Title: Petition of John E. Bates, 2 May 1862
Date: May 2, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 2. The original document is held in the Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, 1775–1978, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 217.6.5. Within the National Archives' Archival Description Catalog, see ARC Identifier 4644616 / MLR Number A1 347 (http://arcweb.archives.gov).
Civil War Washington ID: cww.00007
TEI/XML: cww.00007.xml
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, John E. Bates 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 Mary Finick a person of African descent of the name of Mary Finick a slave for and during the life of said Mary Finick and that by said act of Congress said Mary Finick 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 Mary Finick was of the age of about 18 years. and of the personal description following:(1) Dark—about 5 feet 1 inch in height stout healthy girl. Has not been confined to her bed a day since I have owned her, which has been upwards of seven years.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Mary Finick in manner following:(2) By purchase of Alfred Richards also of this city for the consideration of $350.00 Three hundred fifty dollars, when the said slave was about 11 years old as will appear by the attached bill of sale.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Mary Finick was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twelve hundred dollars in money.(3) The said girl has lived in my family since the fourteenth day of February 1855, and that she is free from all infirmity, so much so, that I have never called in a physician to attend her.
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 Mary Finick into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Mary Finick 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said Mary Finick 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 Mary Finick 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.
John E. Bates
Know all men by these presents that I Alfred Richards of the City of Washington in the District of Columbia of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars lawful money of the United States in hand paid on or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents by John E. Bates of the second part the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have bargained and sold, and by these presents do grant and convey unto the said John E. Bates of the second part his executors, administrators and ensigns a coloured girl Mary Finick To have and to hold the same until the said party of the second part, his executors, administrators, and assigns, forever.
And so do for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, covenant and agree to and with the said party of the second part to warrant and defend the sale of the said coloured girl Mary Finick hereby sold unto the said party of the second part, his executors, administrators and assigns, against all and every person or persons whomsoever.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fourteenth day of February 1855.
Alfred Richards seal Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of James Little
Jas Crandell
Washington County To wit
On this 14th day of Feb 1855. before me the subscriber Justice of the peace in and for said County personally appeared Alfred Richards and acknowledged the foregoing instrument of writing to be his act and deed according to the true intent and meaning thereof and the law in such case made and provided
Jas Crandell J.P.
Wm. McCormick Register
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, John E. Bates being duly sworn, do depose and say, that all the several matters and things which are set forth and stated in the foregoing petition, as of my own knowledge, are true in substance and in fact; and that all the several other matters and things therein set forth and stated, as from the information of others, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.
John E. Bates
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 1st day of May A. D. 1862.
Jn H Johnson, JP. seal
Justice of the Peace
James Crandell
Note (1.)-- Here describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each one separately.
Note (2.)-- 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.
Note (3.)-- 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.
