Civil War Washington

To the Commissioners under the Act of Congress approved April 16: 1862, entitled "An act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia"

Your Petitioner, Anna M. Warring of Montgomery County Maryland by her Committeeman Lemuel Clements of said County and State of Maryland, 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 a person of African descent, of the name of Gabriel, for and during the life of said Gabriel; and that by said act of Congress said Gabriel was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Gabriel was of the age of fifty years, or thereabouts, of a rather light or copper color, about five feet five inches high, of a light and active form—That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of the said Gabriel by the said Gabriel being born a slave for life, of parents, slaves for life, held as such by the father of your petitioner, the late Henry Warring of the County and State aforesaid, and by the said Gabriel's coming to be the slave for life of your petitioner under and by virtue of the last will and testament of the said Henry Warring aforesaid.

 

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Gabriel was, at the time of said discharge therefrom of the value of seven hundred dollars in money.

Your petitioner avers that the said Gabriel is a healthy strong and active person that for the last ten years said Gabriel has been in the employment of Mr Joshua Pierce of the District of Columbia, as an hireling, that during said time he has performed and is now performing most efficient and valuable service for said Pierce at his nursery and fruit garden in said District and that your petitioner knows of no moral mental or bodily infirmities, or defects, which can impair the value of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor of said Gabriel.

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 avers that she has not brought said Gabriel into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress, and that at the time of the passage thereof, said Gabriel 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 avers that her said claim to the service or labor   of said Gabriel 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 Gabriel, 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.