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, Hester A.
Wheeler of George Town
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 a person of African
descent of the name of Emily
Herbert for and during the life of said Emily Herbert and that by said
act of Congress said Emily Herbert
is discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to
such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Emily Herbert of the age of
fifty three 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 a tall fine looking woman unusually stout, straight
black hair, black eyes, light colored, rather pleasing appearance.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Emily
Herbert 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.
The right and title to said Emily
Herbert is in lieu of your petitioner's interest in the real
estate of her late husband, sanctioned by the Chancellor of the
State of Maryland.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Emily Herbert was, at the time
of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twelve
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.Your petitioner considers her claim to the amount named, enhanced on account
of the unexceptionable moral character of said Emily
Herbert, rendering her invaluable to your petitioner, also
there being no mental or bodily infirmities to impair said claim.
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 Emily Herbert into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said Emily
Herbert 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said Emily Herbert 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 Emily Herbert 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) Hester A. Wheeler