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, Jacob G. Smoot of Fairfax County, Va. 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 four male and four female persons of African descent of the names of Eliza Ann & Alexander, Julia Rouselle, John Calvert, and George Washington, her four children:—Winny Ann and her infant boy without a name:—and Nelly for and during the life of said eight persons and that by said act of Congress said eight persons, (excepting his doubts stated on the fourth page of this sheet,) 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 eight persons were of the ages of stated below, and of the personal description following:(1) Eliza Ann, aged about 26 or 27 years, dark color, medium size, 5 feet 2 inches high, healthy, a good cook, and first rate house or field servant:—her four children, Alexander aged 11 years, dark brown color, usual size; Julia Rouselle, aged 8 years, nearly black, usual size;—John Calvert, aged 4 years, nearly black, usual size;—and George Washington, from 20 to 24 months old, dark copper color.—Winny Ann, aged 23 years, copper color, about five feet high, compactly made, sound and healthy; and her infant boy four months old without a name, of light color and healthy.—Nelly, aged from 50 to 55 years, black color, 5 feet 3 or 4 inches high, well made, healthy, and a good cook, washer and ironer. They are all good house servants, healthy, and valuable.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said eight persons in manner following:(2) I purchased Eliza Ann from my Brother J. H. Smoot about 11 years since, for much less than their value because he did not wish to sell beyond his friends. I only paid for her and her infant five hundred dollars which was only about two thirds their value. Her other children were born since, and the family are worth to me $2500.—: Winny Ann and her infant were acquired by my marriage. Nelly I purchased from Richard Simmons of Maryland, but do not recollect the price. I cannot refer to any record of title.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said eight persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of (see below) dollars in money.(3)

Eliza Ann and her four children	$2500.—
Winny Ann, and her infant boy	1000.—
Nelly, about	500.—
Total, four thousand dollars $4,000	$4000.—

Your Petitioner has stated herein the facts touching their value, and he knows of no moral, mental or bodily infirmities or defects to impair the value of either of them, and believes none such to 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 eight persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said eight persons 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 eight 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 validity of his said claim to the service or labor of said eight 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.