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, Leah L.
Wilson of Washington D.
C. 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 the following nine persons of African descent of the name of James; Lowder;
Daniel; Wm Henry;
Preston Brown; Ibbey;
Rachel; Sabra;
Sarah; and also held jointly with her sister,
M. G. Wilson, a claim to service or labor against
Horace and Mady and
Littleton for and during the life of said
persons 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 persons were of or about the age of 40; 33
or 34; 31 or 32; near 6; perhaps 70; 23; 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.
- James, brown colourcolor, tall robust, aged about 40 years
- Lowder, dark, medium height, robust, age about 33 or 34
- Daniel, very dark; tall, aged about 31 or 32
- Wm Henry—brown colourcolor near 6 years
- Preston Brown, black; tall, supposed age about 70 years
- Abbey, very bright mulatto, tall, large, well-formed and good looking aged 23
- Rachel, dark, medium height, age about 34 or 35
- Sabra, brown color, age 2 years 9 months
- Sarah, brown color, aged 14 months
- Horace, dark, tall, slender, a bend in one leg age about 38
- Mady, mulatto, tall, large, age about 62 years
- Littleton, square built age about 62
half owner of Horace & Mady and Littleton
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.
To James,
Daniel, Preston Brown,
Rachel by title derived from her mother's will; to
Wm Henry,
Sabra, and Sarah by birth; to
Ibbey and Lowder by title
derived from her sister Margaret's will; to half
ownership of Horace by title derived partly from her
mother's and sisters wills and partly by purchase from her brother. To half
ownership of Mady from her sister's
will—
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of 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. James, value $1200; a good laborer, though formerly intemperate, his wages being since his emancipation $1.25 per day Lowder, value $1500, as he is very temperate, and an excellent laborer. His wages last month $1.25 per day Daniel value $1500, a good laborer, wages having been at the time of emancipation $20 per month—Preston Brown value $80, infirm and diseased in his leg but useful for his years. Ibbey value $1,000 very valuable. Rachel, assessed value last year $550. Wm Henry value $250 Sabra value $100, Sarah value $80, Horace value $1000, Mady $50, half owner of these 3 three last Littleton $50 value lost his work in Dec, but since veen in this neighborhood Mady rheumatic & infirm Horace has a bend in his leg—
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 into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons 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)
Your Petitioner knows of no other infirmities or defects
of said persons which impair the value of Petitioner's claim to such service
or labor and she believes none other to exist
Leah L. G
Wilson