Civil War Washington

Petition

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

Your Petitioner, Elizabeth Abbot of Georgetown, District of Columbia 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 the service or labor against four male and seven female persons of African decent of the names of Matilda Sims, Henry Sims, James Sims, Charles Henry Ambush, Ellen Norris, Adel Francis Davis, Catherine Ann Davis, Indiana Davis, Ellen Virginia Norris, Joseph Davis, and Cora Davis, and during the lives of said persons, and that by the Act of Congress said named persons 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 persons were of the age and of the personal description following; to wit—

• Matilda Sims—aged about 48 years—5 ft 4 in high Dark brown
• Henry Sims—aged about 47 years—5 ft 9 in—Dark brown. the sight of one eye injured.
• James Sims—aged about 38 years—about 5 ft 5 in. Dark brown
• Chas. Henry Ambush—about 36 years—5 ft 5 in. Dark brown
• Ellen Norris—aged about 45 years—5 ft 4 in. Mulatta​.

 

		years	months	days
Children of Ellen Norris	Adel Francis Davis (twins)	22	6	19	about 5 ft. 2 in. Dark brown
	Catharine Ann Davis	22	6	19	5 feet—Chestnut color
	Indiana Davis	24	3	18	about 5 ft 4 in Chestnut color
	Ellen Virginia Norris	3	5	-	Chestnut Color
Children of C. A. Davis	Joseph Davis	4	8	23	Bright mulatta
	Cora Davis	1	8	20	very bright Mulatta​

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in the following manners:

• Henry Sims and James Sims (Children of Venus) by Bill of Sale dated 29th July 1823, herewith filed.
• Charles Henry Ambush, (Son of Hannah) by same Bill of sale herewith.
• Matilda Sims, (daughter of Venus) by gift from my father more than twenty five years ago—See affidavit of my brother George D. Abbot.
• Ellen Norris, by gift from my father more than thirty years ago. I have always been under the impression that my father executed a deed to me for Ellen, but I cannot find one. In evidence of my claim to the services of Ellen, I respectfully refer the Hon: Commissioners to the Records of the County Court for the District of Columbia. where it will appear that I manumitted three of Ellen Norris' Children: See Deed of Manumission dated 29 July 1853, recorded on page 556, "Manumission Record, No. 4"—And Deed of Manumission dated 21 August 1855, recorded on page 1 "Manumission Record, No. 5."—And in further support of my title to the services of Ellen I herewith annex an affidavit of my brother George D. Abbot.
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• Adel Francis, Catherine Ann, Indiana and Ellen Virginia are children of Ellen Norris—the three first named, by her first husband and the last by her present husband.—
• Joseph and Cora are children of Catharine Ann Davis.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of six thousand and eight hundred dollars in money as follows—

• Matilda Sims—$500.—Is considered by every person with whom she has lived as a very good cook and a good servant in every respect
• Henry Sims—$800.—Is a stout, able bodied laboring man
• James Sims—$1000. Is a first rate house and dining room servant, and also a first rate gentleman's servant.
• Charles H Ambush $900.—Is a good house & dining room servant. also a good carriage driver. and in every respect a good servant. He has been suffering for the last three or four months with the rheumatism, but at this time has nearly recovered from its effects
• Ellen Norris $600. Adel Frances $800. Catharine Ann $800. and Indiana $800.—They are first rate house Servants in every respect. Adel is a very good seamstress.
• Ellen Virginia Norris $200. Joseph Davis $300 & Cora Davis $100. They are small children. Cora has an anurism​ on her cheek

Your petitioner knows of no mental or bodily   infirmities or defects of said persons except as stated above, as would impair the value of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and that she believes none other exists:—and that she believes they all are in perfect health with those exceptions.—

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 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 petitioner's claim to such service or labor

Your petitioner further states and alleges, that her said claim to the services 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 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.