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, Emily Beale
of District of Columbia.
near Washington City 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 person of African
descent of the name of for and during the life
of said and that by said act of Congress said
was discharged and freed of and from all
claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said
discharge said was of the age of 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.
- Delilah Johnston; woman servant, black; aged
56.
- Smith Ingram, man servant, black; aged 75.
- Phillis Ingram, woman servant, light colored, aged
56.
- Martha Gains, woman servant, light colored, aged
35.
- Her children are Ann, aged 6;
Phillis aged 4; Evelina 2
years; & an infant 3 weeks old not named.
- Rachel Ross, woman, dark; aged 31.
- Her children are Smith, boy 3 years old, &
Anna Maria, girl aged 1 year
- Susan Chase, woman, dark, aged 30.
- Her child, Robert Chase, a boy aged 10 months.
- William Ingram, boy, light colored; aged 15.
- Isaac Jones, man servant, dark; aged 60.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said 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.
Delilah Johnston, bought of Mr
Richards, Isaac Jones, bought
of Mr Nicholas Queen near Washington
D.C.
Smith Ingram, bought of Mr Hyatt
in Washington City. Phillis was
raised in my family & all of these servants are her children & grand
children excepting the 3 first.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said slaves was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of 7,725 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 far as I know they are all in good health & free
from any infirmity.
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 slaves into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said 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 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 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)
Emily Beale