Title: Petition of John F. Bridget, 30 June 1862
Date: June 30, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 6. 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.00801
TEI/XML: cww.00801.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 F. Bridgett of Washington 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 Laura Diggs for a term of years yet to
come—until she arrives at the age of sixteen which will be in the year
1870.
for and during the life of said and that by said act of Congress said
Laura 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 Laura was of the age of eight years and of the personal description
following:(1)
dark mulatto about three years, and very
sprightly
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Laura in manner following:(2) by purchase from Mrs. Sarah Ann Duvall, as will appear by the bill of sale hereto annexed.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Laura was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of three hundred dollars in money.(3)She is very handy about the house and was getting to be very useful.
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 Laura into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Laura 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 Laura 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 Laura 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 F. Bridget
To Bill of Sale & Manumission John F. Brigett
1855
Know all men by these Presents that I, Sarah Ann Duvall,
of the City of Washington, in the District
of Columbia, for and in consideration of the sum of Ninety
dollars current money to me in hand paid by John F.
Bridget of the same City and District, the receipt whereof I
do hereby acknowledge, have granted, bargained, sold and delivered and by
these presents to grant, bargain sell and deliver unto the said
John F. Bridget, my Negro woman named
Sylvia about thirty four years of age, and her
female child about one year old, the negro woman Sylvia
to serve the said John F. Bridget the Term of Six years
from the date of this Instrument, and no longer, which term of service will
Expire on the Twentieth day of August Eighteen
hundred and Sixty one.—the negro child to serve the said
John F. Bridget until she attains the age of
Sixteen which will be in year 1870. To Have and
To Hold the said negro woman and child for and during the period aforesaid
and no longer, unto him the said John F. Bridget his
Executors, administrators and assigns with this proviso, that in the Event
of said woman and child or Either of them sold out of 
of the District of Columbia, or carried out of
the District of Columbia by virtue of sale or
agreement of sale or otherwise then the said woman and child or Either of
them sold or intended to be as aforesaid, Shall be Free Forever from and
after such violation as aforesaid.
And I the said Sarah Ann Duvall do hereby Manumit and set Free from and after the periods of servitude aforesaid, the said negro woman named Sylvia and her female child, named Laura Forever, Free and Manumitted from all manner of service or servitude, to me, my Executors, administrators, and assigns Forever.—
In Testimony Whereof I hereto Subscribe my name and affix my seal this [no handwritten text supplied here] day of August in the year of Our Lord Eighteen hundred and fifty five.—
Sarah Ann Duvall
T. C. Donn
Horatio Moran
And the Said John F. Bridget, In Evidence of his assent to the terms and restrictions named in the above and foregoing Instrument, hereto subscribes his name and affixes his Seal the day and year above written.— —
John F. Bridget seal
T. C. Donn
Horatio Moran
Washington County, to wit:
On this twentieth day of August 1855, personally appears Mrs. Sarah Ann Duvall party to the within Instrument of writing before the Subscriber and Justice of the Peace in and for the said County, and acknowledged the foregoing Instrument of writing to be her free act and deed, for the purposes therein Expressed and none other—And the woman & child therein named to be Free & Manumitted from and after the periods therein named—
Thomas C. Donn J Peace seal
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, John F. Bridget 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 F. Bridget
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 26th day of June A. D. 1862.
H. Naylor J. Peace
John F. Bridget
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.
