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, Erasmus J. Middleton, of the County of Washington, Trustee,
and Mary Jane Perry, of the City of
Washington, D.C. Cestui que trust, by this their petition in writing, represents
and states, that they are
is a 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 three persons of
African descent of the names of Caroline Shaw, Anna Maria
Smith—and Maria Louisa
Dorsey, for and during the life of said three persons, and that by said act of Congress
said three 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 Caroline Shaw was of the age of Thirty 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.
mulatto woman about five feet five inches
high—medium size, and no visible marks or scars about
her—
That the said Anna Maria Smith was of
the age of Twenty three years, and of the personal description following:
Brown colored woman, five feet three inches high, rather
Stout for her height, having no marks, or scars upon her person.
That the said Maria Louisa Dorsey was of
the age of Fifteen years, and of the personal description following:
Copper colored girl, four feet eleven inches high, of
ordinary size, having no marks or scars upon her person.
That your petitioner acquired their claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Caroline
Shaw 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.
By Mr. Augustus E. Perry in right
of his wife, one of your Petitioners, in a division of the estate of her
Father, the late Richard Ross of Montgomery
County, Maryland, of which there is
no written evidence, unless the Executor, the late Nathan
Lufborough stated it in his return to or settlement with the
Orphan's court of Montgomery County
aforesaid—
That your Petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid
Service or labor of said Anna Maria Smith in manner
following: By the said Augustus E. Perry in right of his
said wife on a division of the estate of her mother the late Mrs.
Elizabeth Ross who died in this City in the year 1848—[X](#a1)
X and that the said Maria Louisa
Dorsey was born in the family of Mr.
Perry since his marriage with your Petitioner. her
mother died about Twelve years ago, and came from the estate of the said
Mrs. Ross.
That on the 11th day of July
1846, the said Augustus E. Perry conveyed
the above named Servants to your Petitioner E. J.
Middleton, for the use and benefit of his said wife, in
pursuance of a marriage settlement agreed upon between them, as will appear
by reference to the Deed of Trust recorded
in in
in
Liber W. B. no 126. folios 333 &c. one of the Land records of
the County of Washington.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said three persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of 2,000 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 Caroline Shaw is
hypochondriack
hypochondriac
, but for that would be a most excellent servant, being a good
Cook, Washer & Ironer—with her defect we nevertheless think
her worth $300—
- The said Anna Maria Smith is a good cook, washer
and ironer, and a good house servant is worth $1000—
- The said Maria Louisa Dorsey is a very good house
servant and an excellent nurse—is worth $750.
The above named persons are descendants of old family
servants, and are perfectly honest and reliable. We know of no moral, mental
or bodily defects or infirmities of the said persons other than that
mentioned in reference to the said Caroline Shaw.
Your petitioners hereby declares that
they bears true and faithful
allegiance to the Government of the United States, and
that they have
has 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 have
has not brought said three 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 persons were
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 three 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 petitioners prays the said
Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of their said claim to the service or labor of said
three 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) E. J. Middleton
Trustee for Mary Jane Perry
Mary Jane Perry