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, Charles H.
Mann of Baltimore
City
State of Maryland 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 a
female slave person of African descent of the name of Louisa Coates for and during
the life of said
term of Two years and Six Months from the first day of June A.D. 1862. and that by
said act of Congress said Louisa
Coates is discharged and freed of and from all claim of
your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge
said Louisa Coates is of the
age of twenty three 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 Light Colored negress with wavy black hair—&
a mole on her face, about 5 feet. 3 inches in height. rather sunken eyes
& tolerably good teeth—
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Louisa
Coats 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.
In the first place by purchase from Asbury
McKendree Boyd, on the 14th day of
May 1860 for the term of the three years & Sixteen days, for
the Sum of $125.00—being then in delicate
health—& subsequently on account of her running away, to wit on the
12th day of February A.D. 1862 her time
was extended for eighteen months beyond her original term of servitude, by
the Orphans Court of Baltimore City—which
original bill of sale and subsequent order of Court are herewith
filed—
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Louisa Coates was, at the time
of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Fifteen 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.a
month, and he states as a reason therefore That he is a proprietor of a
Hotel and has employed Said Slave as his Chief Cook, there being none better
in the Country. And your petitioner states that he is now employing in her
place, two servants at the note of $8.00 per Month for each making $16.00
per month which he now pays for the work formerly performed by said
Louisa, which also creates the extra expense of
boarding one additional
servt
servant
. & that he would greatly prefer her services to both of
theirs—And he states he has no knowledge of any infirmity or defect in
said Louisa—
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 Louisa
Coates into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said Louisa
Coates 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 Louisa Coates 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 Louisa Coates 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) Chas H
Mann