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,
Julia Fenwick
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
Mary Hamilton, a female of black color aged about
twenty years
a person of African descent of the name of
Mary Hamilton
for and during the life of said
Mary Hamilton
and that by said act of Congress said
Mary Hamilton 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 Hamilton was about of the age of twenty 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.
Of black color, about five feet high, straight and
slender and of handsome appearance
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Mary Hamilton
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 purchase from Notley Young of
Prince George County, Maryland, when the said
Mary Hamilton was six years old at the price of one
hundred and fifty dollars—in this manner—fifty dollars in cash
and one hundred dollars on account of board
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Mary Hamilton
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of eight 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.
The said Mary Hamilton is of a
delicate constitution but very intelligent, amiable, strictly truthful and
honest in every respect trust-worthy and so much attached to your Petitioner
that she placed her in full charge of her keys and of any valuables that
your Petitioner might any time possess—Your Petitioner does not know
of any other infirmities or defects than the above stated general delicacy
of constitution and she does not believe any other to exist.
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
Mary Hamilton
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress;
and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Mary Hamilton
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
Mary Hamilton
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
value of her said claim to the service or labor of
said
Mary Hamilton
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)
Julia Fenwick