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, Wm Swann of
Prince Geo Co Maryland
by this his petition in writing, represents and
states, that he 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 one Slave Woman a person of African descent of the
name of Eliza a slave held by your
petitioner as administrator upon the personal estate of Meekey
Lanham late of Prince George County
Maryland for and during the life of said Eliza and that by said act of
Congress said Eliza 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 Eliza was of the age of
forty 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.
Dark color stout built and about 4 feet 11 inches in
height
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Eliza 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 by Letter of Administration on the estate
of Meekey Lanham aforesaid said Meekey
Lanham acquiring her title by inheritance of Fathers estate
the late Hezekiah Lanham of the county and state
aforesaid, said Eliza being held by me as administrator
for the benefit of the Heirs at Law of the late Meekey
Lanham namely Wm Swann
Richard Swann
Ellen Ball
Charlotte Ann Sheriff, Mary
Atchison, Sarah Ann Talbott
Caroline Talbott, Rachael Talbott
& Charlotte Osborne
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Eliza was, at the time
of said discharge therefrom, of the value of one
thousand 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.Said Eliza, is a good house servant can cook wash
& iron, and known as an industrious worker, of good moral character and
of no defects or infirmities known to your petitioner
Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true
and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United
States, and that he 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 he has not brought said Eliza into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said Eliza 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said Eliza 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 his said claim to the service or labor
of said Eliza 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) Wm Swann
administrator of Meekey Lanham