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,
Lucy E. Mattingly
of
Washington City 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
as heir and executrix against Eight persons of African descent of the name of
Sophia, Charlotte,
Priscilla, Flora,
Willie, George,
Fanny and Peter
for and during the life of said persons and
that by said act of Congress said
Sophia, Charlotte,
Priscilla, Flora,
Willie, George,
Fanny and Peter were
discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or
labor; that at the time of said discharge said persons
were of the ages of Viz. Sophia 37 years,
Charlotte 31 years, Priscilla
27 years, Flora 11 years, Willie 7
years George 5 years, Fanny 2
years & Peter 3
mos
months
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.
Females
- Sophia is 5 ft. 6 inches high. Brown Complexion of
Black Eyes,
- Charlotte is 4 ft 11 inches high, Brown Complexion
& Black Eyes,
- Priscilla is 5 ft 6 inches high, Brown Complexion
& Black Eyes,
- Flora is 3 ft 11 inches high, Brown Complexion &
Black Eyes,
Males
- Willie is 3 ft 8 ½ inches high, Brown Complexion
& Black Eyes,
- George is 3 ft 5 inches high, Brown Complexion &
Black Eyes,
- Fanny is 2 ft 8 inches high, Brown Complexion &
Black Eyes,
- Peter the Infant Child of
Charlotte,
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Eight persons
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.
They are the descendants of Mary a
slave purchased by Edward Mattingly (the father of
petitioner from Charles Ruoth of Charles Co.
Md. on the 18th Jany: 1820
(Bill of sale in possession of Petitioner) & by said Edw.
Mattingly transferred to his wife, who bequeathed them in her
last will & testament to her daughter the petitioner as heir &
administratrix
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Eight persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of Forty three 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.
viz Sophia $1200,
Charlotte & Peter $1200,
Priscilla $1200 Flora $500,
Willie $500, George $450,
& Fanny $250, and your petitioner has no knowledge
of any infirmity or defects moral, mental or physical to impair the value of
this claim, Sophia though constitutionally not so firm
as the others, her services have always been equally valuable to her owner
as the others
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 persons into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons were
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 Eight persons 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 Eight persons 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)
Lucy E Mattingly
Sidney A. Harrison