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, Catharine Windsor of Washington City DC 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 Eight Coloured​ persons of African descent of the names of Jemima Brown, Daniel Brown, Cornelia Hampton, Caroline West, Julia Wallace Noah Wallace, Daniel Wallace and Lester Wallace for and during the life of said Servants and that by said act of Congress said Servants 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 Jemima was of the age of Seventy three Years and of the personal description following:(1) Copper Colour​ healthy for a Person as far advanced in Years. Daniel forty Seven Years, Black, Healthy and active and very valuable Cornelia thirty Six Years old, Black very Healthy and valuable. Caroline aged sixty Years. Black Healthy and a Good Servant. Julia aged sixteen Years. Very healthy. Noah Eleven Years old, Black, and healthy. Daniel Eleven Years old and twin with Noah, healthy. Both Servant Boys, and Lester Eight Years, Black healthy

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Servants in manner following:(2) By Inheritance of her father (Richard S. Windsor of Fairfax Co State of Virginia.) and the increase. Excepting Cornelia Hampton and Daniel Brown. Whom I purchased from my fathers estate and from her brother Lofton Windsor about nine Years Since for Caroline and five Years for Said Daniel

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Servants was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of six thousand five hundred dollars in money.(3) To Wit one hundred dollars for Jemima. One thousand Dollars for Daniel the Elder. One thousand Dollars for Cornelia. One thousand for Caroline. Julia Eleven hundred Dollars, Noah Eight hundred dollars Daniel Eight hundred Dollars and Lester Seven hundred Dollars. With the exception of Jemima they all Being healthy active able to Labour​

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 Servants into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Servants 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 she said claim to the service or labor of said Servants 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 Servants 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.