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, Horace Sprigg
of Washington City 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 one person person of
African descent of the name of Martha Ann
Sprigg
for and during the life of said Martha
Ann Sprigg and that by said act of Congress said Martha 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 Martha Ann Sprigg was of the age of fifteen years, Dark brown color, about 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.
five feet two or three inches high, sound & healthy,
free from all defects, Mentally Morally, or bodily
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Martha 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 purchase from John Parker of
Prince George's County
Maryland
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Martha Ann Sprigg was, at the
time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of six 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.
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 Martha 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 Martha 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 further states and alleges, that his said claim to the service or labor of said Martha 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 prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the
validity of his said claim to the service or labor
of said Martha 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) his X mark Horace Sprigg
Witness
Jno. M. Hanson