Civil War Washington

PETITION.

To the Commissioners under the act of Congress approved the April 16, 1862, entitled "an act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia."

Your Petitioner, Fanny B. Ewell of the city of Washington & District of Columbia respectfully showeth, that at the time of the passage of the said act of Congress, she held a claim to the service or labor against the following persons of African descent to wit: Fanny Martin, Davy Martin, Moses Martin, Louisa Curtis, Francis Curtis, Margret Curtis, George Curtis, and Mary Curtis, for and during the life of said persons & that by the said act of Congress the said persons were discharged & freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of the said discharge of the said persons, they were of the ages and description, to wit:

Fanny Martin is a small woman of light color and about the age of 60 years. well & active

Davy Martin is a small man, dark color, a very efficient porter and has been employed by Mr. W. Orme for the past eight years receiving good wages; he is 58 or 59 years of age.

Moses Martin is a man of bright countenance and pleasing manner, is employed as chief cook at the Elliott House, receiving good wages; he is 24 years of age

 

Louisa Curtis is a small bright woman, a smart and efficient servant and has been recently sick but is now quite improved in health; she is 89 years of age. Frances Curtis, is a girl of light color, lively and pleasing manners, good disposition and character and a very good servant; she is 17 years of age. Margret Curtis, is a girl of light color, a very capable and efficient servant; she is 15 years of age. George Curtis is a small boy for his age but uncommonly smart & useful; he is 11 years of age. Mary Curtis is a girl of dark color, healthy and smart; she is 7 years of age. That she acquired title to the service of the aforesaid persons by descent from her parents Jesse & Mildred Ewell of Prince Wm Co Va in 1848.

That the service or labor of the aforesaid persons was at the time of this discharge by the said act of Congress of the value of six thousand dollars to wit: Fanny, three hundred, Davy, eight hundred, Moses, two thousand, Louisa, four hundred, Francis, nine hundred, Margret, seven hundred, George, six hundred, and Mary, three hundred dollars.

That your petitioner has been loyal to the Government of the United States, and that she has not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor given aid   or comfort to the enemy.

Your petitioner further represents that sometime during the winter of 1851, she came from Virginia to reside in the city of Wasington DC and removed at the same time, the aforesaid persons to the latter place, where she had them registered according to law in the clerks office of the Circuit Court for the District of Columbia when they remained domiciled to the time of the passage of the said act subject to & by virtue of your petitioners claim to such

Your petitioner further represents that her 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 United States Government.

And your petitioner therefore prays the said commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of her said claim to the service or labor of said persons herein above mentioned, and if the same be found to be valid, that they appraise & 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.