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, Ann Roberts
of 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 four persons of African descent of the names of Harriet
Gordon and her son
David—Lilly Tibbles and
her daughter Lucinda for and during the life of
said persons respectively and that by said act of
Congress said persons 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 Harriet was
of the age of about Forty Six Years, David of the age
of twelve years, Lilly of the age of forty three and
Lucinda her daughter of the age of Eighteen 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.Harriet is a dark mulatto, about five feet, three
inches in height David is a mulatto, about four feet
eight inches high—Lilly is black, about five feet
six inches high, and Lucinda her daughter is a bright
mulatto about five feet five inches in height—None of their persons
have any particular marks, none recollected.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said persons 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.
She purchased Harriet from her
brother Thos. Loker about twenty years ago, and no bill
of sale was executed—The mother of Lilly was
inherited by Petitioner from her Father's Estate and
Lilly was born while Petitioner owned her
mother—David Brown and Lucinda
Tibbles were born while their mothers were respectively held
in servitude by petitioner
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of Thirty six hundred
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.
Harriet is a first rate cook,
washer and ironer—honest, willing capable and
obedient—David is a very promising boy and
exceedingly useful as stable boy and outdoor
servant—Lilly is a first rate nurse cook,
washer and ironer—Lucinda is a valuable house
servant, chamber maid, washer and ironer—Each and every of these
servants is perfectly sound and healthy and has no moral mental or bodily
defect or infirmity which should impair the value of petitioner's
claim
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 persons or either of
them into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons were
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 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
validity of her said claim to the service or labor
of said 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)
Ann Roberts