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, Judson Richardson,
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, at the time of the passage of the said act of Congress, held a claim to
service or labor against two persons of African descent of the names of Reny
Anne, and Johana 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.
Reny Anne is about twenty-nine
years of age, dark color, medium height, sound and healthy in body and mind,
she is a first-rate cook washer & ironer, and has the best character for honesty and
intelligence.
"Joana, Daughter of the above is
about thirteen years old, dark color, well grown, sound & healthy in
body and mind, a good house servant, and has an excellent
character
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 G. S. Larter of
Charles County
Maryland—see short copy of judgment
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 twenty-three 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.Reny Anne
fourteen hundred
dolls
dollars
and Johana nine hundred
dolls
dollars
. And I further aver that I know of no infirmity or defect which
impairs my claim to the service of said persons, and 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 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) Judson
Richardson