Civil War Washington

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, Frances J. Jones of Washington, D.C. by this her petition in writing, represents and states, that She 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 female and two male Servants, persons of African descent of the name of Susan Page James Page and Edward Page for and during the life of said Susan Page, James Page and Edward Page and that by said act of Congress said Susan Page, James Page and Edward Page 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 Susan Page was about forty years old, of the age of James Page in his Seventeenth year and Edward Page in his twelfth year and of the personal description following:(1) Susan, the mother of the said James and Edward above named, is of dark complexion, of pleasant countenance and address, of sound health and bears no particular mark of which She may be known

James Page, born in Petersburg, Va. on the 6th day of November 1845, of Slight, Straight figure, light brown complexion and has no particular mark of which he might be identified, and is of Sound bodily health, and has no infirmity of body or mind.

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Susan, James and Edward in manner following:(2) George H Jones purchased in December 1839 of Benj. H. [Cumpland?], MD, of Petersburg, Va. Susan Meredith (now Susan Page) for the Sum of Seven hundred dollars ($700.) Said money being a legacy left to claimant and wife of Said George H. Jones (now his widow) who being desirous to Secure to said claimant and equivalent therefore did purchase the Said Susan for claimants​ Sole use and benefit, as an indenture made on the 29th January 1840, recorded in the Clerks office of the [illegible] Court, in the town of Petersburg will more fully set forth and prove. Said Susan was married in June 1842 at the residence of Geo. H. Jones to James Page a slave owned by John Pollard Esq. in Petersburg aforesaid, by whom she had three children, two of which are now living and herein named and described.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Susan, James & Edward Page was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of twenty one hundred dollars in money.(3) The Said Susan Page accompanied the Said Geo. H. Jones on his removal from Petersburg to the City of Washington in the year 1845, bringing with her her two oldest children, and has ever since remained a member of the household, always sustaining a high character for faithfulness and honesty, which principles she had endeavored to instill in the minds of her children. The worth of these Servants to me, especially Susan, can not be estimated by dollars and cents. I would again State that I have no knowledge of their having any bodily or mental infirmity.

Your petitioner hereby declares that She bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that She 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 She has not brought said Susan, James & Edward Page into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Susan, James & Edward Page 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said Susan, James & Edward Page 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said Susan, James & Edward Page 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.