Civil War Washington

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 labour​ in the District of Columbia".

Your Petitioner, Jane Johnston, of Fairfax County, Virginia, 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 labour​ against three persons of African descent of the name of Mary Ellen, Milly and an infant, for and during the life of said Mary Ellen, Milly and infant, for and during the life of said Mary Ellen, Milly and infant and that by said act of Congress the said Mary Ellen, Milly and infant are discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labour​; that at the time of said discharge said Mary Ellen was of the age of twenty two years, small and dark; the said Milly of the age of three years and infant of the age of six months[no handwritten text supplied here] the said Milly and the said infant being the children of the said Mary Ellen:

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service and labour​ of the said Mary Ellen and her said children, by the death of her father Dennis Johnston: That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Mary Ellen and her said children was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, ($1,400) of the value of fourteen hundred dollars in money:

 

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 & alleges that she has not brought said Mary Ellen and her said children, into the District of Columbia since the passage of said Act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Mary Ellen and her said children 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 & alleges that her said claim to the service or labor of said Mary Ellen and her said children, 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 the said Mary Ellen and her said children 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.