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,
Catharine Palmer
of
New York but now residing in 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
Elizabeth Jackson
person of African descent of the name of for and during the
life of said
Elizabeth Jackson
and that by said act of Congress said
Elizabeth Jackson
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
Elizabeth Jackson
of the age of fifteen 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.
Complexion |
Light Mulatto. |
Eyes |
Black. |
Hair |
Black. |
Height |
Five Feet & two inches. |
stout & healthy |
|
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Elizabeth Jackson
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 gift from her husband General J. N.
Palmer
U.S. Army (who is now with the army under General
McClellan) in May 1855. his
title of her having been acquired by purchase from one George
Stevenson of St. Louis Missouri
September 23d 1852 for the sum of one hundred and
fifty dollars. The bill of sale is in possession of petitioner & if
necessary will be exhibited.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Elizabeth Jackson
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 that her value was much enhanced by her having been
thought if as it were in the family of your petitioner all of whose children
she has served. And your petitioner further states that the said
Elizabeth Jackson is free from all bodily &
mental infirmities.
Your petitioner further states that the said
Elizabeth Jackson is an excellent domestic servant that
eighteen months since she refused a check of one thousand dollars for her
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
Elizabeth Jackson
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 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said
Elizabeth Jackson
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 the said claim to the service or labor
of said
Elizabeth Jackson
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)
Catharine Palmer