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 Petitioners Teresa Ann Saffell, Ann M. Young, Wife of Wm. H. Young, John T. Saffell, Richard Saffell, James L. Saffell & Mary C. Saffell by this their petition in writing, represents and states, that they are is a persons 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 male and four female persons of African descent of the names of Alice Addison, Rachel Addison, Mary Ann Addison, Alice Addison (Grand child of the first Alice,) George Addison and James Addison, for and during the life of said six persons and that by said act of Congress said six persons claim to have been discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said six 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. namely,
Alice Addison, aged about 55 years, Brown color, 5 ft. 4 inches high very healthy and strong—a good cook and house servant.
Rachel Addison, daughter of Alice, aged about 24 years, Brown color—about 5 ft. 8 inches high, healthy and strong, and a good servant.
Mary Ann Addison, daughter of Alice, aged about 26 years, Brown color, about 5 ft. 6 inches high—heavy built and healthy.—
George Addison, Son of Mary Ann, aged 10 years, Brown color, about 4 feet 6 inches high, slim and healthy.
Alice Addison, Daughter of Mary Ann, aged 3 years, Brown color, ordinary size, and healthy.
James Addison, Son of Mary Ann, aged 9 months;—healthy.
The above named all left this City on the 13th of April last, because they supposed the Emancipation Act would soon pass and they would be colonized in Africa; and to escape colonization they went to their Father who is the slave of Harry Cook
in Montgomery County, Maryland, where they remained until the 28th of September last, when they returned and claimed their freedom.
That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said six 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. The old woman Alice was purchased about forty six years ago by Charles Saffell, Father of Thomas W. Saffell the husband of Terea Saffell, and the others have all been born in the family. They know of no public record of their title, but believe Alice cost $95.00 when she was nine years old.
That your petitioner's' claim to the service or labor of said six persons was, at the time of the passage of said Act said discharge therefrom, of the value of the following 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.viz:—
Alice Addison, |
55 years old |
$500.— |
Mary Ann Addison, |
26 years old |
1,000.— |
Rachel Addison, |
24 do. " |
1,100.— |
George Addison, |
10 do. " |
500.— |
Alice Addison, (Daughter of Mary Ann) |
3 years old |
200.— |
James Addison, |
9 months old |
50.— |
|
|
$3,350.— |
They are all sound and healthy and have no infirmities or defects to impair their value herein stated.
Your petitioners hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that they have has not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.
And your petitioners further states and alleges, that they have has not brought said six persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress but they came themselves;; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said six persons were was held to service or labor then in Maryland, therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.
Your petitioners further states and alleges, that their said claim to the service or labor of said six 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 petitioners prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of their said claim to the service or labor of said six 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) Teresa Ann Saffell
Ann M Young
John T. Saffell
Richard Saffell
Jas. L Saffell
Mary C Saffell