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, Philip A. Cawood of Washington City DC by this his petition in writing, represents and states, that he 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 Fanny Isabella Bowman person of African descent of the name of Fanny Isabella Bowman for and during the life of said Fanny Isabella Bowman and that by said act of Congress said Fanny Isabella Bowman is discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Fanny Isabella Bowman was of the age of Thirteen years and of the personal description following:(1) She is of dark color four feet eight inches high rather slender smart active girl, a good cook washer and Ironer and valuable as a house servant she is without any defect or infirmity or anything that would impair her value being sound mentally and bodily there is nothing known to this petitioner which would impair her value As farther evidence of her value he would state that about one year ago he was offered one thousand dollars in cash by Mr. Mattingly of Charles County Maryland which he refused

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Fanny Isabella Bowman in manner following:(2) That the said Fanny Isabella Bowman was left to his wife Sarah E. Cawood by the will of Sarah Green her mother which is of record in the Orphan's Court for the District of Columbia County of Washington

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Fanny Isabella Bowman was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of one thousand dollars in money.(3)She being a family servant; was of great value to your petitioner, and he could have easily sold her for the said sum to the said Mattingly and perhaps other persons, and he believes no infirmity or defect existed to impair her value she being perfectly sound and healthy

Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that he 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 he has not brought said Fanny Isabella Bowman into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said F I Bowman 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said F I Bowman 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said Fanny Isabella Bowman 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.