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, Rebecca S. Harrison 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 a person of African descent of the name of Maria Foreman for and during the life of said Maria and that by said act of Congress said Maria 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 Maria was of the age of Twenty years or thereabouts and of the personal description following:(1) Maria is a bright mulatto, about five feet eight inches in height; stout, robust, erect, and of a pleasing personal appearance and manner

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Maria Foreman in manner following:(2) She was a friendly gift to your Petitioner from Mr. Thomas M. Foreman of Georgia, to whom she belonged at & from the time of her birth, on or about the year 1851. She has held Maria ever since, & she has been raised & educated by your Petitioner, under her immediate and particular supervision, in all the duties of a first rate Family and House Servant

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Maria was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of twelve hundred (1200) dollars in money.(3)Maria, as your Petitioner has already stated, has been carefully prepared for the duties of her station in life; is intelligent, faithful, docile, and of an excellent moral character and genteel deportment. She is a first-rate House Servant, Nurse, Washer & Ironer, and Cook. Further, as a guide to the evaluation of her worth and value, which your Petitioner feels loth to fix in money, for reasons of mutual good will & services, she would beg leave to state; that within the last five or six years, persons have expressed their readiness to pay as high as $1400.; offers or suggestions, which, for the reasons stated, were neglected or refused. Maria is healthy, robust, active, quick in mind and body, very apt & smart, & does everything well she is put to or undertakes. Your petitioner knows of no infirmities or defects of said person which impair the value of Petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and that 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 Maria into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Maria 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 Maria Foreman 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 Maria Foreman 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.