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, Lizzie R. Nailor 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 one person of African descent of the name of Mary Columbia Meekins for and
during the life of said person and that by said
act of Congress said person is discharged and
freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at
the time of said discharge said person was of the
age of Eighteen 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.
about 5 feet 6 inches high, dark Brown or copper color,
and pleasing countenance.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said person 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.
She was given to me by my father Allison
Nailor of Washington D. C. some years since and which fact
can be substantiated by Allison Nailor
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said person was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of $1500 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.and she is a good cook, and nurse and pretty good cook, first rate chambermaid, of good moral character and free from all mental and physical infirmities or defects. I am not aware of any infirmity or defect nor do I believe any exists
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 person into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said person 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 person 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 person 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) Lizzie R Nailor