Title: Petition of Melvina H. Bowie, 20 May 1862
Date: May 20, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 3. The original document is held in the Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, 1775–1978, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 217.6.5. Within the National Archives' Archival Description Catalog, see ARC Identifier 4644616 / MLR Number A1 347 (http://arcweb.archives.gov).
Civil War Washington ID: cww.00324
TEI/XML: cww.00324.xml
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, Mrs Allen T Bowie of the Washington D.C. 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 seven persons of African descent of the names of Wm Ross, James Shriner, Lemuel Terry, Celia Ross, Rachel Terry, Manny Ross Susan Terry 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 persons were of the ages of and of the personal description following:(1)
| Wm Ross, | male | 56 years of age, | about 6 feet high very stout and healthy light brown valued at $ |
| James Shriner | " | 32 " " " | 5ft 7in high hearty and able bodied dark brown valued at $ |
| Lemuel Terry | " | 25 " " " | 5ft 6in " robust and stout black valued at $ |
| Celia Ross | female | 55 " " " | 5ft 4in stout and healthy dark brown valued at $ |
| Rachel Terry | " | 25 " " " | 5ft high small frame but intelligent light valued at $ |
| Nanny Ross | " | 14 " " " | 5ft high " likely and able bodied mullatto valued at $ |
| Susan Terry | " | 8 " " " | sprightly and likely dark brown valued at $ |
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) by the distribution of the estate of her late husband Allen T. Bowie dec'd they being among other property my dower or third part of my late husband's estate 1855 Prince Geo Co Md
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 dollars in money.(3) which sum was appraised to be the value of said persons at the time of said distribution—Said persons have served with me for a long period of time and faithfully acquitted themselves in the different capacities they were employed and I know of no defects or infirmities either mentally, morally or bodily which they or either of them may have at this time.
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
as 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 she 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.
Melvina H Bowie
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Melvina H Bowie being duly sworn, do depose and say, that all the several matters and things which are set forth and stated in the foregoing petition, as of my own knowledge, are true in substance and in fact; and that all the several other matters and things therein set forth and stated, as from the information of others, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.
Melvina H Bowie
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of May A.D. 1862
W. R. Woodward
Melvina H. Bowie
John Bridgett D st near 2nd
Note (1.)-- Here describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each one separately.
Note (2.)-- Here state how the claim was acquired, when, from whom, and for what price or consideration; and, if held under any written evidence of title, make exhibit thereof, or refer to the public record where the same may be found.
Note (3.)-- Here state such facts, if any there be, touching the value of the petitioner's claim to the service or labor of the person, as may enhance the same, and also such facts, if any, touching the moral, mental, and bodily infirmities or defects of said person, as impair the value of the petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and conclude such statement with an averment that the petitioner knows of no other infirmities or defects of said person which impair the value of petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and that he believes none other to exist. If the petitioner specify no such infirmity or defect, then his statement touching the value of his claim should conclude with an averment that he has no knowledge of any such infirmity or defect.
