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, Jacob G.
Smoot of Fairfax County,
Va. 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 four male and four female persons of African descent of the names of Eliza
Ann & Alexander,
Julia Rouselle, John Calvert,
and George Washington, her four children:—Winny
Ann and her infant boy without a name:—and
Nelly for and during the life of said eight persons and that by said
act of Congress said eight persons, (excepting his
doubts stated on the fourth page of this sheet,) 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 eight persons were
of the ages
of
stated below, 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.
Eliza Ann, aged about 26 or 27
years, dark color, medium size, 5 feet 2 inches high, healthy, a good cook,
and first rate house or field servant:—her four children,
Alexander aged 11 years, dark brown color, usual
size; Julia Rouselle, aged 8 years, nearly black, usual
size;—John Calvert, aged 4 years, nearly
black, usual size;—and George Washington, from 20
to 24 months old, dark copper color.—Winny Ann,
aged 23 years, copper color, about five feet high, compactly made, sound and
healthy; and her infant boy four months old without a name, of light color
and healthy.—Nelly, aged from 50 to 55 years,
black color, 5 feet 3 or 4 inches high, well made, healthy, and a good cook,
washer and ironer. They are all good house servants, healthy, and
valuable.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said eight 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.
I purchased Eliza Ann from my
Brother J. H. Smoot about 11 years since, for much less
than their value because he did not wish to sell beyond his friends. I only
paid for her and her infant five hundred dollars which was only about two
thirds their value. Her other children were born since, and the family are
worth to me $2500.—: Winny Ann and her infant
were acquired by my marriage. Nelly I purchased from
Richard Simmons of Maryland,
but do not recollect the price. I cannot refer to any record of
title.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said eight persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of (see below) 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.
Eliza Ann and her four children |
$2500.— |
Winny Ann, and her infant boy |
1000.— |
Nelly, about |
500.— |
Total, four thousand dollars $4,000 |
$4000.— |
Your Petitioner has stated herein the facts touching
their value, and he knows of no moral, mental or bodily infirmities or
defects to impair the value of either of them, and believes none such to
exist.
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 eight persons
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said
act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said eight persons were
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 eight 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 his said claim to the service or labor
of said eight 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) J G
Smoot
Residence near Langley,
Fairfax Co. Va.