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,
Robert E. Taylor
of
Washington City 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
Sarah Ann Chandler
for and during the life of said
Sarah Ann
and that by said act of Congress said
Sarah Ann 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
Sarah Ann was
of the age of nineteen years or there about
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.
light chestnut brown colour about five feet five
inches high, hale and healthy girl no defects of any kind about her.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Sarah Ann
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.
by will and testament of Emeline Ward of Charles County
Maryland to my wife, then Mary E. Nash, of the same place.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Sarah Ann
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, 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.
I have been offered for her services
Eight dollars per month
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
Sarah Ann
into the District of Columbia since the passage of
said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Sarah Ann
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 the said claim to the service or labor of said
Sarah Ann
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
Sarah Ann
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)
Robert E Taylor