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,
Alfred R. Edelin
of
Washington City D.C.
by this his petition in writing,
represents and states, that he 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 four persons of African descent of the
name of
Mary Loggins, Jane Loggins,
Alice Mealy, and Margaret Loggins
for and during the life of said
Mary Loggins, Jane Loggins,
Alice Mealy, and Margaret Loggins
and that by said act of Congress said
Mary Loggins, Jane Loggins,
Alice Mealy, and Margaret
Loggins 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
Mary Loggins, Jane
Loggins, Alice Mealy, and
Margaret Loggins was of the age of 35 years, 25 years about 62 years and 8 years, of age
respectively 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.
Mary Loggins copper colourcolor about
five feet five inches high Jane Loggins Black about
five feet four inches high Alice Nealy Dark copper
colourcolor about five feet six inches high and Margaret
Loggins Light copper colourcolor about three feet four inches high
The above named slaves was discharged from service or labor by act of
Congress approved April 16th 1862
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said slaves 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.
that on or about the 30th day of
December 1850
William S. Edelin of Prince Georges County
Maryland died and that your petitioner became the
administrator upon the estate of said William S. Edelin
and that Alice Mealy has been hired in this City about
eight years. Mary Loggins and Margaret
Loggins has been hired in this city about two years and
Jane Loggins about one year
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said slaves was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of twenty four hundred
dollars (2400) 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.
Mary Loggins hires with her child Margaret
Loggins at five dollars $5 per month Jane
Loggins for five dollars $5 per month and Alice
Mealy for five dollars $5 per month. The above named slaves
are as good in moral mental and bodily condition as your petitioner could
wish them, all good looking and healthy. Mary E. Edelin
and Jane Edelin are the only heirs of the above
mentioned William J. Edelin they are both minors at
this time
Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true
and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that he 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 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 slaves 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 slaves 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)
A. R. Edelin
Mary E. Edelin