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, Ellen M Brooke, of Washington, 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 Three hereinafter named persons of African descent of the names of Eliza Shorter, and her two children, Hannah and Anna Shorter for and during the lifeves of said Eliza, Hannah & Anna Shorter and that by said act of Congress said Eliza, Hannah & Anna Shorter 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 Three before named Persons Eliza Shorter was of the age of Thirty-Five Years or thereabouts Her Daughters, [illegible], Hannah of the age of nine Years, and Anna, of the age of Six Years or thereabouts. and of the personal description following:(1) Eliza Shorter is of a Copper Color—about 5 Feet 4 Inches in height—Stout & sweet in her Carriage—Her children—Hannah & Anna Shorter are both of a light Copper Color. well grown & likely.

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Three named Persons in manner following:(2) —Eliza Shorter was inherited by your Petitioner from her mother—was born in the family & has resided in your Petitioners family & been in her Service & ownership for the last thirty years. Eliza's said Children Hannah & Anna were born whilst the Mother owed her service & labor for life as aforesaid

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Three named Persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twenty one hundred dollars in money.(3) Eliza Shorter is an excellent & accomplished House Servant, Cook, Washerwoman & Ironer, is robust, active & healthy, honest, intelligent, faithful & obedient. Her Services have been of great value & necessity to your Petitioner & her loss keenly felt & difficult to supply. She values her in money at $1200. Hannah Shorter was very useful & handy, is a good nurse, chamber maid & House Servant. She values her at $500 in money. Anna is smart & active & quite useful about the house as nurse. She values her at $400 in money. Both these Children are healthy and intelligent. Your Petitioner knows of no infirmities & defects of said Persons which impair the Value of her claim to such service or labor, & she believes none other to exist.

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 Three named Persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Three named Persons wasere 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 Three named 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 value of her said claim to the service or labor of said Three named 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.