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,
Eliza Duvall
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 three
persons of African descent of the name of
Amanda Augusta Harris,—Charles Asbury
Harris,—and Cornelius Hunt
Harris, for and during the life of said
Amanda Augusta Harris, —Charles Asbury
Harris,—and Cornelius Hunt
Harris, and that by said act of Congress said
Amanda Augusta Harris,—Charles Asbury
Harris,—and Cornelius Hunt Harris
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
- No. I.
Amanda Augusta Harris was of the age of
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.
A girl, dark brown color, about five feet two
inches in height. very stout and healthy.
- No. 2. That at the time of said discharge
said, Charles Asbury Harris was of the age of
Fourteen years, and of the personal description following: A
boy—Light brown color—about Four feet high—slim
make and not very strong.—
- No. 3. That at the time of said discharge said Cornelius Hunt Harris was of the
age of Twelve years—of the personal description
following—A boy, light brown color—about Four feet in
height—strong and healthy.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said persons and each of
them 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 your Petitioner purchased Kitty
Harris the mother of said persons above mentioned about the
year 1832 from one Hanson
Clarke of Montgomery County state of
Maryland, and since said time, and during the
servitude due by the said Kitty to your Petitioner the
said Amanda, Charles, &
Cornelius were born of the body of said
Kitty as slaves for life the property of your
Petitioner, and have been held as such to the date of said act of Congress.
and your Petitioner avers that no other person or persons have any claim
whatsoever to them or either of them.
- No. I. That your petitioner's claim to
the service or labor of said
Amanda Augustus Harris
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.
The said Amanda is a fine
chamber maid-house servant dining room servant—a very bright
and intelligent girl. She has a very fine disposition.
- No. 2. That your petitioner's claim to the
service or labor of said Charles Asbury Harris
was at the time of said discharge therefrom of the value of One
Thousand dollars in money. The said Charles is
a fine dining room servant—very handy & useful—a
very bright intelligent boy—
- No. 3. That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Cornelius Hunt Harris was at the time of said
discharge therefrom the value of eight Hundred Dollars in money. The
said Cornelius is a very healthy strong boy. He is
too young to be very useful now—but gives every indication of
being a very valuable man. Your your Petitioner that she does not know
of a single defect moral mental or bodily of either of said persons and
believes that none such exist.
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 or either of
them 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 each
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 or either of them 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 persons or either of them 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)
Eliza Duvall