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, Elizabeth Williams of the District of Columbia 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 Seven persons of
African descent of the name of Mary
Carter and her three children Lewis
Carter, Andrew Green and
Georgiana Carter——Jane
Johnson and her two children William and
John for and during the life of said persons respectively and that by said act of
Congress said person 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 person were of the ages following Mary 45
years—Lewis 25; Andrew
18, Georgiana 14.
of the age of
Jane 20.
William 2 and John some 8
months 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.
They have no particular marks now recollected—Mary is of a bright color and two of her children are very light, while Andrew is of a Copper color—Jane is of a light copper color and her children William and John are very light.
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.
The servant Mary Carter was bequeathed to me by the Will of the late Thomas Crampheir of Montgomery County now deceased, when the said Mary was about ten or 12 years old and the other persons, her children, have been born since said bequest & thereby the said applicant and petitioner became entitled to the services of them.
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 five Thousand 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.They are perfectly sound and healthy—
Mary a first-rate cook—Jane a good house servant—
Lewis a good ostler and waiter—Andrew
a first-class dining room and house servant—and The children are very promising—Neither has any defect or infirmity of any kind which should impair The value of petitioner's claim—
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 or either 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 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 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) Elizabeth Williams