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, Charles H. Mann of Baltimore City State of Maryland 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 female slave person of African descent of the name of Louisa Coates for and during the life of said term of Two years and Six Months from the first day of June A.D. 1862. and that by said act of Congress said Louisa Coates is discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Louisa Coates is of the age of twenty three years. and of the personal description following:(1) a Light Colored negress with wavy black hair—& a mole on her face, about 5 feet. 3 inches in height. rather sunken eyes & tolerably good teeth—

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Louisa Coats in manner following:(2) In the first place by purchase from Asbury McKendree Boyd, on the 14th day of May 1860 for the term of the three years & Sixteen days, for the Sum of $125.00—being then in delicate health—& subsequently on account of her running away, to wit on the 12th day of February A.D. 1862 her time was extended for eighteen months beyond her original term of servitude, by the Orphans Court of Baltimore City—which original bill of sale and subsequent order of Court are herewith filed—

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Louisa Coates was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Fifteen dollars in money.(3)a month, and he states as a reason therefore That he is a proprietor of a Hotel and has employed Said Slave as his Chief Cook, there being none better in the Country. And your petitioner states that he is now employing in her place, two servants at the note of $8.00 per Month for each making $16.00 per month which he now pays for the work formerly performed by said Louisa, which also creates the extra expense of boarding one additional servt​. & that he would greatly prefer her services to both of theirs—And he states he has no knowledge of any infirmity or defect in said Louisa—

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