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, Margaret W. Getty of Georgetown 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 two persons of African descent of the names of Eliza Bateman and William Bateman for and during the life of said Eliza Bateman and William Bateman and that by said act of Congress said Eliza Bateman and William Bateman 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 Eliza Bateman and William Bateman were of the age of respectively of the ages of forty nine years & twenty one years and of the personal description following:(1) Eliza Bateman is about five feet five inches tall, black in complexion, strong healthy & a cook
William Bateman about five feet ten inches tall dark mulatto, a house servant & gardener

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Eliza & William Bateman in manner following:(2) her husband Robert Getty deceased purchased in his life time Eliza Bateman then six weeks old from Charles Jones & William was born of Eliza while said Eliza was the slave of her said husband. That her husband died intestate this & her children agreed with her that she should have the property of all her said husband estate during her lifetime & that at her death it should go to her children

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said two servants was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $2200 dollars in money.(3) the said Eliza is a strong hearty woman a first rate cook, washer & ironer & worth at least $800.

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 servants nor either of them into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said two servants 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 two servants 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 two servants 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.