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, Mary Key
Wallace of Washington
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 Catharine A. Herbert and
Charles Henry Herbert person of African
descent of the name of Catharine A.
Herbert and Charles Henry Herbert
for and during the life of said Catharine A.
Herbert and Charles Henry Herbert
and that by said act of Congress said Catharine A. Herbert and Charles Henry
Herbert 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 Catharine A. Herbert was
of the age of 34 years— and Charles
Henry Herbert of the age of 11 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.
Copper color, the said Catharine A.
Herbert, Five feet one inch, in height. The said
Charles A. Herbert Four feet, seven inches in
height.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said 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.
That is to say—Robert Wallace
the husband of your petitioner purchased Milly Herbert
and her infant the said Catharine A. Herbert, (a few
months of age;) at Rockville Montgomery County
Maryland; who were sold to satisfy the liabilities of
the the
the
estate of Charles Young deceased. The said
Charles Henry Herbert is the son of the said
Catharine A. Herbert, born since the death of the
said Robert Wallace. That the said Robert
Wallace immediately upon the purchase of said negroes, took
them into his possession; and brought them to Washington City
D.C. in the year 1838, when he came
to said city to reside;—& where he held them until his death in
December 1846. That said Catharine
A. Herbert was allotted to your petitioner as part of her
dower interest in the estate of the said Robert Wallace
deceased. That your petitioner has been in the exclusive, adverse and notorious
possession of the said Catharine claiming her
as her property, ever since the death of her said husband, (about 16
yrs)—and the said Charles Henry; all his
life.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Catharine A. Herbert &
Charles Henry Herbert her son was, at the
time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $1600. 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 the said Catharine A. Herbert was brought up by
your petitioner with care from her childhood as a house and Kitchen servant.
The said Charles Henry Herbert her son is a very
sprightly and intelligent house servant.
That your petitioner knows of no moral, mental, or bodily
infirmities or defects of said persons which impair the value of petitioner's
claim to such service or labor & she believes none to 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 into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said 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 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 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) Mary Key
Wallace