Civil War Washington

Commissioners under the act of Congress [torn] [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 Anna Cecil, of the City of Washington by this her petition in writing represents and states, that she is a person loyal to the United, who at the time of the passage of the said act of Congress, held a claim to service or labor against the following named nine (9) male and female persons of African descent of the names respectively as follows, to wit:

Mary Bryant, and her five children and three grandchildren; name of children Mary Lloydd Sarah Lloydd, Edward Lloydd, Anthony Lloydd, Henry Lloydd; names of grandchildren John Harley, Susan Harley, and James Harley, for and during the lives of the said several persons of African descent; and that by said act of Congress said several 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 several persons were of the age respectively as follows, to wit; Mary Bryant is of the age of forty two years or thereabouts; said Mary Lloydd is of the age of twenty three years & no more; said Sarah Lloydd is of the age of twenty years & no more; said Edward Lloydd is of the age of eighteen years & no more; said Anthony Lloydd is of the age of fifteen years and no more; said Henry Lloydd in of the age of thirteen years & no more;  said John Harley is of the age of seven years and no more; said Susan Harley is of the age of five years & no more; and said James Harley is of the age of four years & no more. That said persons are of the personal description following, to wit; all of dark brown color, with no peculiar distinguishing marks, traits or peculiarities to distinguish them from other colored persons.

That your Petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said several persons in manner following: That she acquired the said Mary Bryant and her three children Mary, Sarah and Edward by descent from her father Henry Bryant; and the said Anthony and Henry the two other children of said Mary Bryant were born since the acquisition to the services or labor of the said Mary and that the said John Harley and Susan Harley are the children of Mary Lloydd, the daughter of the elder Mary Bryant; and James Moore is the child of Sarah Lloydd;—the three last also born the slaves of your petitioner, and that she has no written evidence of title as will appear from the nature of these claims of your petitioner.

That your Petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said several nine slaves above named was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of at least six thousand two hundred dollars in money. That the said Mary and Sarah Lloydd were apprenticed and taught the mantua making  and tailoring trade; and the said Edward Lloydd has been taught and is an engineer making steam engines; and the said Anthony a barber.

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.

Your Petitioner further states and alleges that she has not brought said persons above named nor either of them into the District of Columbia, since the passage of said act of Congress; and that at the time of the passage thereof, said several p[ersons?] were held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor

Your Petitioner further states, & alleges, that her said claim to the service or labor of said several persons above named, 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said several persons whose names are herein above set forth; and if the same be found 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.