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,
Sarah J. Sommervell
of
Washington
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 name of
Dinah Dorsey
Stephen Dorsey her son, Priscilla
Wilson & Alice Sefas
for and during the life of said
four persons
and that by said act of Congress said four
persons were
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 four persons were
was of the age of
ages and of the personal descriptions following: Here describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if
there be more than one slave, describe each one separately.
To wit
- Dinah Dorsey is about fifty one years of age
about five feet three inches in height & a dark copper color in
complexion.
- Stephen Dorsey Son of Dinah
is fourteen years of age about four feet eleven inches tall & same
color of his mother.
- Priscilla Wilson is about twenty three years of
age, about five feet high, quite dark in color
- Alice Sefas is about fifteen or sixteen years old
about five feet tall, dark color.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said four 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.
To wit. She purchased all of them for valuable
considerations at different times, & has had them in her possession
claiming them as her servants for a number of years past.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said four persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of $4000 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.
The said Dinah is in good health, a
good cook good seamstress house servant & washer & ironer, &
very honest, & worth at least Eight hundred (800) dollars.
Stephen is young, healthy, honest & very smart,
house servant, dining room servant & good driver of a one horse carriage
& is worth at least $1000—Priscilla Wilson is
young, healthy honest smart, good house servant, and a No. 1 cook wash &
iron, first rate nurse, can turn her hand to anything—& is worth
at least $1200—Alice Sefas is a young, smart,
& honest, good dining room servant & chambermaid, does the marketing
for the family, & is worth at least $1000. Your petitioner having
refused a year or so ago $800 for her—
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 four persons or any
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 four 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 four 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 four 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)
Sarah J. Sommervell