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, Susan Tyler of George Town in said District, 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 three persons of African descent of the names of Sarah Boyd, Mary Boyd and Maria Boyd for and during the life lives 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) to wit; Sarah Boyd was forty years of age, brown color, and of medium height; Mary Boyd was eighteen years of age, of brown color, and medium height; and Maria Boyd was sixteen years of age, of bright yellow color, and of low stature.

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following: ; (2) to wit; by devise under the will of Dr. I. W. L. W. Bowie, which is recorded at Rockville in Montgomery Maryland, who died in or about the year 1853

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 twenty nine hundred dollars in money. , (3) or thereabouts, according to the prices which has been paid in cash for similar negroes by those dealing in them, as she is informed and believes. They are all perfectly healthy, honest, well-behaved, orderly, good servants; their morals are good, and they have no mental or bodily infirmity or defect, and she believes none to exist; she knows of none. They are valuable servants; Sarah, being a good cook, washer, ironer and good dairy maid; Mary a house maid; washer and ironer; and Maria a good house maid and nurse to children.

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 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 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 value 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.