Civil War Washington

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, Col. T. L. Alexander of the US Army 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 persons of African descent of the names of, Wesley, Louisa his wife; Bob, Mary, & Ellinora, children of the two first named; also Ann, and Kitty; for and during the life of said above named slaves, and that by said act of Congress said slaves 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 slaves were of the ages of respectively as set forth; and of the personal description following:(1)

• 1: Wesley;—a negro man, mullatto​, aged about twenty eight (28) years, five feet, nine inches high, healthy and robust,—a splendid dining room servant, cook & Coachman;
• 2: Louisa,—a bright mullatto​ woman wife of Wesley, aged about twenty seven (27) years; healthy; height about five feet, three inches,—a good seamstress, cook, and washer, and Ironer;
• 3; Bob; son of Louisa, aged about nine years, bright mulatto, a very smart Boy, healthy, and waits well on the Table;
• 4; Mary,—a daughter of Louisa, aged about five (5) years, bright mulatto, healthy and very smart;
• 5; Ellinora; daughter of Louisa, aged about two (2) years, bright mullatto​, and healthy;
• 6; Ann; an unmarried woman, dark mulatto, aged about thirty eight (38) years; delicate, a fine cook and House servant and splendid washer woman;
• 7; Kitty; sister of Louisa, mulatto aged about twenty one, (21)—a superior seamstress and House servant; Healthy;

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said slaves in manner following:(2) viz Wesley; I inherited from my father's estate as an infant and raised him; Ann, I received as a part of my portion of my mother's retained interest in my father's estate, when she died about two years ago; Kitty and Louisa, & Bob were given by the father of my wife, several years ago; and Mary and Ellinora have been born since the gift; [illegible] [got writings?] in the above cases, verbal contracts & possession

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Slaves was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Fifty five Hundred dollars in money.(3)

1	Wessly	$1,500
2	Louisa	1,000
3	Bob	0,800
4	Mary	0,350
5	Ellinora	0,250
6	Kitty	1,000
7	Ann	0 600
		5,500

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 Slaves into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Slaves 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said Slaves 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 persons above described, 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.