Sarah O’malia to William H. Seward, June 18, 1866

Mrs. O’Malia to Mr. Seward

Commonwealth of Kentucky, County of Jefferson:

Your petitioner, Sarah O’Malia, would respectfully represent to you that her husband, Patrick O’Malia, is a citizen of the United States, born in Ireland; that he served in the Union army during the late war of the rebellion.

She states that he recently went from Louisville, Kentucky, with an expedition into Canada, and was captured by the Canadians near Fort Erie.

She states that her said husband had no arms in his hands (as she is informed) when in Canada or when captured, and that he did n( t belong to the Fenians, but was taken away by them while on a spree, having been made drunk by them for that purpose.

She states that she is very poor and entirely dependent, and that she wishes to know whether the United States will interfere in behalf of one of its citizens in this state of case.

Humbly petitioning, she subscribes herself