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, Artimesia Bean of Washington City 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 three persons of African descent of the name of Charlotte Ann Locke, Lewis Washington Locke, and Valinda Ann Duskin for and during the life of said Charlotte Ann Lewis W. and Valinda and that by said act of Congress said Charlotte Ann Lewis W and Valinda 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 Charlotte Ann, Lewis W, and Valinda Ann was Respectively of the age of 22—1—And 83 years and of the personal description following:(1) Charlotte Ann about five feet high her upper lip high in the center and a Bright Molatto​. Lewis W. a child Brigher​ than his mother Charlotte Ann, Valinda Black and Bent with age

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Slaves in manner following:(2) they were the property of her late husband Benjamin Bean Deceased of the City of Washington D. C. and purchased by your petitioner at the Sale of his personal estate on the fourth day of April 1861 at five hundred dollars for the whole

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Slaves was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of five hundred dollars in money.(3) As Charlotte would earn five dollars per month over and above what services she performed at home and that her child was worth in service nothing and Valinda was worth a great deal less than nothing but now Remains on the hands of your petitioner While Charlotte has absented herself with her child Lewis from the time of the passage of the above act of Congress

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 Slaves into the District of Columbiasince the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Slaves 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said Slaves 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said Slaves 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.