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, Mary G. Wilson of Washington D. C. 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 the following persons of African descent of the name of Samuel, John, and, jointly with her sister Leah L. Wilson, held a claim to service of labor against Horace Mady and Littleton 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 age of about respectively 19 ½; 35; 38 and 62 and of the personal description following:(1)

• Samuel, brown colour​, tall and well formed, aged 19 years 7 months
• John, mulatto, aged about 35
• Horace, dark color, tall and slender, had a bend in one leg, near the knee aged about 38
• Mady, mulatto—tall, large, age about 62
• Littleton, medium height, or low stature square built 62 about

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2)

• To Samuel and John by title derived from her late sister Margaret's will recorded
• To her half ownership of Horace by title derived partly from her Mother's and sister Margaret's will, & partly by purchase from her brother. Her brother's interest in Horace was purchased by the 3 sisters and Margaret's interest bequeathed to L. and M.
• To half ownership of Mady by title derived from her sister's Will.

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 $1725 dollars in money.(3)

• Samuel, value $1400—his wages being last month $1 per day
• John paralyzed and helpless.
• Horace value $1000, half claim mine.
• Mady value $50 aged 62, about; rheumatic & infirm but a nice pastry cook and occasionally very useful. Half ownership mine.
• Littleton value $50, formerly intemperate—and rheumatic, left his employer in Dec. but has been in the neighborhood lately

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 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 the 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.