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, Henderson Fowler, of Washington City— by this his petition in writing, represents and states, that he 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 two female persons of African descent of the names of Rosetta Davis and Harriet Davis, for and during the life of said Rosetta and Harriet DAvis, and that by said act of Congress said Rosetta and Harriet, 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 Rosetta and Harriet, were of the ages of thirty nine and four years respectively, and of the personal description following:(1) Rosetta Davis, about thirty nine years of age, dark color, about five feet three inches high, ordinary size, and healthy. A good cook, washer, nurse, and family servant generally.—Her child, Harriet Davis, is four years old, of dark color, a fine fat and healthy child, and is quite useful for her age.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Rosetta and Harriet, in manner following:(2) He purchased Rosetta from a Trader named Thompson, about twelve years ago, and paid six hundred and twenty five dollars for her. He cannot now produce his Bill of Sale but his title is recorded in the County Clerk's Office in this City.—Harriet was born since he owned her Mother, the said Rosetta.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Rosetta and Harriet, was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of (see below) dollars in money.(3) Rosetta Davis, six hundred dollars, and Harriet Davis, three hundred dollars. He does not know that either of them possess any moral, mental, or bodily infirmities that impair the value of either of them, and does not believe that any such exist.

Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that he 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 he has not brought said Rosetta Davis and Harriet into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Rosetta and Harriet 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said Rosetta and Harriet 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said Rosetta Davis and Harriet 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.