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, Alonza R
Fowler of the City
of Washington D.C. by this his petition in writing, represents and states, that he 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 one female— person of African descent of the name of Lucy Washington for and
during the life of said Lucy
Washington and that by said act of Congress said
Lucy Washington 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 Lucy Washington was of the
age of Eleven years (11) or thereabouts 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.
That is to say; of a black complexion about 4. ft. 2
in high—quite stout and strong—likely and
Intelligent.
That you Petitioner has filed his Statement, or Schedule
of said person in the Clerks Office of the District of
Columbia in accordance with the requirement of the above
mentioned Act of Congress.—
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Lucy
Washington 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.
that is to say: through his
wife—Hannah E. Fowler daughter of
John Brady deceased—that the said
John Brady departed this Life 6 or 7 years
ago.—and that the Said Lucy Washington was
acquired by his said wife by inheritance and passed to your Petitioner
by the marriage as aforesaid
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Lucy Washington was, at
the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Five 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.that the said
Lucy is very useful, either as chambermaid
nurse, or housekeeper; she is a strong, healthy able bodied girl, and
can command at any time a fair compensation for her services. Her
disposition and habits are good has a good reputation and your
Petitioner avers that he has no knowledge of any moral, mental or bodily
infirmity or defect in said person calculated to impair his said
claim.
Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears
true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United
States, and that he 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 he has not brought said Lucy
Washington into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and
that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Lucy Washington 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said Lucy Washington 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 his said claim to the service
or labor of said Lucy
Washington 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) A. R.
Fowler