Document 1:
Title: Petition of Margaret Snowden, Emily Jane Lancaster, Lucinda Lancaster, George Snowden, Ellen Snowden, Henrietta Snowden, Laura Ross, and Sam Snowden, 31 October 1862
Date: October 31, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 433, Reel 3. The original document is held in the Records of the District Courts of the United States, 1685–2004, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 21. Within the National Archives' Archival Description Catalog, see ARC Identifier 4314547 / MLR Number NC-2 33 (http://arcweb.archives.gov).
Document 2:
Title: Evidence Relating to the Petition of Margaret Snowden, Emily Jane Lancaster, Lucinda Lancaster, George Snowden, Ellen Snowden, Henrietta Snowden, Laura Ross, and Sam Snowden, 31 October 1862
Date: October 31, 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.00983
TEI/XML: cww.00983.xml
As provided in the 2nd Section of An Act entitled "An Act supplementary to the Act for the Release of Certain Persons held to Service or Labor in the District of Columbia" Approved July 12, 1862, you will please file and record in your office the annexed statement or schedule—
| Margaret Snowden | Aged about 50 years | Dark brown |
| Emily Jane Lancaster | " " 25 " | Dark brown |
| Lucinda (her child) | " " 8 months | Dark brown |
| George Snowden | " " 18 years | Black |
| Ellen Snowden | " " 15 " | DK brown |
| Henrietta " | " " 9 " | DK brown |
| Laura Ross child of Julia Ross who was a daughter of Margaret Snowden | " 2 " | Mulatto |
| Sam Snowden | " 26 " | Black |
All of which said persons were formerly the property of Dr. Septimus J. Cook of Prince Georges County and State of Maryland and at the time of the passage of the Act of Congress to which the above mentioned act is supplementary were residing in the District of Columbia with the full knowledge and consent of their said master—
The facts set forth in the foregoing schedule are true—
Sworn to this 30th day of October 1862 by Isaac Snowden the Husband of the above named Margaret Snowden & father of all the others except Lucinda & Laura, who are his grand children.
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for the County of Washington District of Columbia
Laura Ross paid
Sam Snowden paid
Henrietta Snowden paid
Ellen Snowden paid
George Snowden paid
Emily Jane Lancaster paid
Lucinda Lancaster
The Commissioners, satisfied on the testimony of Edward Simms, Mrs. Eddie Warren, and LeVera Burs of the truth of the within statement, order the same to be so reported to the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia.
Wm. R. Woodward
Clerk to the Commissioners
As provided in the 2nd Section of An Act entitled "An Act supplementary to the Act for the Release of Certain Persons held to Service or Labor in the District of Columbia" Approved July 12, 1862, you will please file and record in your office the annexed statement or schedule—
| Margaret Snowden | Aged about 50 years |
| Emily Jane Lancaster | " " 25 " |
| Lucinda (her child) | " " 8 months |
| George Snowden | " " 18 years |
| Ellen Snowden | " " 15 " |
| Henrietta " | " " 9 " |
| Laura Ross child of Julia Ross who was a daughter of Margaret Snowden | " 2 " |
| Sam Snowden | aged " 26 " |
All of which persons were formerly the property of Dr. Septimus J. Cook of Prince Georges County and State of Maryland and at the time of the passage of the Act of Congress to which the above mentioned act is supplementary were residing in the District of Columbia with the full knowledge and consent of their said master—
The facts set forth in the foregoing schedule are true.
Sworn to this 30th day of October 1862 by Isaac Snowden the Husband of the above named Margaret Snowden & father of all the others except Lucinda & Laura, who are his grand children.
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for the County of Washington District of Columbia
The petition of Margaret Snowden, Samuel Snowden, Emily Lancaster, George Snowden, Ellen Snowden, Henrietta Snowden, Lucinda Lancaster daughter of said Emily Lancaster and Laura Ross daughter of Julia Ross now deceased who was a daughter of said Margaret Snowden, showed that they have filed their memorandum and schedule in the Clerks Office of the County of Washington, a true copy whereof is herewith filed showing that they were held and claimed as slaves in the District of Columbia by Dr. Septimus J. Cook on the 16th April 1862: and pray that your Honors will enquire into and ascertain the facts therein stated.
Emily Jane Lancaster
Lucinda
George Snowden
Ellen Snowden
Henrietta Snowden
Laura Ross child of Julia
Saml Snowden
Edward Simms. I only know [torn] an Emily. They were servant[torn] Cook. I do not
Mrs Edda Warring I know all but Sam. were servants of Dr Cook and were living in this District on 16th April. I am sure they were living in District with consent of Dr Cook.
[Deren Bew?] I know Sam and George. they lived in District on 16 April [illegible] in an open & public manner
