Title: Petition of Elizabeth Bohrer, 15 July 1862
Date: July 15, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 6. The original document is held in the Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, 1775–1978, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 217.6.5. Within the National Archives' Archival Description Catalog, see ARC Identifier 4644616 / MLR Number A1 347 (http://arcweb.archives.gov).
Civil War Washington ID: cww.00954
TEI/XML: cww.00954.xml
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 Bohrer of Montgomery Co Md 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 the following described person of African descent of the name of Maria Book a mulatto woman about 52 years of age short and thick set marked with small pox— for and during the life of said Maria Book and that by said act of Congress said person was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Maria Book was of the age of fifty-two years and of the personal description following:(1) a mulatto woman as described above—
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Maria in manner following:(2) that is to say by the last will and testament of her husband Jacob Bohrer of Montgomery County Maryd which will is duly recorded in the Register of Wills office for Montgomery County State of Maryland
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said person was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Four hundred dollars in money.(3) that she is sound in body and mind and that your petitioner does not know of any defect that would lessen the value of said person.—
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 person into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said person 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said person 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 person 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.
Elizabeth Bohrer
August 9th 1862.
The petition of Elizabeth Bohrer by the undersigned her
attorney in fact respectfully represents that on the 30th day of June 1862 she filed her petition setting forth her
claim for a woman named Maria believing that other Coloured persons belonging to her who had left their homes previous to the
passage of the act of Emancipation and she did not then know their whereabouts.
Could not be properly vouched for under said act—but from facts which
have taken place since the date of her petition one other of the Coloured persons belonging to her has made his appearance before your
honors and claims the benefit of said Act—It appears that he was
residing in the District at the time of said act was
passed tho away from the party to whom he was hired—this being the case
and your honors deciding that he comes under and is entitled to the benefit
of said Act Your Petitioner begs leave to amend the petition already sent in
so as to include the said person. his name is Sandy Book
a dark 
complected man about
twenty-two years of age timid when spoken to about five feet six inches high
a scar on the left side of his head and a Slave for life—is worth
twelve hundred dollars—
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Elizabeth Bohrer 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.
Elizabeth Bohrer
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25 day of June A. D. 1862.
C. H. Wiltberger
Justice of the Peace
Elizabeth Bohrer
Note (1.)-- Here describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each one separately.
Note (2.)-- 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.
Note (3.)-- 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.
