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,
B. W. Reed
of
Washington City D. C.
by this his petition in writing, represents and
states, that he 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 named
— persons of African descent of
the name of
Lucy Jones,
Rebecca Henson and Jack
Jones. for and during the life of said
Lucy Jones. Rebecca
Henson and Jack Jones. and that by
said act of Congress said
Lucy
Jones. Rebecca Henson and Jack
Jones. 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
Lucy Jones. Rebecca
Henson and Jack Jones
wer
were
of the ages of twenty seven or twenty eight. twenty one or twenty two
and eight or nine. respectively. 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.
Lucy Jones is of a copper complexion with no particular marks except a small scar on the right arm below the elbow, (a scar of a burn). about five feet six inches high.
Rebecca aged about twenty one or two, is of a light copper complexion, with no marks of any description about five feet-five inches high.
Jack. Jones. is a bright mulatto with straight hair with no scratch or mark of any description about three feet. ten inches high.
That your petitioner acquired his— claim
to the aforesaid service or labor of said servants 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.
That is to say: The said Lucy
Jones. and Rebecca Henson were
bequeath to the wife of your petitioner by the last will and testament
of Richard
Piles late of
Montgomery County, in the State of
Maryland a copy of which is hereto annexed.
Jack Jones is the son and child of
Rebecca Henson and was born since his mother
became the property of your petitioner.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Lucy
Rebecca & Jack
was,
at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of 2.500— 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.
That is to say:
Lucy is valued at $1000
Rebecca $1000 & Jack
$500 all of said persons were domestics in the family of your petitioner
and were familiar with all the duties of house servants
Rebecca was an excellent cook and washer and
attended to her duties as such most faithfully.
Lucy was a first rate chamber-maid and attended
generally to all the house work of your petitioner who has for years
past been in the habit of renting out the rooms in his large
establishment corner of F & 14th Street all
these rooms were kept in order by said Lucy. Both
said servants were strictly honest and free from any bodily moral or
mental infirmities or defects other than the scar already mentioned and
your petitioner believes none other to exist. Jack
Jones is a smart, active & remarkably intelligent boy
and very useful in and about the house.
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 he has not brought said
Lucy, Rebecca &
Jack
into the District of Columbia since
the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage
thereof, said servants. was
ere 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said servants 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 his said claim to the service
or labor of said servants. 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)
R. W. Reed
Will of
Richard Pile
Copy
$400 $705
No11—
tax
355
327
426
355
1463
75000
5000
State of Maryland
Montgomery County Sct:
Orphans Court Jany. 17th 1828
In the name of God Amen. I Richard Pile of
Montgomery County and State
ofMaryland being in perfect health of body and of
sound disposing mind memory and understanding, considering the certainty of
death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and being desirous to settle
my worldly affairs and thereby be the better prepared to leave this world
when it shall please God to call me hence do therefore make and publish this
my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say:
First
and principally I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body
to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix
hereinafter named and after my debts and funeral charges are paid I devise
and bequeath as follows.
I give and bequethbequeath Ann Maria
Clark. Mary Louisa Read all that tract
or parcel of land called Magruder's and Bealls Honesty
lying and being in Montgomery County
containing two hundred acres more or less to be divided between them share
and share alike to them, their heirs, and assigns forever.
I give and bequeath unto Ann Maria Clark one negro boy
Charles and negro girl named
Caroline to her and her heirs and assigns
forever.
I give and bequeath unto Maria Louisa Read one negro boy
named Abraham and one negro girl named
Lucy and one negro girl named
Rebecca to her and her heirs and assigns
forever.
I give and bequeath unto William Henry Piles one negro
boy named Lukes and one negro boy named
John and one negro girl named
Harriott and one bed, bedstead and furniture unto
him the said William Henry Pile his heirs and assigns
forever
I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Rachel Pile the
following negroes to wit. Federick,
Dennis, Thomas,
Daniel, Henry,
Sophia and Alley to her heirs
and assigns forever and also I give and bequeath unto my wife
Rachel Pile all my stock of every description and
farming utensils to divided between my son William Henry
Pile and herself
And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my dear wife Rachel
Pile to be sole Executrix of this my last will and testament
revoking and annulling all former wills by me heretofore made satisfying and
confirming this and none other to be my last will and testament.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the
fourth day of December in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and forty four.
his X mark Richard Pile signed
Signed, Sealed, published and declared by Richard Pile
the above named testator as and for his last Will and testament in the
presence of us who at his request, in his presence and in the presence of
each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto
Josiah Harding
Ninian M Perry
Br Perry
State of Maryland
Montgomery County Sct:
In testimony that the aforegoing is truly taken from the Records of the
Orphan Court of said County I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed
the seal of said Court this 17th day of Jany.
1848
Henry Harding
Register of
Wills.