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, Elizabeth Williams of the District of Columbia 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 Seven persons of African descent of the name of Mary Carter and her three children Lewis Carter, Andrew Green and Georgiana Carter——Jane Johnson and her two children William and John for and during the life of said persons respectively and that by said act of Congress said person 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 person were of the ages following Mary 45 years—Lewis 25; Andrew 18, Georgiana 14. of the age of Jane 20. William 2 and John some 8 months and of the personal description following:(1) They have no particular marks now recollected—Mary is of a bright color and two of her children are very light, while Andrew is of a Copper color—Jane is of a light copper color and her children William and John are very light.

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) The servant Mary Carter was bequeathed to me by the Will of the late Thomas Crampheir of Montgomery County now deceased, when the said Mary was about ten or 12 years old and the other persons, her children, have been born since said bequest & thereby the said applicant and petitioner became entitled to the services of them.

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 five Thousand dollars in money.(3)They are perfectly sound and healthy— Mary a first-rate cook—Jane a good house servant— Lewis a good ostler and waiter—Andrew a first-class dining room and house servant—and The children are very promising—Neither has any defect or infirmity of any kind which should impair The value of petitioner's claim—

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 or either of them into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons were 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 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.