This petition was completed in very light pencil and only
several marks are visible from the original microfilm despite heavy image
adjustment.
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,
Ann E. Beall
of
Washington City, 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 certain persons
discharged therefrom by said act being persons of African descent of the names of
Barbary
Robinson and Robert
for and during the life of said persons and
that by said act of Congress said persons were
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 Barbary was of the age of about
fourty
forty
six years and of the personal description following:Here describe the person, so as to identify him or
her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each one
separately.
of a dark brown color, short of stature stout & strong built;
and said Robert was of the age of twenty two years, of a dark brown color, about five feet ten inches high and of a spare build.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following: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.
Said Barbary was bequeathed to her by Mrs Rachel W. Turner, of Prince Georges County, in the State of Maryland, by her last will and testament dated and recorded among the public records of said Prince George's County; and said Robert became her property by birth, being the son of said Barbary, which said Barbary was the slave of your petitioner at the time of the birth of said Robert
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom she thinks, of the value of Fifteen Hundred dollars in money.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.
Said Robert is a sprightly, active man, and has been employed as a waiter in hotels and boarding houses in this city at good wages.—Barbary is a healthy able-bodied woman, capable of performing as much labor as most men of her age.—The value of Robert is about one thousand dollars and that of Barbary about Five Hundred Dollars.
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 persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons were 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 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 petitioner prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the
validity of her said claim to the service or labor
of said 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.
(Signed by)
Ann E. Beall