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, Elanor R. Lang of Georgetown 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 persons of African descent of the name of Mary Dyer, Lizzie Clark, Henry Clark, George Dyer, Mary J. Clark Eliza Ann Clark, William H. Clark, Alfred Clark, Maria L. Clark and Frank Clark. for and during the life of said persons of African descent and that by said act of Congress said persons were 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 persons were was of the age of and of the personal description following:(1)

Mary Dyer	Female,	48 years of age.	Mulatto	4 ft 11½ in in Height
Lizzie Clark	"	33 "	"	5 " ½ " "
Henry Clark	Male	28 "	Dark Copper	5 " 3 ¾ " "
George Dyer	"	23 "	Mullato​	5 " 7 ½ " "
Mary J. Clark	Female	16 "	"	5 " 3 " "
Eliza H. Clark	"	14 ½ "	"	5 " 1 " "
William H. Clark	Male	13 "	"	4 " 5 ½ " "
Alfred Clark	"	10 "	"	4 " 2 ¾ " "
Maria L. Clark	female	8 ½ "	"	4 " ½ " "
Frank Clark		2 months	"

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Persons of African Descent in manner following:(2)

Mary Dyer was purchased from James F. and Debra Essex in the year 1824 for the sum of Two hundred (200) dollars—

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Persons of African descent was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Seventy hundred dollars in money.(3) as follows

Mary Dyer	$600.00	healthy, excellent cook, washer & Ironer,
Lizzie Clark	1000.00	" , " " chamber work &c
Henry Clark	1200.00	" House servant (insured for $1.000)
George Dyer	1200.00	" " " (insured " $1.000 good clerk)
Mary J. Clark	800.00	" " "
Eliza H. Clark	800.00	" " "
William H. Clark	500.00	" " "
Alfred Clark	500.00	" " "
Maria L. Clark	300.00	"
Frank Clark	100.00	"

I have no knowledge of any defect or bodily infirmity in any of these persons named

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 Persons of African descent into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Persons 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 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 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 persons of African descent 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.

Your Petitioner's claim aforesaid is subject to a deed of trust dated July 19, 1858 & recorded in Liber J. A. S. No. 158 fol. 227 of the Lands Records of the County of Washton, D.C. to secure a debt, therein mentioned, to Peter Von Essen.