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, Mary A. Paine of Washington DC 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 the following named persons of African descent of the names of Ariana Turley, Amelia Lyles, Emma E. Freeman, John Turley, Wm. H. Turley & Lewis A. Freeman for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said 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 Ariana was 45 years old Amelia was 37 years old. Emma was 26 years. John was twenty three William was eighteen years of age and Lewis was of the age of seven years and of the personal description following:(1) that is to say

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) That is to say: Her father gave her Ariana Turley at the time of the marriage of your petitioner & subsequently bequeathed to your petitioner by his last will & testament which will she understands & believes was destroyed by the troops in Fairfax, VA. John William & Emma are her children who were born after Ariana became her property Lewis Freeman is the son of Emma & grand son of Ariana. Amelia was bought by her late husband from her late father.

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 5,000 dollars in money.(3) That is to say. Ariana is valued at $800. Amelia at $900 Emma at $800. John at $1200. William at $1000 and Lewis at $800. John is a most accomplished house servant & waiter temperate obedient & honest. Amelia is an excellent cook washer & ironer. Ariana is a most excellent cook honest & trustworthy. Emma is an elegant house servant washer & ironer. William is a first rate house servant polite & respectful. and Lewis is a fine boy runs errands and soforth​. All are of good moral character hearty & hale. And There are no moral, mental or bodily defects or infirmities in either of the above named persons known to your petitioner.

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 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 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.