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, Margarett E. Lowrie of Washington County D.C. 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 certain persons of colour​, person of African descent of the name of Mary Simmes, Gabriel Clark, Frank Clark, William Stewart, Edward Stewart, Laura Simmes, & Kate Simmes for and during the life of said Mary Simmes, Gabriel Clark, Frank Clark, William Stewart, Edward Stewart, Laura Simmes, & Kate Simmes and that by said act of Congress said Mary Simmes, Gabriel Clark, Frank Clark, William Stewart, Edward Stewart, Laura Simmes, & Kate Simmes 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 Mary Simmes was of the age of forty years and of the personal description following:(1) bright yellow colour​, 5 ft. 8 in high, stout, & very healthy, a fine field hand & a good washer woman Gabriel Clark, son of Mary Simmes, age 21 years, color, black, 5 ft. 9 in high, well made & in good health, & is a first-class field hand, & teamster—Frank Clark, son of Mary Simmes, age 15 years, colour​, dark yellow, about 5 ft 4 in high, in fine health & a good field hand—William Stewart, son of Mary Simmes, age 13 years, colour​, black, 5 ft. high, well built and in excellent health, & is a first-class field hand—Edward Stewart, son of Mary Simmes, age 11 years, dark brown colour​, 4 ft 6 in high, a good house boy, & also a fine waiter, & is in fine health. Laura Simmes, daughter of Mary Simmes, age 5 years, 3 ft. 2 or 3 in. high, & is in excellent health & very sprightly.—Kate Simmes, daughter of Mary Simmes, age 3 years, 3 ft hight, & is very sprightly & is in most excellent health—

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Coloured​ Persons in manner following:(2) the said Margarett E. Lowrie obtained them by Will of her father, the late Levi Sheriff of Washington County, D.C. about seven years since. The aforesaid Will may be found on record at the City Hall Washington City D.C.—

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Coloured​ Persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of six thousand one hundred dollars in money.(3) The said Mary Simmes eight hundred dollars,—The said Gabriel Clark fifteen hundred dollars,—the said Frank Clark twelve hundred dollars,—the said William Stewart eleven hundred dollars,—the said Edward Stewart, seven hundred dollars,—the said Laura Simmes, five hundred dollars, & the said Kate Simmes, three hundred dollars. They all being as aforesaid invaluable servants & to the best of my knowledge the said persons having no moral, or bodily, defect.

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 Coloured​ Persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Coloured​ 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 Coloured​ 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 Coloured​ 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.