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,
George Ailer
of
Washington D.C.
by this his petition in writing, represents
and states, that he 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 one female a
person of African descent of the name of
Meary H. Straht
for and during the life of said
Mary H. Straht
and that by said act of Congress said
Mary H. Straht 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
Mary H. Straht
of the age of
forty 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.
She is below the medium height, black, strong and
squarely build and is near sighted, has no other marks by which she can be
more particularly described.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Mary H. Straht
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.
he purchased her and her mother from Mrs
Tanner of Washington City about thirty
seven years since—the mother died many years ago. your petitioner has no
recollection of any writing in relation to the purchase
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Mary H. Straht
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of seven hundred 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.
She has been healthy from a child, is
a first rate domestic servant, acquainted with all kinds of house work.
sound in body and mind, and an only defect known is that before mentioned of
shortness of vision.
Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true and faithful allegiance to the
Government of the United States, and that he 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 he has not brought said
Mary H. Straht
into the District of Columbia since the passage of
said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Mary H. Straht
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 his said claim to the service or labor of said
Mary H. Straht
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 his said claim to the service or labor
of said
Mary H. Straht
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)
G Ailer