Civil War Washington

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 Petitioners, Ellen G. Ashby and John R. Ashby of the District of Columbia by this their petition in writing, represents and states, that they is a they are persons 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 one (1) person of African descent of the name of Alice Harris for and during the life of said Alice Harris and that by said act of Congress said Alice Harris 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 Alice Harris was of the age of seventeen (17) years and of the personal description following:(1)Of a chestnut or deep copper colored complexion; large nose and thick lips; about five feet four inches high; and speaks slowly when interrogated; and having no prominent marks of identification.

 

That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Alice Harris in manner following:(2)Said Alice Harris together with her mother Lucy were in 1851 the property of your petitioner John R. Ashby derived by inheritance from his father; and were in that year in consideration of the sum of $350 conveyed by him to his brother Saml. T. Ashby of Fauquier County, Virginia, a memorandum in writing of which transfer is herewith submitted marked Exhibit (A). On the 20th of September 1854, in consideration of the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars, said Alice was conveyed by the said Saml. T. Ashby to your petitioner Ellen G. Ashby, wife of the aforesaid John R. Ashby, who now holds the said Alice in her own right by virtue of articles of agreement entered into with the said John R. Ashby prior to their marriage, in the year 1848 Bill of sale is herewith filed marked Exhibit (B).

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Alice Harris was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Eight hundred dollars in money.(3) Said Alice Harris is an excellent nurse and house servant; is strong and healthy. She has never lost time on account of sickness and is not subject to any chronic disease. Your petitioners have no knowledge of any moral mental or physical infirmities in said Alice Harris and believe that none exist.

Your petitioners hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that they has have not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.

And your petitioners further states and alleges, that they has have not brought said Alice Harris into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Alice Harris was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.

Your petitioners further states and alleges, that their said claim to the service or labor of said Alice Harris 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 petitioners prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of their said claim to the service or labor of said Alice Harris 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.