Title: Petition of Elizabeth A. S. Bryan, 19 May 1862

Date: May 19, 1862

Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 3. The original document is held in the Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, 1775–1978, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 217.6.5. Within the National Archives' Archival Description Catalog, see ARC Identifier 4644616 / MLR Number A1 347 (http://arcweb.archives.gov).

Civil War Washington ID: cww.00305

TEI/XML: cww.00305.xml

 

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, Elizabeth A. S. Bryan of Washington DC 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 five persons of African descent of the name of Cecilia, Mary, Maria, Eliza and Mary Coombs for and during the life of said enumerated persons and that by said act of Congress said persons were as discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Cecilia Coombs was of the age of sixty five years and of the personal description following:(1)

[Cecilia?], black complexion, dark eyes & black hair & five feet 2 inches high aged 65 years
Mary same description as Caroline aged 40 years
Maria copper colour​ dark eyes & hair & about 5 feet high aged 35 years
Eliza copper colour​ dark eyes & hair & about 5 feet 10 inches high aged 29 years
Mary the younger is very light light hair & dark eyes & about 5 feet high aged 13 years
 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said in manner following:(2) by inheritance they having belonged to Enoch Bryan died & they were taken at the appraisement value, the present claimant having administered on the Estate & the papers valuating this are on file in the probate office of the District of Columbia

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of thirty two hundred & fifty dollars in money.(3)

viz: Cecilia $250. good cook & general servant
Mary $750 first rate cook
Maria $750 do do do do
Eliza $1000 do do do Laundress & house servant
Mary $500 do do nurse
Cecilia & Mary (the two first) are black dark eyes & about 5 feet 2 in
Maria is copper color dark eyes & about 5 feet high
Eliza is copper color do do " about 5 feet 10 inches high
Mary (the last) is very light; light hair & dark eyes & about 5 feet high
Their moral mental & physical characters are good,

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 slaves into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said slaves wereas 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 slaves/or 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said 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)
Eliza A. S. Bryan
 

[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]

I, Elizabeth A. S. Bryan being duly sworn, do depose and say, that all the several matters and things which are set forth and stated in the foregoing petition, as of my own knowledge, are true in substance and in fact; and that all the several other matters and things therein set forth and stated, as from the information of others, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.

(Signed by)
Eliza A. S. Bryan

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of May A.D. 1862

(Signed by)
Geo C. Thomas Noty Pub
305
Elizabeth A. S. Bryan
Filed May 19, 1862
Filed by
Geo C. Thomas as aty.


 Note (1.)-- Here describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each one separately.

 Note (2.)-- 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.

 Note (3.)-- 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.

Transcription and encoding: Susan C. Lawrence, Janel Cayer, Elizabeth Lorang, Brittany Jones, Rhiannon Root, and Robert Voss.