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, Mrs. Sarah Davis 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 Hannah West and her two sons Aleck & Hampton. Julia and her two children named one Annie & the other a male—also Susan Joyce—all being persons of African descent of the names of as above mentioned for and during the life of said Sarah Davis, her heirs, executors, &c. and that by said act of Congress of said 16 of April 1862 the above mentioned negroes were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said negroes were of the ages of [no handwritten text supplied here] and of the personal description following:(1)

• Hannah West about 55 years female—black
• Aleck son of above aged 28 or 30 male bright mulatto
• Toby alias Hampton do—25—Do Do—Do
• Julia neice​ of Hannah about 30—female black—
• Annie Child of Julia about 8 or 9 female Mulatto bright
• child of Julia aged one year male Black—
• Susan Joyce aged about 30 year female & Black—

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said seven negroes in manner following:(2) to Hannah and her children Aleck and Toby or Hampton by and in virtue of a deed of gift from my mother Mrs Sarah Walker dated the 12th of Nov 1808—and herein enclosed marked A. to Susan Joyce by purchase from Ellen Wilcoxen the bill of sale herein also presented and marked B. dated on the 19th of Oct one thousand eight hundred and forty two and to Julia and her child called Annie or Amelia by purchase from my sister in law Mrs. Lucy B. Walker in pay of a debt due from my dec'd​ brother Zacharias Walker marked C and herein enclosed.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said seven negroes was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of many dollars in money.(3) the amount whereof she cannot calculate as she raised them also and never estimated the value in money but will state—that no money could have bought Hannah or her children—she Hannah has been of no service for a year being very heavy having a sore leg and gouty—for Aleck, my son was offered eighteen hundred dollars by Col​. Singleton of Miss and refused—Aleck is a very valuable house servt​ and cook—I consider Toby more valuable than his brother Julia is neice​ to Hannah in the prime of life and health—and is an elegant cook, washer and ironer—Susan I bought to keep her from being sold away from her family as her mistress Mrs. Wilcoxen was in indigent circumstances and obliged to part from her

Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she or any of her family 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 seven negroes into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said seven negroes were 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 claims to the service or labor of said seven negroes do 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 negroes 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.