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, Susanna Hughes of District 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 service or labor against one servant woman, a person of African descent of the name of Anna Fisher for and during the life of said until the said Anna should become of the age of thirty five and that by said act of Congress said Anna has been discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Anna was of the age of nearly twenty two years being born on July 8th 1840 . and of the personal description following:(1) A bright mulatto of good appearance;

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Anna in manner following: (2) that is to say from the bequest of her aunt, Margaret Waters, of Anne Arundel County, Md., (her will being on Record in said Grand state): who left to the said Susanna, the mother of the said Anna, and her issue and provided as follows: "I do hereby will and direct that the issue of all the said slaves" (i.e. all bequeathed by the will) & their issue & their increase forever be free at the age of 35 years."

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Anna was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of say about dollars in money. (3) 6$/per mo = about 72$ per year, which would amount to $936 or thereabout for 13 years. The said Anna being of good moral and religious character, a member for some time of St. John's Pr. Epis. Church; able to read and write; and having been brought up from earliest infancy with most scrupulous attention to morals & to household duties befitting her age.

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 Anna into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Anna 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 servant 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 Anna 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.