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, Mrs. M. Alice Shulze of Washington City 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 one male person of African descent of the name of Orpheus Countee for and during the life of said Orpheus Countee and that by said act of Congress said Orpheus Countee 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 Orpheus Countee was of the age of twenty nine years, or thereabouts, and of the personal description following:(1) about five feet six inches high, of black color, flat nose, large mouth, good teeth, has had his leg and shoulder hurt; but his employers, Messrs.​ Kelleher & Pywell, at whose Livery Stable he has been hired several years, state that he is now in sound condition and a good faithful man at business; that he is valuable to them and they have been paying and are now paying him the highest class wages for such a man.

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Orpehus Countee in manner following:(2) By inheritance from the Estate of her late Father; and the said Orpheus is held in Trust for her use, by a Trustee who is now beyond the jurisdiction of the District of Columbia; that said Trust was created by a marriage contract entered into before her marriage with her husband Francis S. Shulze; and which marriage contract is recorded in the Land Records of Rivee George's County, Maryland in Liber E.W.B. N:1 Files 11 & 78 on 22. Feby. 1855

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Orpheus Countee was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of twelve hundred dollars in money.(3) He is worth at least the above amount because he has yielded her an income of over one hundred and fifty dollars per annum clear of all expenses for several years past, and is declared by his employers to be now a faithful hand and in good sound condition. She knows of no moral, mental, or bodily infirmities or defects to impair his value, except the hurt in his shoulder and leg, referred to on the preceding page, and she believes none other to exist.

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 Orpheus Countee into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Orpheus Countee 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 Orpheus Countee 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 Orpheus Countee 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.