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, Angelica Chew
of George Town in
District aforesaid 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 negro woman or person
of African descent of the name of Sallie
Coates for and during the life of said Sallie Coates and that by said
act of Congress said woman 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
she was was of the age of thirty five 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.
she is of chestnut color, medium height, stout, and has
been occupied as a cook usually, and also at house work generally
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said person 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.
namely, as part of her share of the Estate of her late
husband Frisby F Chew deceased, whose residence was
in he State of Mississippi at the time of his death,
about 12 years ago. Upon the happening of the event your petitioner returned
with her children to her father's, in George Town
(the late
Genl
General
Geo. Biscoe) where she has ever since resided and the
said negro woman with her. She had been given to her by her late father
Genl.
General
Biscoe.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said person was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of one thousand 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.
She is a very healthy woman, and an excellent servant,
and free from any moral, mental or bodily defect or infirmity; she has no
knowledge of any such, and believes none such to exist. She has been
occupied as cook, washer, ironer and seamstress.
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 person into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said person 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 person 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 person 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)
Angelica Chew