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, James W. McDaniel of Washington DC by this his petition
in writing, represents and states, that he 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 persons
of African descent of the names of Jemima and Lucy Ellen McDaniel 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 Jemima was twenty seven years
of age and Lucy Ellen was of the age of eight 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.
- Jemima is a Brown complexion about four feet six inches high—
- Lucy is of a light complexion and about three feet high—
That your petitioner acquired his 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.
They were bought at a private sale from a negro trade in Alexandria Virginia—
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 twelve 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.That is to say Jemima is valued at $1000 and
Lucy
at $200. Jemima is a good cook excellent washer & ironer
takes in washing. washes and prepares ladies laces &c &c she is a
strong healthy & hearty woman her moral character is excellent Lucy is strong hearty & healthy
Neither of the above have any moral mental or bodily defects known to your petitioner
Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true
and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that he 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 he 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 his 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 his 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) his X mark Jas W McDaniel
Witness
N Callan
James Maguire