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,
Catharine Windsor
of
Washington City DC
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 Eight
Coloured
Colored
persons of African descent of the names of
Jemima Brown, Daniel Brown,
Cornelia Hampton, Caroline
West, Julia Wallace
Noah Wallace, Daniel Wallace and
Lester Wallace
for and during the life of said Servants
and that by said act of Congress said Servants 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
Jemima
was of the age of Seventy three 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.
Copper
Colour
Color
healthy for a Person as far advanced in Years.
Daniel forty Seven Years, Black, Healthy and active
and very valuable Cornelia thirty Six Years old, Black
very Healthy and valuable. Caroline aged sixty Years.
Black Healthy and a Good Servant. Julia aged sixteen
Years. Very healthy. Noah Eleven Years old, Black, and
healthy. Daniel Eleven Years old and twin with
Noah, healthy. Both Servant Boys, and
Lester Eight Years, Black healthy
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Servants 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 Inheritance of her father (Richard S.
Windsor of Fairfax Co State of
Virginia.) and the increase. Excepting Cornelia
Hampton and Daniel Brown. Whom I
purchased from my fathers estate and from her brother Lofton
Windsor about nine Years Since for
Caroline and five Years for Said
Daniel
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Servants was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of six thousand five
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.
To Wit one hundred dollars for
Jemima. One thousand Dollars for
Daniel the Elder. One thousand Dollars for
Cornelia. One thousand for
Caroline. Julia Eleven hundred
Dollars, Noah Eight hundred dollars
Daniel Eight hundred Dollars and
Lester Seven hundred Dollars. With the exception of
Jemima they all Being healthy active able to
Labour
Labor
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 Servants into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Servants 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 she said claim to the service or labor of said Servants 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 Servants 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)
Catharine Windsor