Civil War Washington

Petition

To the Commissioners under the act of Congress approved 16th April, 1862, entitled "An act for the release of certain persons held to service or Labor in the District of Columbia

Your Petitioner Matilda Coyle of Washington City 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 African descent of the names following Henney Dant, Elizabeth Dant, Eliza Dant William Dant, and Richard Dant slaves for and during the lives of said parties and that by said Act of Congress said parties 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 parties was of the age of and personal description as follows

• Henney Dant aged 32 years Mullatto​ 4 ft 11 inches high
• Elizabeth Dant aged 16 years Mullato​ 4 ft 9 in high
• Eliza Dant aged 28 years Mullato​ 4 ft 11 inches high
• William Dant aged 8 yearsMullato​
• Rachel Dant aged 6 years Mullato​

That Your Petitioner acquired   her title or claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manners following that is to say by inheritance

That your petitioners claim to the service or labor of said persons was at the time of said discharge therefrom of the value of in money as herein below set forth namely

• Henney Dant value $800—
• Elizabeth Dant " 800—
• Eliza Dant " 800—
• William Dant " 500
• Rachel Dant " 400

The three first named are valuable House servants brought up to the good qualities of such by good training and careful attention they are of good character, and sound mind and your petitioner avers that she knows of no defects or infirmities to impair their value

The remaining two are smart active children, and capable of rendering themselves useful in all the particulars appertaining to the duties of children of that age in domestic requirements

 

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 same in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto

And your petitioner further states and declares 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 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 parties 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.