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, Charlotte Maria
Dawes 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 Catherine
Baltimore for and during the life of said Catherine and that by said act
of Congress said Catherine
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
Catherine was of the age of thirty two or three 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.
dark color, about five feet three inches high of medium
size and very likely
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Catherine 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 made a present to the husband of your petitioner
the late
Doctr.
Doctor
Frederick Dawes about 30 years since,
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Catherine 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.
She is a first rate house servant and understands housekeeping in all its
various departments—She is likely and intelligent, healthy and sound
in mind and body
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 Catherine into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said Catherine 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 Catherine 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 Catherine 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) Charlotte Maria
Dawes