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,
Owen Leddy
of
Washington City
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 two female slaves
persons of African descent of the name of
Mary and Emily Bronaugh
for and during the life of said
Mary & Emily
and that by said act of Congress said
Mary & Emily 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
Mary & Emily were of
the ages of 15 & 12
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.
Mary of Brown color
Emily of Black color.
both well grown for their ages, no marks or scars to
designate specially.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Mary & Emily
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.
They were born of my slaves, purchased in the State of
Virginia about 23 years ago, and duly recorded in
this District in 1846, at which time I removed to
this city from the state of Virginia
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Mary and Emily
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Sixteen 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.
These girls have been raised as household servants, are
of good character and I know of no infirmity or defect to exist to impair
their value or usefulness
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
Mary & Emily
into the District of Columbia since the passage of
said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Mary & Emily
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 his said claim to the service or labor of said
Mary & Emily
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
Mary & Emily
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)
Owen Leddy