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, Jeremiah Stevens of Washington, D.C. 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 a certain female of African descent of the name of Kate Warren for and during the life of said Kate Warren and that by said act of Congress said Kate Warren was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Kate Warren was of the age of eleven years and of the personal description following: a dark copper color, naturally smart as house servant &c. recently recovered from the smallpox; have no knowledge of any infirmity or defect moral mental or physical.

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Kate Warren in manner following: Having owned the Mother and raised her from birth. Said Kate Warren was registered as a slave about November 1860

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor   of said Kate Warren , was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Eight hundred Dollars in money.

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 Kate Warren into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Kate Warren 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 Kate Warren 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 Kate Warren 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.