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 Goszler of
Georgetown 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
Ann Maria Montgomery a person of African descent
of the name of Ann Maria
Montgomery, for and during the life of said Said named Person and that by said act of Congress
said named Person was discharged and freed of and
from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of
said discharge said named Person of the age of
Sixteen 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.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said named 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.
by Descent.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said named Person was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of one 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.
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 named Person
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said
act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said named 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 named 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 his said claim to the service or labor
of said named 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) E G Elizabeth
Goszler