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, Ann Pickrel of Georgetown Dst. Col. 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 seven persons of African descent of the names of Sarah Collins, Thomas Doris, Maria Doris, Samuel Collins, Amy Collins, Louisa Collins, and Frank Tyler for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said 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 persons were of the ages of [no handwritten text supplied here] and of the personal description following:(1)

Value
$900	Sarah Collins—Sex female, complexion bright brown, face freckled, pleasant address, height 5 6/12 feet, aged 48 years
1000	Thomas Doris—Sex male, age 45 years—complexion bright brown, strong, healthy, remarkably active and industrious, height 5 11/12 feet,
700	Maria Doris,—Sex female—very light complexion slender, tho strong and active—sometimes complains of sickness yet never relinquishes her duties, age 40 years, height 5 4/12 feel.
1000	Samuel Collins Age 23 years, Sex male, height 6 2/12 feet, color bright brown, pleasant in manners, remarkably active and intelligent and cheerful.
800	Amy Collins, Sex female—age 20 years—height 5 7/12 feet, well formed, color bright brown & exceedingly polite in her address.
600	Louisa Collins, Sex female—age 17 yeas, height 5 5/12 feet well built, color bright brown, healthy and active
1000	Frank Tyler Sex male—age 30. height 5 8/12 feet, color dark brown, fine manners, polite and active.
$6000	All of the above named persons have black eyes.

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) They were born in her family, their parents for several generations belonged to her ancestors, except Frank Tyler, who was bought by the husband of your petitioner, of one Mrs Queen, about 25 years ago to prevent his being sold for the Southern market.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Six thousand- dollars in money.(3) all of these Seven persons are excellent Seven well raised and industrious, and all in good bodily heath, and of excellent mental capacity—with the single exception of Maria Dorris who is at times unwell but not supposed to be permanently sick, and she rarely gives up the fulfillment of her duties on account of sickness. If there are any other defects or infirmities than this one mentioned your petitioner is not aware of them.

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 into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons 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 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said 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.