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, Milton Garrett of Washington City 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 Wm H. Harrison, John Berkley & George Gorns persons of African descent of the name of for and during the life of said Slaves and that by said act of Congress said Slaves are 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 are respectively of the age of 22, 20, & 14 years, and of the personal description following:()

• Wm H. Harrison, height about 5 feet 6 in., color dark brown, heavy & squarely made
• John Berkley's height about 5 feet 7 in. color Black features sound & well set
• George Gorns, height about 5 feet 1 in. color mulatto & heavy set.

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Servants in manner following:() By inheritance through the death of Wm S. Caldwell, of whose estate I am the Guardian,

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Servants was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Three Thousand dollars in money.() or at least $1000. Each
said servants are to the best of my Knowledge & belief perfectly sound mentally & physically—I own three sevenths of said servants in my own right as as​ the records of the Clerks office of this County will show.

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 servants into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said [no handwritten text supplied here] 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 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.

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 Petitioners, Sarah Caldwell, Sarah V Zimmerman, J H. Caldwell, and A M. Caldwell of by this their petition in writing, represents and states, that they are a persons 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 four females and one male (in the proportion hereinafter stated) persons of African descent of the name of Grace Payne, Malinda Goans, Maria Carey George Goans & Rose Goans for and during the life of said Grace, Malinda, Maria George and Rose and that by said act of Congress said Grace, Malinda, Maria, George, & Rose 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 Grace Payne was of the age of fifty (50) years or thereabouts and of the personal description following:() of a Black Complexion about 5 ft high quite stout—erect in her carriage— [amicable?] & intelligent. Malinda Goans (daughter of Grace Payne) was of the age of Thirty two (32) years or thereabouts—and of the personal description following: of a Black Complexion, about 5 ft high&Stout and Strong, likely, and intelligent. Maria Carey—(daughter of Grace Payne.) was of the age of Twenty-five (25) years or thereabouts and of the personal description following: of a Dark Complexion—about 5 ft 2 in high—stout likely and intelligent. erect in her carriage. George Goans—(Son of Malinda Goans.) was of the age of Fourteen (14) years or thereabouts & of the personal description following: of a yellow complexion—or Mulatto, about 4 ft 6 in high Stout and able bodied—active and strong likely and intelligent.—Rose Goans daughter of Malinda Goans was of the age of Ten (10) years or thereabouts and of the personal description following:   of a Black Complexion rather small in stature strong for her age—likely and intelligent.

That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:() that is by Inheritance that Wm S Caldwell dec​ the late husband, and father of your Petitioners Sarah Caldwell—Sarah V. Zimmerman (wife of Henry F Zimmerman—) J. H Caldwell and A. M. Caldwell—acquired said " Grace " about 35 years ago—by purchase—and died about 29 years ago—intestate—leaving the said Sarah—(his widow)—and Sarah V. Zimmerman, J. H. Caldwell A. M Caldwell [no handwritten text supplied here] Garrett, wife of Milton Garrett his children and Heirs at law and Your Petitioners claim according to the law of Distribution in force in the District of Columbia.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons were, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $2700 dollars in money.() viz: Grace Payne $300. Malinda Goans $600. Maria Carey $900. George Goans $600 and Rose Goans $300. that the said Grace is a most excellent Cook & Housekeeper of good habits and although she has been complaining, about 6 months, is not prevented from attending to her business and can command good wages for her services. Malinda and Maria are very useful women either as cooks, chambermaids, or doing house work generally—they are sound and healthy of good dispositions and [likely?] and can command good wages for their services. George is a sound & healthy boy of good disposition and habits—and useful [illegible] or house-hand can command good wages—Rose is a healthy [illegible] girl for her age and useful—and your petitioners have no knowledge of any defects in any of said persons other than what is stated.

Your petitioners hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that they have not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.

And your petitioners further states and alleges, that they have not brought said persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons were held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.

Your petitioners further states and alleges, that their said claim to the service or labor of said persons 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 petitioners prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of their said claim to the service or labor of said persons 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.