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. Susan Ireland 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 and one female person of African descent of the names of Henry Hammond and Elizabeth Brent, for and during the life of said Henry Hammond and Elizabeth Brent and that by said act of Congress said Henry Hammond and Elizabeth Brent, 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 Henry Hammond and Elizabeth Brent, were of the ages of fifty eight and twenty years respectively, and of the personal description following:(1) Henry Hammond , fifty eight years of age, of dark copper color, about five feet seven inches high, slim made, thin visage, and in good health;—a good hand for horses and a tolerable good house servant. He is considered valuable on account of his faithfulness and honesty in all his duties.—Elizabeth Brent, about twenty years of age, dark copper color, stout made, about five feet two or three inches high, and in good health. A very strong and able bodied woman, a good cook, washer and ironer, and an honest and faithful family servant.

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Henry and Elizabeth in manner following:(2) She purchased Henry Hammond of Henry Burch in this city in December 1851, and paid six hundred and fifty dollars for him. She purchased Elizabeth Brent of John L. Dufief and paid six hundred and fifty dollars for her in January 1856. She cannot now produce any written evidence of title.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Henryand Elizabeth was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of (see below) dollars in money.(3) Henry Hammond, three hundred and fifty dollars, and Elizabeth Brent, one thousand dollars. She believes the description of them on the preceding page is correct, and enhances their value; and she knows of no moral, mental and bodily infirmities to impair the value of either, and believes that none such 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 Henry and Elizabeth into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Henryand Elizabeth 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 Henryand Elizabeth 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 Henryand Elizabeth 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.