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 Petitioners, Stephen Macdonald of Laporte Indiana Williams A. McIntire John A McIntire Laura E. McIntire of Washington City in the District of Columbia of by this their petition in writing, represents and states, that they are is a persons 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 three persons person of African descent of the name of Susan West, Mary Rebecca West and Clement Alexander West for and during the lifelives of said three persons of African descent and that by said act of Congress said three persons were was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Susan West was of the age of forty years and of the personal description following:() She is a female, of a black complexion, five feet three inches in height.

 

That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said three persons of African descent in manner following:() they were the property of Mary M. Ellis who intermarried with Alexander McIntire deceased, the father of the wife of your Petitioner Macdonald's wife and the father of your Petitioners John A. McIntire and Laura E. McIntire and the grandfather of your Petitioner Williams A. McIntire. Your Petitioner farther shows that the said Mary M. McIntire has already filed with said Commissioners a petition claiming said three persons of African descent as her own property and entirely ignoring the rights of your Petitioners. The said Mary M McIntire, administratrix of the estate of her said deceased husband and your Petitioners aver that her said claim should have been made as administratrix [upon?] said estate

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said three persons of African ascent was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of [no handwritten text supplied here] dollars in money.()thirteen hundred and thirty three dollars in money.

Your petitioners hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that they have has not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.

And your petitioners further states and alleges, that they have has not nor has any of them brought said three persons of African descent into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said three persons of African descent were was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's' claim to such service or labor.

Your petitioners further states and alleges, that their said claim to the service or labor of said three 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 petitioners prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of their said claim to the service or labor of said three 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.