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, Elizabeth
O'Reiley of Georgetown
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
The following slaves persons of African descent of the name of James Smith
Mary Smith and Dick Smith
for and during the life of said servants and that by said act of Congress
said slaves here 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 Elizabeth
O'Reiley was Eighty years was of the age of age 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.
- 1. James Smith, Black aged 28 worth $1200
- 2. Mary Smith, Black " 35 " $600
- 3. Dick Smith, Mulatto " 22 " $1200
all these negroes are healthy & strong with no
bodily, moral or mental defects.
That your petitioner acquired this claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said slaves 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 descent
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said slaves was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of three 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.
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 slaves into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said slaves
wasere held to service or labor
therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.
by descent
Your petitioner further states and alleges, that her said claim to the service or labor of said negroes 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 of Said negroes 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)
Elizabeth O'Reiley