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,
Susanna Monroe
of
Washington City
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
Margaret Ann Wheeler and Judy
Smith
persons of African descent of the name of
Margaret Ann Wheeler and Judy
Smith
for and during the life of said
Margaret Ann Wheeler and Judy
Smith
and that by said act of Congress said
Margaret Ann Wheeler and Judy
Smith 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
Margaret Ann Wheeler was the age of thirty three years
and Judy Smith was of the age of about sixty 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.
Margaret Ann Wheeler is five feet ten inches high
black, stout, & thick. she is a valuable house servant being a good cook
washer and Ironer she is without mark or blemish.
Judy Smith is a light copper color
nearly six feet high and has been a valuable servant and her value is only
impaired by her age. her services are still valuable to your petitioner as he
she is able to go about mind children and do light work generally. She has no
mark or blemish by which she can be further described.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
M A Wheeler and Judy Smith
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 deed from her father Thomas
Monroe which deed is of record at Port Tobacco
Maryland
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Margaret Ann Wheeler
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.
and for Judy Smith of the value of
one hundred dollars in money.
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
M A Wheeler and Judy Smith
into the District of Columbia since the passage of
said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
M A Wheeler and Judy Smith
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 she said claim to the service or labor of said
M A Wheeler and Judy Smith
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
M A Wheeler and Judy Smith
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)
Susanna Monroe