Document 1:
Title: Petition of Teresa Ann Saffell, Ann M. Young, John T. Saffell, Richard Saffell, James L. Saffell, and Mary C. Saffell, 7 October 1862
Date: October 7, 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).
Document 2:
Title: Evidence Relating to the Petition of Teresa Ann Saffell, 7 October 1862
Date: July 29, 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).
Document 3:
Title: Schedule for the Petition of Teresa Ann Saffell, Ann M. Young, John T. Saffell, Richard Saffell, James L. Saffell, and Mary C. Saffell, 7 October 1862
Date: October 10, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 433, Reel 3. The original document is held in the Records of the District Courts of the United States, 1685–2004, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 21. Within the National Archives' Archival Description Catalog, see ARC Identifier 4314547 / MLR Number NC-2 33 (http://arcweb.archives.gov).
Civil War Washington ID: cww.01085
TEI/XML: cww.01085.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 Petitioners Teresa Ann Saffell, Ann M. Young, Wife of Wm. H. Young, John T. Saffell, Richard Saffell, James L. Saffell & Mary C. Saffell by this their petition in writing, represents and states, that they are is a persons 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 two male and four female persons of African descent of the names of Alice Addison, Rachel Addison, Mary Ann Addison, Alice Addison (Grand child of the first Alice,) George Addison and James Addison, for and during the life of said six persons and that by said act of Congress said six persons claim to have been discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said six persons were of the ages of and of the personal description following:(1) namely,
- Alice Addison, aged about 55 years, Brown color, 5 ft. 4 inches high very healthy and strong—a good cook and house servant.
- Rachel Addison, daughter of Alice, aged about 24 years, Brown color—about 5 ft. 8 inches high, healthy and strong, and a good servant.
- Mary Ann Addison, daughter of Alice, aged about 26 years, Brown color, about 5 ft. 6 inches high—heavy built and healthy.—
- George Addison, Son of Mary Ann, aged 10 years, Brown color, about 4 feet 6 inches high, slim and healthy.
- Alice Addison, Daughter of Mary Ann, aged 3 years, Brown color, ordinary size, and healthy.
- James Addison, Son of Mary Ann, aged 9 months;—healthy.
in Montgomery County, Maryland, where they remained until the 28th of September last, when they returned and claimed their freedom.
That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said six persons, in manner following:(2) The old woman Alice was purchased about forty six years ago by Charles Saffell, Father of Thomas W. Saffell the husband of Terea Saffell, and the others have all been born in the family. They know of no public record of their title, but believe Alice cost $95.00 when she was nine years old.
That your petitioner's' claim to the service or labor of said six persons was, at the time of the passage of said Act said discharge therefrom, of the value of the following dollars in money.(3)viz:—
| Alice Addison, | 55 years old | $500.— |
| Mary Ann Addison, | 26 years old | 1,000.— |
| Rachel Addison, | 24 do. " | 1,100.— |
| George Addison, | 10 do. " | 500.— |
| Alice Addison, (Daughter of Mary Ann) | 3 years old | 200.— |
| James Addison, | 9 months old | 50.— |
| $3,350.— |
Your petitioners hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that they have has not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.
And your petitioners further states and alleges, that they have has not brought said six persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress but they came themselves;; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said six persons were was held to service or labor then in Maryland, therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.
Your petitioners further states and alleges, that their said claim to the service or labor of said six persons 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 petitioners prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of their said claim to the service or labor of said six persons 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.
Teresa Ann Saffell
Ann M Young
John T. Saffell
Richard Saffell
Jas. L Saffell
Mary C Saffell
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
We, Teresa Ann Saffell, Ann M. Young, John T. Saffell, Richard Saffell, James L. Saffell, and Mary C. Saffell, 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 our 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, we I believe to be true in substance and in fact.
Teresa Ann Saffell
Ann M Young
John T. Saffell
Richard Saffell
Jas. L Saffell
Mary C Saffell
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 6th day of A. D. 1862 day of October A.D. 1862.
Edm. F. Brown,
Notary Public
Wm. R. Smith. I have been in Pet house but a very few days since. The servants acknowledge Pet as their owner. They came home to Pets from Maryland on Saturday last Mrs Saffel has a son in the Paymaster's Office. They talked but little on subject of Country. I dont think she has ever said any thing to me one way or the other.
Richard Taylor. I know these servants to be Pets. Known Pet 12 years. They were owned by Mrs Saffels husband. I know Pets are loyal. I never heard any thing contrary to Union. I have heard her say she was for Union & for [sustaining?] union. two sons in 3 month service
Servants were sent away just before law passed at servants at own request. Mrs S. asked them whether they wanted to go away or stay & be free. they said they would rather go away & live with her. She took them to Maryland [where?] they could get a house to live in. I do not [damage] why they came back. I understand they came back & came right to her house as they did not want Mrs S [to be the loser?].
Charles Saffel. I know the Pets. I am married and in my marriage my mother paid me my share of the personal estate. I have no interest in this case. I was one of the 3 mos volunteers.
I know all Pets (mother and sisters are loyal, in favor of govt & agt secession & rebellion & for [illegible] arm. I know these servants belong to my mother & sisters. They went away of their own volition for fear they would be colonized.
[Sold by W. H. & O. H. Morrison, Booksellers.
You will please file and record in your office the annexed statement and schedule, under the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An act for the relief of said persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia," approved April 16th, 1862:
| Name. | Age. | Sex. | Particular Description. |
| Alice Addison | about 55 years | Female | Brown color–5 ft. 4 inches high–healthy and strong. |
| Rachel Addison her daughter | about 24 years | Female | Brown color, about 5 ft. 8 inches high–healthy and strong. |
| Mary Ann Addison Daughter of Alice | 26 years | Female | Brown color, about 5 ft. 6 inches high–heavy built, and healthy. |
| George Addison–son of Mary Ann | 10 years | Male | Brown color–about 4 ft. 6 in. high–slim and healthy. |
| Alice Addison, Daughter of Mary Ann | 3 years | Female | Brown color–healthy. |
| James Addison–Son of Mary Ann. | 9 months | Male | Brown color–healthy. |
The persons mentioned in the foregoing schedule were, by reason of African descent and acquired title, as our property, and by us held to service and labor in the State of Maryland District of Columbia at the time the act of Congress above cited was approved, the benefit of which is hereby claimed;—they left this city on the 13th of April last, three days before the approval of the said Act, because they feared they would be colonized in Africa, and to avoid that they went to their Father who is the slave of Harry Cook in Montgomery County, Maryland, where they remained until the 28th of September last, when they returned here and claimed their freedom under the above cited Act.
Teresa Ann Saffel
Anna M Young
John L. Saffell
Richard Saffell
Jas. L. Saffell
Mary C. Saffell
The claimants of the within named servants appeared before the commissioners with the servants for valuation and that a report of the case may be made to Congress for compensation, for which they have petitioned and the servants are now in the Dist of Columbia by the consent of said claimants, who ask that free papers be issued to them, to which they are therefore entitled under the act of 12th July 1862.
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.
