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, Ellen J. King of Washington County 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 one female and three male persons of African descent of the name of Betsy, Nace, Hezekiah and Charles that the last named Charles who calls himself Charles Montgomery was a slave for twenty six years from the 3rd of January 1853, and that the other two, to wit, Betsy, Nace and Hezekiah were slaves for and during the life of said three persons and that by said act of Congress said Betsy, Nace, Hezekiah & Charles are discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Betsy was of the age of about 54 years of age, [no handwritten text supplied here] was of about 49 years of age, that Hezekiah was of the age of 37 years about and that Charles about 17 or 18 years of age and of the personal description following:(1) to wit Betsy a dark colour​ rather thin in presence height about 5 feet 8 inches high Nace is the Brother of Betsy, also dark, robust between 5.10 and 6 feet high. Hezekiah dark, moderate development of person, about 5 feet 10 inches high. Charles is light brown complexion about 5 feet 10 inches high, tending to robust

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Betsy Nace, Hezekiah & Charles in manner following:(2) under and by the last will and testament of her late husband John H King of Washington County D. C.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Betsy was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of three hundred dollars in money.(3)to the services or labour​ of said Nace at the same time of the value of 1800 dollars; to the service or labour​ of Hezekiah at the same time was 2,000 dollars and to the service of Charles at the same time one thousand Dollars

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 four 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said four 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 four 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.