Title: Petition of Rosa E. Hall, 23 June 1862
Date: June 23, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 5. 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.00754
TEI/XML: cww.00754.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, Rosa E. Hall, a minor Twelve years of age by her father and guardian Baruch Hall of the City 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 a certain female colored person of African descent of the name of Mary Ann Sprigg for and during the life of said Mary Ann Sprigg and that by said act of Congress said Mary Ann Sprigg 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 Ann Sprigg was of the age of about Eight years and of the personal description following:(1) Girl—Dark brown complexion, black curly hair, black eyes, medium size for her age, Hearty and healthy
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Mary Ann Sprigg in manner following:(2) By a bequest to your Petitioner contained in the last will and testament of Jacob Hall of Prince George's Co. Md—her uncle—who departed this life in the Fall of the year 1858—And that the said will is admitted to record in the said last mentioned County—And that no one claims any right title or interest in or to the said Thomas Sprigg but your Petitioner.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Mary Ann Sprigg was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Five Hundred dollars in money.(3) That the said Mary Ann Sprigg is a hearty & healthy girl—Of a very quick and sprightly mind, and remarkably intelligent for her age—That she has no moral, mental or bodily defect or infirmity whatsoever known to your Petitioner—and he believes that none such exist.
Your petitioner by her guardian, and her guardian for
himself hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government
of the United States, and that they
hasve not borne arms against the
United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort
thereto.
And your petitioner by her guardian, and her guardian for
himself further states and alleges, that they hasve
not brought said Mary Ann
Sprigg into the District of Columbia since the passage of
said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Mary Ann Sprigg was held to
service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such
service or labor.
Your petitioner by her guardian and her guardian for
himself further states and alleges, that his said claim to the service or labor of said Mary Ann Sprigg 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 by her guardian prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of her said claim to the service or labor of said Mary Ann Sprigg 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.
Baruch Hall as Guardian for Rose E Hall
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Baruch Hall as guardian and father of Rosa E. Hall a minor of twelve years of age, and for himself 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.
Baruch Hall as Guardian for Rose E Hall
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 2nd day of June A. D. 1862.
F. I. Murphey J.P.
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.
