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,
Harriet Donohoo
of
Washington D.C.
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 certain
person of African descent of the name of
Eliza a slave for and during the life of said
person and that by said act of Congress said
person 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 person was of the age of forty four 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.
very Black stout and well formed, homily features, and
sprightly, and of sound mind, and in height about 5 feet 3 inches
The names of Mr. J. C. C, Hamilton and
Wm H. Langley are referred to as the witnesses to facts
herein stated
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said
Eliza
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.
from William E. Hamilton for the
price set forth by the annexed bill of sale. said sum of four hundred
dollars was
compartively
comparatively
low, on account of his leaving the City, and for the purpose of
obtaining for her a comfortable home
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 seven 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 servant is an excellent cook, washer, and ironer,
of sound mental faculties, and your petitioner avers that she has no defects
or infirmities except her teeth to impair her value
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 named
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and
that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Eliza
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 the 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
value of her said claim to the service or labor of
said
Eliza
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)
Harriet Donohoo