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,
Anna E. Stone
of
Georgetown District of Columbia
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
female person of African descent of the name of
Clara Adely
for and during the life of said
Clara Adely
and that by said act of Congress said
Clara Adely 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
Clara Adely
was of the age of about 17 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.
light color, healthy no particular marks, medium
stature
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Clara Adely
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.
she was given to your petitioner when quite a small
child about ten years ago by your petitioners Grandmother Mrs.
Elizabeth Deitrich late of Washington County
Maryland deceased
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Clara Adely
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of six 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.
said Clara was healthy, a good cook & washer,
said disposition honest & reliable
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
Clara Adely
into the District of Columbia since the passage of
said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Clara Adely
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 she
said claim to the service or labor of said
Clara Adely
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
Clara Adely
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)
Anna E. Stone