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,
Verlinda Shaw
of
Prince Geo. Co. Md.
by this her petition in writing, represents
and states, that 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 certain 10 colored
persons of African descent of the names of
George Lee, Virginia Bugdon
Eliza Waters, Mary Lee
Ellen Lee, Julia Waters
James Waters, Harriet Ann Bugdon
& Ellen Bugdon
Caroline or Catherine
for and during the life of said
Coloured
Colored
persons and that by said act of Congress said
Coloured
Colored
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
George Lee was of the age of 23 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 Complexion.
- Virginia Bugdon 35 years, Dark Complexion.
- Eliza Waters 33 years, Dark Complexion
- Mary Lee, 20 years, Dark Complexion
- Ellen Lee 13 years, Dark Complexion
- Julia Waters 6 years, Dark Complexion
- James Waters 3 years, black Harriet Ann
Bugdon 8 months, Dark Complexion
- Ellen Bugdon 7 years, Dark Complexion
- Caroline or Catherine 13
years of age, dark Complexion
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said coloured
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.
having raised the whole of them from infancy and from
Birth
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said coloured persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of 5230 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.
to wit George 1000$,
Virginia 800$, Eliza 800$
Mary 800$ Ellen Lee 800$,
Julia 300$ James 300$
Harriet Ann 100$ and Ellen
Bugdon. They Being good servants and to the best of her
Belief she Believes they have no moral or other defect
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 Coloured
persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Coloured 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 Coloured 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 Coloured 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)
her X mark Verlinda
Shaw
Witness
Thomas C Donn