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, Elizabeth Minor of Washington D.C. by this her petition in writing, represents and states, that [no handwritten text supplied here] 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 two persons of African descent of the names of Mary Ellen Jackson and Fanny Jackson for and during the life 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 persons were of the ages of 18 and 14 years and of the personal description following:(1) Mary Ellen Jackson, female aged eighteen years, color light brown about five feet no inches high she is very healthy, able bodied and industrious and a good cook valued at $1200. Twelve hundred dollars.
Fanny Jackson female, aged fourteen years, color light brown, about five feet one inch high—she is likely, healthy, useful and serviceable as a house servant—valued at $1000 One thousand dollars

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) by the last will and testament of her Mother Ann M. Minor who bequeathed them together with their Mother Eliza to her as by reference to said will admitted to probate 9th March 1860 in the office of Register of Wills of Washington D.C. will more fully at large appear

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) said persons are fully worth said amount to her $2200 for the reasons before mentioned. They have no infirmities or defects either morally, mentally or bodily to the best of your Petitioner's knowledge and belief.

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 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 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.