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,
William S. Duvall of Washington
D.C. and Robert Adamson of
Montgomery Co. Md; trustees of John
Smith (deceased) of Washington City
(deceased) by this their petition in
writing, represents and states, that they are
is a persons 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 Tyler, Mary E Tyler and
Sarah A. M. Tyler (as trustees of said deceased)
Coloured
Colored
persons of African descent of the name
of
as aforesaid for and during the life of said
Margaret, Mary E. and
Sarah A. M.
and that by said act of Congress said
Margaret, Mary E. and
Sarah A. M. 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 was of the age of thirty three 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.
to wit Bright Mulatto about 5 feet 2 inches in height
tolerable Healthy Good washer and ironer
Said Mary E. about nine years old
Mulatto and Said Sarah A. M. Mulatto aged about three years
old
That your petitioner acquired their claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Coloured
Colored
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.
to wit as trustees of the Last Will and testament of
John Smith Deceased late of Washington
City D.C. who died about 5 or 6 years since, The Said
Smith obtained Said Margaret
by purchase Oct 12 1847 of C. C.
Hyatt of Bladensburgh Prince Geo. Co.
Md. The said Mary E. A. Being her Child
and Born in the family of said Smith. The Youngest
Child Sarah A. M. also Being the Child of said
Margaret and was Born since the decease of her said
Master, Smith and since said Petitioner having the
Custody of her said Mother as trustee as aforesaid
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Coloured
Colored
Persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the
value of dollars in money.fourteen
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.
hundred Dollars in Money. The said
Margaret Eight hundred dollars and the said
Mary E. A. the sum of Four hundred Dollars and the
said Sarah A. M. Two hundred Dollars to the Best of our
Knowledge and Belief We Believe they have no Moral Defect
Your petitioners hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance
to the Government of the United States, and that they hasve not borne arms
against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or
comfort thereto.
And your petitioners further states and alleges,
that they hasve not brought said
Coloured
Colored
Persons into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said
Coloured
Colored
Persons held to service or labor therein under and by virtue
of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.
Your petitioners further states and alleges, that
their said claim to the service or labor of
said
Coloured
Colored
Persons 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 their said claim to the service or
labor of said
Coloured
Colored
Persons 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)
Wm S. Duvall
Robt L. Adamson