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,
Rosa O. Garrett
of
Washington 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 Two persons of African descent of the name of
Louisa Noble & Eliza Noble,
her daughter for and during the life of said
Louisa Noble & Eliza Noble,
her daughter and that by said act of Congress said
Louisa Noble & Eliza Noble,
her daughter are discharged and freed of and from all claim of your
petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said
Louisa Noble was of the age of between 45 and 50 years, & said Eliza
Noble was of the age of 16 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.
Said Louisa Noble is about 5 ft. 5 in.
in height, color dark, disposition good, honest & faithful, is a good cook,
washer & ironer. She paid me ten dollars per month while on hire:
Said Eliza Noble is about 5 ft. in
height, color dark, disposition amiable,—as to her other qualities I know
nothing, as she has always lived with and been under the control of her mother,
the above named Louisa Noble.
That your petitioner acquired title & claim to
the aforesaid service or labor of said
Louisa & Eliza Noble
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.
Ceasar A. Garrett, husband (now deceased) of
Rosa O. Garrett, you petitioner, inherited the
first named Louisa Noble now his Father's Estate, who
was transferred by the aforesaid Ceaser A. Garrett, by
bill of Sale, to his wife, the aforesaid Rosa O.
Garrett, which bill of Sale on Transfer is of record at
Marlborough Court.
Witnesses: Louisa Jane Simpson &
W. H. Gunton, President of the Washington Bank.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Louisa & Eliza Noble
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of One 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.
The aforesaid Louisa Noble is
possessed of no physical disease on disability that I am aware of; and the
aforesaid Eliza Noble is apparently strong and
healthy.
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
Louisa & Eliza Noble
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress;
and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Louisa & Eliza Noble
was
wereheld 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 right
of said claim to the service or labor of said
Louisa & Eliza Noble
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 right of said claim to the service or
labor of said
Louisa & Elizabeth Noble
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)
Washington City D.C.
May 12, 1862
Rosa O. Garrett