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, Ann M. Hill
of Washington City 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
Fletcher and Louisa Hawkins two
female persons of African descent
of the name of for and during the life of said Mary Fletcher and Louisa
Hawkins and that by said act of Congress said persons aforesaid 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 Mary Fletcher
& Louisa Hawkins were of the following ages:
Mary Fletcher
of the age of
between fifty and fifty four. Louisa
Hawkins sixteen 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.
Mary Fletcher color black, hair black,
five feet one inch in height.
Louisa Hawkins, color black, hair black,
five feet and half an inch in height.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said persons
aforesaid 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.
Mary Fletcher given to me by my
father before his death and has been in my possession about forty five
years. Louisa Hawkins given to me by my brother and has
been in my possession about eight years. Your petitioner has no written
title. In the first case can prove possession and probably, if necessary,
(although so many years have lapsed) can prove the fact of gift. In the
second case can produce evidence of possession and gift.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons aforesaid was, at the time of said
discharge therefrom, of the value of Sixteen
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.
Mary Fletcher being an excellent
cook and house servant and good washer and Ironer, value $800
Louisa Hawkins being a fine house maid, value $800
and your petitioner has no knowledge of any defect to impair their
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 persons
aforesaid into the District of Columbia since
the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage
thereof, said persons aforesaid 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 persons aforesaid 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 persons aforesaid 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)
Ann M. Hill