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, Rosalie Edelin of Maryland 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 several persons person of African descent of the names of Lizzie Young, Francis Young and Sam Young for and during the life of said these several persons and that by said act of Congress said these several 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 these several persons are of the ages following, to wit: Lizzy Young is about 20 years, Francis Young is about four years old, and Sam Young is about 13 years and of the personal description following:(1) Lizzie Young is copper colored, about 5 feet 4 inches, very, likely and of fine appearance—Francis Young is copper colored and well grown—Sam Young is black and well grown—

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said these several persons in manner following:(2) to Lizzie Young and Sam Young under and by virtue of the last will and testament of her relative Mary Ann McPherson decd​ late of Prince George's County Md, who died about 7 years ago and her will is protected and recorded in said Prince George's County, and have been in possession of your petitioner ever since. Francis Young is the son of said Lizzie, born while the mother was your petitioner's slave and was thus born the property of your petitioner—

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said these several persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of twenty five hundred dollars in money.(3)said Lizzie being worth $1200, being remarkably genteel & likely, an excellent house servant, washer and ironer, & also cooks, very honest, polite and respectful, and in perfect health—Francis Young is worth $300, being a well grown boy, intelligent and good cooking and in perfect health. Sam Young is stout and in perfect health, well grown, intelligent & suitable for a field or farm hand, [bearable?], polite & of a good disposition—Your petitioner knows of no mental, moral or physical defects to impair the value of her said claim. The value of Sam Young is $1000—

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 or any of them into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said these persons were 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 these several 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 these several 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.