Civil War Washington

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

Your Petitioner, Elizabeth C. Peerce of Washington County, District of Columbia, administratrix of Joseph M. Peerce care of said County deceased, by this petition in writing represents & 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 the service or labour, of a person of African descent of the name of Henry Wheeler, for and during the life of said Henry Wheeler, and that by said act of Congress said Henry Wheeler was discharged and freed of & from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of such discharge said Henry Wheeler was of the age of Twenty-eight years, and of the personal description following; of a dark chestnut color, delicately made, rather Tall, and has a scar upon his left cheek caused by a burn. That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labour of said Henry Wheeler, by virtue of letters of administration granted to her upon the personal estate of her husband the said Joseph M. Peerce deceased, by the Orphans Court of said District of Columbia, said letters being dated & granted May 8th, 1855; and that her said Husband bought the said Henry Wheeler from John T. Power of said County and District for the sum of Two Hundred & five Dollars on the 8th day of July in the year eighteen Hundred & forty seven, as is evidenced by the bill of sale herewith annexed & filed—

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labour of said Henry Wheeler was at the time of said discharge   therefrom of the value of nine Hundred Dollars; that she received from him wages at the rate of Twelve dollars per month, for his services as a first class waiter and dining room servant—

and your petitioner hath no knowledge of any moral mental, or bodily defect in said Henry Wheeler, as impair the value of her claim to such service or labour​—

Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true & faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she hath 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 hath not brought said Henry Wheeler in the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that at the time of the passage thereof said Henry Wheeler was held to service or labour therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labour.

Your petitioner further states and alleges that her said claim to the service or labour aforesaid 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 of said Henry Wheeler herein set forth, and if the same be found to be valid, that they appraise the value of same in money and apportion said value, and report the same to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States in conformity to the provisions of said Act of Congress—