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, Caroline E.
Sanders of the
District of Columbia by this my 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 seventeen male and Female slaves as per the
accompanying lists No. 1 & 2 fully described & valued
persons of African descent of the name of
John Dodson, Wm.
Snoden, Sylvester Brooks,
Edward Howard, Henry,
Marie, Sallie,
Henry Howard, Nelly
Arnold, Jim Dodson,
George, Frank Hepburn,
Louis Adams, Tom,
Jenny Hepburn, Fanny
Wallace & Kate. for and
during the life of said Slaves as described in the
lists 1 & 2 herewith filed, and that by said act of Congress
said seventeen slaves 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 slaves,
seventeen in number were of the ages
of
mentioned in list
numberd
numbered
one (1) 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.
in list
numberd
numbered
two (2) and were Mulattoes and Blacks in Color
Caroline E. Sanders
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid services or labor of said seventeen slaves 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.
some by inheritance some by purchase and the balance
reared from infancy, by herself. Such Bills of sale as are now in her
possession are filed herewith. Bills are not required in
Maryland or District of
Columbia, as the mere delivery on payment is
sufficient.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said seventeen Slaves was, at the time of said
discharge therefrom, of the value of $
13.600— 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.as will be seen by
list No. 2, as valued by my neighbors, both Gentlemen of the highest
respectability and practiced Experts, being experienced Planters
themselves. These Servants were such, as House Servants,
cloachmen
coachmen
, Teamsters, Florists & Gardeners and Farm Hands trained
for years to their respective duties, and that she cannot now replace,
and leaves her destitute of income.
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 seventeen
slaves into the District of Columbia since
the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage
thereof, said seventeen slaves 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 seventeen slaves 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 seventeen slaves 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) Caroline E.
Sanders