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 Petitioners, Alexander McD Davis & Martha A
Davis
of
of Washington City D. C. by
this their petition in writing,
represents and states, that they are
is a persons 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 four persons of African descent of the names of Harriet
Louisa McLane and her
three children, Julia,
Eugene and
Fanny for and during the life of said
Harriet, Julia,
Eugene and Fanny and
that by said act of Congress said four persons above named 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 persons were of the ages of viz: Harriet twenty five years,
Julia ten years,
Eugene seven years and Fanny
five 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.
Harriet Louisa is
black; about five feet one or two inches high, compact, strong and
healthy and about twenty five (25) years
old.
- Julia is bright yellow; about four feet six
or seven inches high, in perfect health and is about
ten years old.
Eugene is bright
yellow, about three feet ten or eleven inches high, in perfect
health and is about seven or eight years old.
Fanny is very
black, about three feet one or two inches high, very healthy and is
five years old
That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of
said four 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.
At the birth Harriet, her mother
was held to service for life by the father of Mrs. M. A
Davis who is now one of your petitioners and wife of the
other petitioner. The parents of Martha A Davis in
Harriet's infancy gave her to said M. A.
Davis and that the said Harriet has had
three children since and that the three mentioned in this petition are the
children of said Harriet
That your petitioner's' claim to the
service or labor of said four persons was, at the
time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of three
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.The
above described persons are the descendants of persons held to service in
the family of your petitioners for many years. The mother
(Harriet) is a first class servant, kind, honest, industrious, and her three children are of the
most promising character, of perfect health and
symetrysymmetry, except
Fanny who is somewhat knock-kneed but which defect can be remedied
Your petitioners hereby declares that they
bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the
United States, and that they have not borne arms
against the United States in the present rebellion, nor
in any way given aid or comfort thereto.
And your petitioners further states and
alleges, that they
have not brought said four 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 four persons
wasre 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 their said claim to the service or labor of said four 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 our said claim to the service or labor
of said four 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) A. McD. Davis
Martha A Davis.