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:Here describe the person, so as
to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each
one separately.
- Ellen is a woman aged about thirty five years, a
mullatto
mulatto
, of the ordinary height & stoutness quite healthy.
- 2. John is a boy aged Eleven years, a
mullatto
mulatto
, 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
mulatto
, 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
mulatto
- 5. Lewis is a male child, nine months old, a
mullatto
mulatto
—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:Here state how the claim was
acquired, when, from whom, and for what price or consideration; and, if held
under any written evidence of title, make exhibit thereof, or refer to the
public record where the same may be found.
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.Here state such facts, if any there be, touching the value of
the petitioner's claim to the service or labor of the person, as may enhance
the same, and also such facts, if any, touching the moral, mental, and
bodily infirmities or defects of said person, as impair the value of the
petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and conclude such statement
with an averment that the petitioner knows of no other infirmities or
defects of said person which impair the value of petitioner's claim to such
service or labor, and that he believes none other to exist. If the
petitioner specify no such infirmity or defect, then his statement touching
the value of his claim should conclude with an averment that he has no
knowledge of any such infirmity or defect. 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.
(Signed by) Rob
Bowie
next friend of Edmund
Fitzhugh & Cora
Fitzhugh
District of Columbia— County of
Washington ss.
This day Robert Bowie, as next friend of
Edmund Fitzhugh & Cora
Fitzhugh, appeared in proper person before me a Justice of
the Peace in and for said District & County and made oath in due form of
Law that the said Edmund Fitzhugh & Cora
Fitzhugh are now & were on & previously to the 16th April 1862 residents of
Washington Territory, that they were by law
entitled to the service &
labour
labor
of the persons named enumerated & described in their
application hereunto annexed for the benefit of the Act of Congress Entitled
"an act for the Release of certain persons held to service or labor in the
District of Columbia," approved April 16th, 1862, that this affiant believes
said Petitioners & Applicants bear true and faithful allegiance to the
Government of the United States, & that they have
not borne arms, nor has either of them, against the United
States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or
comfort thereto; that said petitioners have not brought said persons into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said
Act of Congress & that, at the time of the passage of said Act said
persons, Ellen, John,
Ruth, Josephine,
Lewis, and Annie were held to
service or labor therein under & by virtue of said petitioner's claim to
such service or labor—this affiant further states and alleges that
said petitioners' claim aforesaid 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:—this affiant further states that the title of said petitioners
to the service or labor of said persons is just and true as stated in said
petition, & that all the other several matters and things specified in
said petition and not expressly included in this affidavit are true to the
best of his knowledge & belief
Rob Bowie
next
friend
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this
day of in the year of our Lord 1862.
H. Loughborough
Justice of the Peace
in & for said District & County.
& Cora Fitzhugh
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the
Petition.]
District of Columbia,
Washington County, ss.
I, being duly sworn, do depose and say, that all the several
matters and things which are set forth and stated in the foregoing petition, as
of my own knowledge, are true in substance and in fact; and that all the several
other matters and things therein set forth and stated, as from the information
of others, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.
(Signed by)
The following note, about the filing of the petition, has
been imaged twice in the National Archives microfilm, but the note occurs in
only one place in the petition: written horizontally on the final page, the Oath
for the Verification.
907
Edmund Fitzhugh and
Cora his wife
Filed July 12, 1862
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 Petitioners Edmund C. Fitzhugh
& Cora Fitzhugh, formerly Cora
Bowie of by this their petition in writing, represents
and states, that they are
is a persons 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 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 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 and of the personal description
following:Here describe the
person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave,
describe each one separately.
Ellen is a woman ages about thirty
five years, a
mullatto
mulatto
of the ordinary height & stoutness, quite healthy
2. John is a boy aged eleven years, a
mullatto
mulatto
, 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—this defect may be temporary or permanent. 3.
Ruth is a girl ages between nine and ten years, a dark
mullatto
mulatto
, healthy, quite erect in form with a bright intelligent face. 4.
Josephine is a girl who will be three years old in
July 1862—she is a
mullatto
mulatto
. 5. Lewis is a male child, born, of
mullatto
mulatto
colour
color
—sound & healthy. These four last mentioned are the children
of the first mentioned woman Ellen. 6th
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 Ellen,
John, Ruth,
Josephine, Lewis &
Annie in manner following:Here state how the claim was
acquired, when, from whom, and for what price or consideration; and, if held
under any written evidence of title, make exhibit thereof, or refer to the
public record where the same may be found.
Your Petitioner was, then with the name of
Cora Bowie, Entitled to the services and labor of
said persons under the will of her grandmother, Mrs. Mary
Weems of Prince George's County,
Maryland, & while so Entitled your said Petitioner
Cora Bowie intermarried with your Petitioner
Edmund Fitzhugh, by which will and 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, Ellen,
John, Ruth,
Josephine, Lewis &
Annie, was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of Three thousand one hundred
and fifty dollars $3,150 in money.Here state such facts, if any
there be, touching the value of the petitioner's claim to the service or
labor of the person, as may enhance the same, and also such facts, if any,
touching the moral, mental, and bodily infirmities or defects of said
person, as impair the value of the petitioner's claim to such service or
labor, and conclude such statement with an averment that the petitioner
knows of no other infirmities or defects of said person which impair the
value of petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and that he believes
none other to exist. If the petitioner specify no such infirmity or defect,
then his statement touching the value of his claim should conclude with an
averment that he has no knowledge of any such infirmity or
defect.The first mentioned person,
Ellen, although quite healthy, is not remarkably
robust, & though entirely free from disease of any kind 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 twenty years old. Her children,
John, Ruth,
Josephine and Lewis are
entirely healthy and without any defect except John who
lost the sight of his left eye in the manner above stated.
Annie is perfectly strong, and your Petitioners
aver that they know of no other infirmities or defects than those
hereinbefore stated and that they believe no other to exist
Your petitioners hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance
to the Government of the United States, and that they have 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 they have 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 Ellen, John,
Ruth, Josephine,
Lewis, & Annie 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 their 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 their 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.
(Signed by) Edmund C
Fitzhugh
Cora
Fitzhugh
Witnesses by
James Tilton
R. W. Walker
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the
Petition.]
Territory of
Washington
District of Columbia,
County of Thurston
Washington County,
ss.
I,
I Cora Fitzhugh and
E. C. Fitzhugh being duly sworn, do
depose and say, that all the several matters and things which are set forth
and stated in the foregoing petition, as of my
our own knowledge, are true in substance and
in fact; and that all the several other matters and things therein set forth
and stated, as from the information of others, I
we believe to be true in substance and in
fact.
(Signed by) E. C.
Fitzhugh
Cora
Fitzhugh
Witnessed by
James
Tilton
R. W.
Walker
Sworn to and subscribed before me this seventh day of July A. D. 1862.
(Signed by) R. W.
Walker
Notary Public Washington
Territory
United States of America
Territory of Washington ss
907
I L. Jay S. Turner, Secretary of the Territory of
Washington do hereby certify that R. W.
Walker before whom the foregoing affidavits were taken and whose
genuine signature is thereunto appended, is and was at the date of taking such
affidavits a Notary Public in and for the Territory of
Washington, duly authorized by law to take acknowledgments,
administer oaths &c. and that full faith and credit are due to all of his
official acts as such.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the
Territory of Washington at
Olympia this 28th day of
August A. D. 1862.
L. Jay S. Turner
Sec
Secretary
. Wash Terr'y.