Title: Petition of Ellen M. Brooke, 10 June 1862

Date: June 10, 1862

Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 5. The original document is held in the Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, 1775–1978, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 217.6.5. Within the National Archives' Archival Description Catalog, see ARC Identifier 4644616 / MLR Number A1 347 (http://arcweb.archives.gov).

Civil War Washington ID: cww.00648

TEI/XML: cww.00648.xml

 

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, Ellen M Brooke, of Washington, District of Columbia 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 Three hereinafter named persons of African descent of the names of Eliza Shorter, and her two children, Hannah and Anna Shorter for and during the lifeves of said Eliza, Hannah & Anna Shorter and that by said act of Congress said Eliza, Hannah & Anna Shorter 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 Three before named Persons Eliza Shorter was of the age of Thirty-Five Years or thereabouts Her Daughters, [illegible], Hannah of the age of nine Years, and Anna, of the age of Six Years or thereabouts. and of the personal description following:(1) Eliza Shorter is of a Copper Color—about 5 Feet 4 Inches in height—Stout & sweet in her Carriage—Her children—Hannah & Anna Shorter are both of a light Copper Color. well grown & likely.

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Three named Persons in manner following:(2) Eliza Shorter was inherited by your Petitioner from her mother—was born in the family & has resided in your Petitioners family & been in her Service & ownership for the last thirty years. Eliza's said Children Hannah & Anna were born whilst the Mother owed her service & labor for life as aforesaid

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Three named Persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twenty one hundred dollars in money.(3) Eliza Shorter is an excellent & accomplished House Servant, Cook, Washerwoman & Ironer, is robust, active & healthy, honest, intelligent, faithful & obedient. Her Services have been of great value & necessity to your Petitioner & her loss keenly felt & difficult to supply. She values her in money at $1200. Hannah Shorter was very useful & handy, is a good nurse, chamber maid & House Servant. She values her at $500 in money. Anna is smart & active & quite useful about the house as nurse. She values her at $400 in money. Both these Children are healthy and intelligent. Your Petitioner knows of no infirmities & defects of said Persons which impair the Value of her claim to such service or labor, & she believes none other 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 Three named Persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Three named Persons wasere 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 Three named 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 value of her said claim to the service or labor of said Three named 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)
Ellen M Brooke
 

[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]

I, Ellen M Brooke being duly sworn, do depose and say, that all the several matters and things which are set forth and stated in the foregoing petition, as of my own knowledge, are true in substance and in fact; and that all the several other matters and things therein set forth and stated, as from the information of others, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.

(Signed by)
Ellen M Brooke

Sworn to and subscribed before me this Seventh day of June A.D. 1862

(Signed by)
Chas Walter J P. seal
648
Petition of Ellen M Brooke Under Emancipation Act of April 16 1862.
Filed June 10, 1862
John Carroll [illegible] Attorney
Petition refers to Dr. Alex X. Young to
sustain in their statements. Dr. Young is a resident of this City.
 
Eliza Shorter age about 35 years copper color. Her children are Hannah aged 9 years Copper color Anna 6 ""—


 Note (1.)-- Here describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each one separately.

 Note (2.)-- 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.

 Note (3.)-- 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.

Transcription and encoding: Elizabeth Lorang, Janel Cayer, Rhiannon Root, and Brittany Jones.