Title: Petition of Ann M. Hill, 27 May 1862
Date: May 27, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 4. The original document is held in the Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, 1775–1978, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 217.6.5. Within the National Archives' Archival Description Catalog, see ARC Identifier 4644616 / MLR Number A1 347 (http://arcweb.archives.gov).
Civil War Washington ID: cww.00472
TEI/XML: cww.00472.xml
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, Ann M. Hill
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 Mary
Fletcher and Louisa Hawkins two
female persons of African descent
of the name of for and during the life of said Mary Fletcher and Louisa
Hawkins and that by said act of Congress said persons aforesaid 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 Fletcher
& Louisa Hawkins were of the following ages:
Mary Fletcher
of the age of
between fifty and fifty four. Louisa
Hawkins sixteen years and of the personal description
following:(1)
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons aforesaid in manner following:(2) Mary Fletcher given to me by my father before his death and has been in my possession about forty five years. Louisa Hawkins given to me by my brother and has been in my possession about eight years. Your petitioner has no written title. In the first case can prove possession and probably, if necessary, (although so many years have lapsed) can prove the fact of gift. In the second case can produce evidence of possession and gift.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons aforesaid was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Sixteen Hundred dollars in money.(3) Mary Fletcher being an excellent cook and house servant and good washer and Ironer, value $800 Louisa Hawkins being a fine house maid, value $800 and your petitioner has no knowledge of any defect to impair their value
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
aforesaid into the District of Columbia since
the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage
thereof, said persons aforesaid 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 aforesaid 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 persons aforesaid 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.
Ann M. Hill
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Ann M. Hill being duly sworn, do depose and say, that all the several matters and things which are set forth and stated in the foregoing petition, as of my own knowledge, are true in substance and in fact; and that all the several other matters and things therein set forth and stated, as from the information of others, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.
Ann M Hill
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 22nd day of May A. D. 1862.
H. C. Spalding J. Peace
Note (1.)-- Here describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each one separately.
Note (2.)-- Here state how the claim was acquired, when, from whom, and for what price or consideration; and, if held under any written evidence of title, make exhibit thereof, or refer to the public record where the same may be found.
Note (3.)-- Here state such facts, if any there be, touching the value of the petitioner's claim to the service or labor of the person, as may enhance the same, and also such facts, if any, touching the moral, mental, and bodily infirmities or defects of said person, as impair the value of the petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and conclude such statement with an averment that the petitioner knows of no other infirmities or defects of said person which impair the value of petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and that he believes none other to exist. If the petitioner specify no such infirmity or defect, then his statement touching the value of his claim should conclude with an averment that he has no knowledge of any such infirmity or defect.
