Title: Petition of Theodore Bailey, 28 May 1862
Date: May 28, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 4. 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.00519
TEI/XML: cww.00519.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,
Theodore Bailey of Washington 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 one person of African
descent of the name of Maria
for and during the time
life of said Maria until
she shall have reached the age of thirty five, and that by said act of
Congress said Maria is
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 Twenty two years and of the personal description
following:(1)
Maria is a female Light complexion, woolley hair, has a part of a front tooth broken out, and is about five
feet three inches high
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Maria in manner following:(2) By a bill of sale from Lewis Bailey, of Fairfax County Virginia, dated April 8th 1862; Said Lewis Bailey having acquired a title to her by a bill of sale from Marietta S. Minor, dated April 8th 1852. Both these bills of sale are filed with this claim. The first named bill of sale was for $250, and the other, for $220.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Maria was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of two hundred & twenty dollars in money.(3) Said Maria is a first rate family servant, Cook, and Washes well; and has no bodily or mental infirmities to the best of my belief or Knowledge; and was bound to serve Twelve Years, Four Months and Eighteen days.
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 Maria into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Maria 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 Maria 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 Maria 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.
Theodore Bailey
Bill of Sale
to
Theodore Bailey
To all whome it may Concern this is to testify that I have this day Sold to Theodore Bailey of Washington City My Servant Girl Maria Said Girl was purchased by me of Marietta S. Minor for a Term of Years. Said Girl to be free when She arrived at Thirty Five years of age, and the said Girl is to Serve the Said Theodore Bailey Twelve Years Four Months and Eighteen days from the above date.—
I have this day transferred to the said Theodore Bailey a Certain Bond Dated April 8the 1852 from the Said Marietta S. Minor which will Show my Title to the Services of Said Girl.
Lewis Bailey Seal
Bill of Sale to
Lewis Bailey
Know all men by these presents, that I, Marietta S.
Minor, of Alexandria County and
State of Virginia, in consideration of the sum of
two hundred and fifty dollars, to me in hand pd. by Lewis Bailey, of Fairfax
County and state aforesaid, before the execution of these
presents, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, have bargained, sold
and assigned, and do hereby bargain, sell and assign unto the said
Lewis Bailey a certain negro girl, named
Maria, who is a servant for years, and to be free
when she shall have completed her thirty fifth year. To have and to hold
said girl, to the only proper use and behoof of the said Lewis
Bailey, his executors, administrators and assigns, for and
during the term and time of twenty two years, four months and eighteen days,
from the date of these presents, at the expiration of which time, and not
before, the said girl will have completed her thirty fifth year. And I, the
said Marietta S. Minor, do, for myself, my executors,
administrators and assigns, covenant to and with the said Lewis
Bailey, that I have good right, full power and lawful and
absolute title and authority to bargain 
sell and assign the said girl for and during
the term of time aforesaid, in manner and form aforesaid, and I do hereby,
for myself, my executors, administrators and assigns, the said girl for the
term and time aforesaid, unto the said Lewis Bailey,
his executors, administrators and assigns, against me, the said
Marietta S. Minor, my executors, administrators and
assigns, and against all and every other person or persons whatsoever,
warrant and defend.
In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal, this eigth day of April, in the year A. D. eighteen hundred and fifty two
Marietta S Minor Seal
April the 8th 1862 I hereby Certify that I have this day Sold to Theodore Bailey of Washington City the above described Girl.
Lewis Bailey Seal
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Theodore Bailey 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.
Theodore Bailey
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 26th day of May A. D. 1862.
T. H. Lane
J. Peace
Petition of
Theodore Bailey
Stephen Bailey
Harry Bailey
both of Washington D.C
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.
