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, Robert Bowie, next friend of Edmund Fitzhugh and Cora Fitzhugh by this his petition in writing, represents and states, that he & they are is a persons loyal to the United States, who, and at the time of the passage of the said act of Congress, said Edmund & Cora Fitzhugh held a claim to service or labor against certain persons of African descent of the name of Ellen, John, Ruth, Josephine, Lewis and Annie for and during the life of said Ellen, John, Ruth, Josephine, Lewis and Annie and that by said act of Congress said Ellen, John, Ruth, Josephine, Lewis and Annie were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner said Edmund & Cora Fitzhugh to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Ellen, John, Ruth, Josephine, Lewis and Annie were of the ages of thirty five years, eleven years, nine years & months, two years & nine months, and seven months & 15 days & thirteen years respectively in the order in which they are above mentioned and of the personal description following:(1)

• Ellen is a woman aged about thirty five years, a mullatto​, of the ordinary height & stoutness quite healthy.
• 2. John is a boy aged Eleven years, a mullatto​, healthy and strong, but having taken a cold this Spring he was attacked with rheumatism in the face which caused the loss of vision in his left eye—it may be temporary or permanent.
• 3. Ruth is a girl aged between nine and ten years a dark mullatto​, healthy, quite erect in form with a bright, intelligent face
• 4. Josephine is a girl who will be three years old next July (1862)—she is a mullatto​
• 5. Lewis is a male child, nine months old, a mullatto​—sound and healthy
• These four last mentioned are the children of the first mentioned woman, Ellen.
• 6. Annie is a black girl, aged thirteen years, robust and healthy—

That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Your petitioner was, then by the name of Cora Bowie, entitled to the services and labor of said persons under the Will of her grand-mother, Mrs. Mary Weems of Prince George's County, Maryland—and your petitioner said Cora thereafter intermarried with your petitioner Edmund Fitzhugh, by which will & marriage your petitioners became entitled to the service & labor of said persons

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 three thousand one hundred & fifty dollars in money.(3) The first mentioned person, Ellen, although quite healthy is not remarkably robust and though entirely free from any disease she requires more than ordinary attention against exposure to wet weather to avoid taking cold. She is a most excellent Cook and she has been employed in that capacity ever since she was nineteen years old. Her children John, Ruth, Josephine and Lewis are entirely healthy & without any defect except John who lost the sight of one eye
Annie is quite healthy & of good dispositions—

Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that he 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 the said Edmund Fitzhugh & Cora Fitzhugh have 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 were was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's the claim of said Edmund & Cora 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 the said claim Edmund & Cora 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.