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,
Nancy Parker
of
Georgetown 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
Luisa
Louisa
Rhodes and Jane Rhodes
female. persons of African descent of
the name of
Luisa
Louisa
Rhodes and Jane Rhodes
for and during the life of said named
Louisa Rhodes and Jane Rhodes
and that by said act of Congress said named
Louisa Rhodes and Jane Rhodes
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 named Louisa Rhodes was of the age
of seventeen years and Jane Rhodes
of the age of ten 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.
Bright color Louisa Rhodes 4 feet &
9 inches high
Bright color Jane Rhodes 4 feet & 4
inches high
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said named 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.
by will of William Parker now of
record in the Orphan's Court of Washington County
District of Columbia.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said named persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of as follows
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.
Louisa Rhodes 600 Dollars
Jane Rhodes 600 Dollars
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 named persons
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and
that, at the time of the passage thereof, said named
persons 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 named 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 named 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)
Nancy Parker