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, Lois E.
Offutt of Montgomery
County, Maryland 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 a
certain person of African descent of the name of Nancy Scott, for and during
the life of said Nancy Scott
and that by said act of Congress said Nancy
Scott 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 Nancy Scott was of the
age of fifteen 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.
Color Black—Stature about four feet, eight
inches—Sex female. There are no particular marks upon her person, by
which to identify her more fully.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Nancy
Scott 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 devise from her Mother, Sarah B.
Offutt, and for more particular information as to the time of
such acquired title, and the circumstances attending such devise, reference
being had, to a copy, herewith filed, of the last will and testament of said
Sarah B. Offutt, will more fully appear.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Nancy Scott 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 she was a good and trusty house servant, at present in the employ of
R. W. Burr
Esq
Esquire
. of this City, and for whom she receives good wages. There are no
moral, bodily or mental defects or infirmities existing in the said
Nancy Scott as your petitioner believes, and she
hereby avers that there none existing
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 Nancy
Scott into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said Nancy
Scott 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 Nancy Scott 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 Nancy Scott 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) Lois E
Offutt