Civil War Washington

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, Margaret Loughborough 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 six persons of African descent of the name of Jeffrey Beall, Mary Lee, William Lee, Loretto Lee, John Lee (the said John William & Loretto being the sons of Mary Lee) & the infant male child of said Mary Lee not christened for and during the life lives of said Jeffrey, Mary, John, William, Loretto & said infant and that by said act of Congress said Jeffrey, Mary, John, William, Loretto & said infant. 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 Jeffrey, Mary, John, William, Loretto & said infant were of the age of Thirty eight years, twenty nine years, eight years, four years, two years and two months respectively and of the personal description following:(1)

• Jeffrey chestnut colored, about six feet in height & lame.
• Mary a mulatto with dark freckles about five feet two inches in height
• John Chestnut colored & well-grown for his age
• William chestnut colored & also well grown
• Loretto Light mulatto & well grown
• & the infant also light mulatto.

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) She purchased Jeffrey about ten years ago from Mrs Margaret H. Loughborough of Washington County D.C. for the sum of Seven Hundred dollars. She also purchased Mary Lee with her child John Lee (the only child then born) about five years ago from Commander Simon Bissell U. S. Navy for the sum of fifteen hundred dollars. William Loretto & the infant, children of Mary were born [while?] sh was held to service or labor by petitioner.

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 thirty two hundred dollars in money.(3) Jeffrey is a most excellent house servant & waiter. He is capable & honest. Her children are likely & promising. Your Petitioner knows of no defect or infirmity in said persons other than that Jeffrey is lame as above stated.

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 or any of them 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 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said slaves 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 slaves 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.