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, Hannah Walker
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 names of Louisa Delaney, &
Margaret Delaney. for and during the life of
said persons and that by said act of Congress said
persons 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 Louisa Delaney,
was of the age of Twenty one 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.
Dark brown color, Five feet three inches high, very
Stout, said woman Margaret Delaney, was of the age of
nineteen years, of a bright chesnutchestnut color, Five feet Two inches high, scar
on right lower jaw.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said persons 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.
said women my husband John Walker,
bought for me and in my name, about Thirteen years ago, as will more fully
appear by Bill of sale filed herewith.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of Two 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.said women are both sound &
healthy good and honest servants They have been in my family for the past
Thirteen years.
I know of no moral, mental, or bodily infirmities in
either of said women they are both perfectly sound & 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 women into the
District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said women were 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 women 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 women 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) Hannah M
Walker