Civil War Washington

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, Enoch F. Zell, of Washington, in the District of Columbia, by this his Petition in writing,—represents & states that he 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 Jane Turner Campbell, a person of African descent, for & during the life of the said Jane Turner Campbell, & that by said act of Congress said Jane Turner Campbell was discharged & freed of & from all claim of your Petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Jane Turner Campbell was of the age of Twelve Years or thereabouts, & of the personal description following: She is of a dark Copper Color, & limps on account of a shortness in the left leg. This is a constitutional defect.

That your Petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid Service or labor of said Jane Turner Campbell in the manner following: She was given to his Wife about three years ago by Mrs Helen Brawner, of Charles County, Maryland, & was raised, with her mother in Mrs. Brawner's family.

That your Petitioner's Claim to the service or labor of said Jane Turner Campbell was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Five hundred ($500) Dollars in   money—her lameness does not interfere with her usefulness, or health—She is a house servant, active, intelligent & industrious & is honest, religiously inclined very faithful & obedient—.

Your Petitioner hereby declares that he bears true & faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, & that he 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 & alleges, that he has not brought said Jane Turner Campbell into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; & that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Jane Turner Campbell was held to service or labor therein under & by virtue of your Petitioner's claim to such service or labor.

Your Petitioner further states & alleges that his said claim to the service or labor of said Jane Turner Campbell 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 & determine the validity of her said claim to the service or labor of said Jane Turner Campbell herein above set forth; and if the same be found to be valid, that they appraise & apportion the value of said claim in money, & report the same to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, in conformity to the provisions of said   act of Congress.