Civil War Washington

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, Ann M. Washington of the City 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 said Act of Congress, held a claim to service or labor against two persons of African descent named Eliza Tippins and Ludwell Gunnell, for and during the lives of said persons; and that by said Act of Congress said persons were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor, as your petitioner is informed and believes, that at the time of said discharge said persons were of the ages and the personal description following:

• The said Eliza Tippins, aged eleven years, of a mulatto color, four feet six inches high.
• The said Ludwell Gunnell, aged twenty-one years, of a dark mulatto color, five feet eight inches high.

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following: To Eliza Tippins by parol gift from Mrs. Cornelia Macrae of Fauquier County, Virginia, about two years ago; and to Ludwell Gunnell by parol gift from Richard B. Lee formerly of Washington, D. C., about ten years ago.

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 two thousand dollars in money. That said Eliza Tippins is a waiter and chambermaid, is well-formed, healthy and large for her age; and said Ludwell Gunnell is a good dining-room and house servant, likely and strong; and that both said persons are free from any moral, mental or bodily infirmity or defect.

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 Eliza and as she believes, said Ludwell were 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, since the present rebellion against the Government of the United States, by any person who has in any manner aided or sustained the same.

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 with the provisions of said Act of Congress.