[It is believed the following form of a Petition embodies all the facts
necessary to be stated in an ordinary case of a claim under the act to the
service of one person only. Where the value of the service of more than one
person is claimed in the same petition, the form must be modified and adapted to
the circumstances of the case:]
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, Albert B.
Berry of 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 three persons of African descent of the
names of Maria Lee
Lee and Sandy Bowie for and
during the life
lives of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons werewas discharged and freed of and from all claim
of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge
said Maria was of the age of
about 27 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.
light copper colored woman Lee
(Maria's child) is a copper colored boy seven years
of age Sandy Bowie is about fourteen years old, black
boy
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.
Maria was purchased of
Chas. Eversfield of Maryland
and was born while she was owned by petitioner,
Sandy's mother was owned by petitioner and
Sandy was hired out in the District of
Columbia
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 $2400 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.Maria is an house
servant, good cook, washer & ironer, valued at
$1200——Lee is strong and healthy valued
at $400 Sandy is a strong & healthy boy, valued at
$800—To the best of your petitioner's knowledge said persons are free
from any infirmities bodily mental or moral
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) A B Berry
per
Benjamin Berry
Atty
Attorney
1862 Oct 28, name of Sandy
having been inserted by mistake instead of Frank the name
was inserted—