prince
George's County in the state of
Maryland for the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty
Dollars some time in the month of April 1859.
That your petitioner's intestate's claim to the
service or labor of said Alfred 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.Said Boy Alfred
is a smart active boy healthy & of good disposition & your
petitioner knows of no infirmity or defect bodily or mental which would
impair the value of said claim to said service or labor & believes that none such 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 neither he nor his intestate has not brought said Alfred into the District
of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of
the passage thereof, said Alfred was held to service or labor therein
under and by virtue of your petitioner's intestate's claim to such service or labor.
Your petitioner further states and alleges, that the said Horace Edelin, or your petitioner said claim to the service or labor of said Alfred 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 as the Administrator of the late Horace Edelin duly appointed by the Orphans Court of said District prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the
validity of the said
claim to the service or labor of said Alfred 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) James L. Barbour
Administrator of Horace Edelin deceased