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,
Martha Manning
of
Prince George Co. Md.
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 Ten persons of African descent of the names of
Judy Harris, Sarah Waters,
Mary Clare Waters, Lucy Waters
Mary Louisa Waters
Charles Harris, Lorenzo Waters
James Waters
William J. Waters & Nicholas
Bowie
for and during the life of said persons and
that by said act of Congress said persons were
discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or
labor; that at the time of said discharge said
Judy Harris was of the age of Fifty 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.
Stout, copper colored woman, Five feet three inches high
grey hair.
Said Sarah Harris, was of the age of
Twenty Five years, dark mulatto woman, Five feet Five inches high.
Said Mary Clare Waters, was of the age
of Twenty seven years. Bright mulatto. Five feet six inches high. Stout.
Lucy Waters, was twelve years of age, Dark mulatto Four
feet six inches high
Mary Louisa Waters, was Three years of age, Bright mulatto,
Three feet high
Charles Harris, was of the age of Twenty years, Five feet
Ten inches high, Bright mulatto.
Lorenzo Waters, was Seven years of age. Bright mulatto.
Four feet high
James Waters, was nine years of age Bright Mulatto, Four
feet three inches high.
William Joseph Waters, was Two years of age, Black Two feet
high
Nicholas Bowie, was Fifteen years of age, Five feet high.
Black.
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.
Judy Harris was willed to me by my Father, about the
year 1813. Sarah
Waters, Mary Clare Waters,
Charles Harris, Lucy Waters,
Mary Louisa Waters, Lorenzo
Waters
James Waters, Wm J. Waters are
children and grand children of said Judy Harris born
since she was willed to me, which said will is Recorded in Port
Tobacco Maryland, Nicholas Bowie is the
child of Eliza Bowie also willed to me by my Father,
Henry Diggs, deceased.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of Eight thousand 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.
All of them were good house servants I have never had
any trouble with them they have always been honest. I have never had any
complaint about them.
The woman Sarah Waters has the Asthma,
all the others are sound & healthy.
I know of no moral, mental, or bodily infirmities that any
of them have.
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
as 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)
Martha Manning