Civil War Washington

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 services or labor in the District of Columbia:"

Your petitioners, Lucy R. Miller, Maria Miller, Harriet Miller and William Miller of the City of Washington in the District of Columbia, by this their petition in writing, represent and state that they are persons 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 five persons of African descent named Hannah, Isabella, John Joseph Shorter, Charles Edwin Shorter (otherwise, Charles Edwin Taylor) and Nancy, for and during the lives of said persons; and that by said Act of Congress said persons were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioners to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Hannah was of the age of twenty-one years, the said Isabella of the age of twenty-six years, the said John Joseph Shorter of the age of fourteen years, the said Charles Edwin Shorter (or Taylor) of the age of eleven years and the said Nancy of the age of fifty-six years, or thereabout. That said Hannah is black, of low stature and well formed; said Isabella is black and of low stature; said John Joseph Shorter is of a bright mulatto color, well formed and likely; said Charles Edwin Shorter (or Taylor) is of a bright mulatto color, well formed and very intelligent; and said Nancy is of a black color, short and stout. That your petitioners acquired   their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons under the last will and testament of your petitioners' sister, the late Eliza A. Miller, deceased; which said last will and testament was duly proved and recorded in the office of the Register of Wills for Washington County in the District of Columbia on the third day of May in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six; and a certified copy of which, marked "Exhibit A," is herewith filed as part of this petition. That your petitioners' claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Four Thousand dollars in money. That said Hannah is a good house servant, cook, washer and ironer, of a good constitution and free from any infirmity or defect; said Isabella is also a superior cook, washer and ironer, a good house servant, healthy and free from any infirmity or defect; said John Joseph Shorter and Charles Edwin Shorter (or Taylor) are both healthy, capable and efficient as house servants and free from any infirmity or defect; said Nancy is a good cook, washer and ironer, but of somewhat delicate health.

Your petitioners hereby declare that they bear true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States and that they have not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.

And your petitioners further state and allege that they have not brought said persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said Act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons were held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioners' claim to such service or labor.

Your petitioners further state and allege that   their 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 petitioners pray the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of their said claim to the service or labor of said persons herein above set forth; and if the same be found 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 with the provisions of said Act of Congress.