Civil War Washington

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 Martha E. Nixon 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 Isaiah Carter person of African descent, for and during the term of Eighteen (18) years of the life of the said Isaiah Carter; and that by said act of Congress said Isaiah Carter was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that the time of said discharge said Isaiah Carter was of the age of three years and of the personal description following: dark brown color, regular features, about three feet high.

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Isaiah Carter in manner following: One Eliza Carter, the mother of said Isaiah Carter, was an African woman by decent​ and an indolent trifling character; abandoned her said son Isaiah Carter, at the house of your petitioner at the age of six months, and refused to   take any care of the said Isaiah Carter; but the said Eliza Carter instead of taking her said son so left with your petitioner went before the proper authorities of the District of Columbia, and by indenture in writing bound, the said Isaiah Carter, then six months of age to your petitioner until he said Isaiah Carter should become of the age of Twenty-one years, and your petitioner has nurtured and provided for the comfort of the said Isaiah for the term of Two years and six months with the expectation and hope of being repaid her trouble and expence​ when the said Isaiah Carter should arrive at the physical strength of manhood, of which he is now freed by the said act of Congress.

Your petitioner's claim to the service & labor of the said Isaiah Carter was at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of seven hundred dollars in money ($700.00)

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 Isaiah Carter into the District of Columbia  since the passage of said act of Congress, and at the time of the passage thereof; said Isaiah Carter 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 and labor of said Isaiah Carter, 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 and labor of said Isaiah Carter 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.