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, Eliza Jenkins of the District of Columbia 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 six persons of African descent of the names of Susan, Alice, Mary, Laura, Susanna and James for and during the life lives of said persons and that by said act of Congress said 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

• Susan was of the age of thirty five years and of the personal description following:(1) dark copper colored woman about five feet two inches in height—
• Alice dark copper colored girl twelve years old four feet seven inches in height—
• Mary girl eight years old about five feet one inch in height—
• Laura dark copper colored girl seven years old three feet eight inches in height—
• Susanna a girl five years old about three feet two inches in height
• James black boy two years of age about two feet six inches in height—

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Susan was bought by petitioner in the year 1843 of Caesar Gantt of Prince George Co. Maryland—see Bill of Sale recorded in Record Office City Hall Washington D. C. Liber W. B. No. 103 folio 239—the other five named persons are Susan's children born while she was owned by petitioner

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

• Susan is a valuable house servant, a good cook, ironer and washer—valued at $600—
• Alice is a strong and healthy girl, raised as house servant—valued at $500
• Mary is a strong and healthy girl valued at $400—
• Laura is a strong and healthy girl, valued at $300
• Susanna is a strong and healthy girl—valued at $200
• James is a strong and healthy boy—valued at $200

These persons are free from any infirmity either bodily, mental or moral

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.

And your petitioner further states and alleges, 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 [no handwritten text supplied here] was 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 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 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 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.