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, Carlisle P. Patterson of the
District of Columbia, by this his petition in writing
respectfully 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 six persons of
African descent of the following names, viz: Cassy Ann
Butler, Cassy Ann Butler Jr. (daughter of
the above) Anthony Butler and Hannah
Butler (also children of the first named,) Maria
Dover and Josephine Valles (called
Jid, and daughter of said Maria
Dover,) for and during the lives of said persons, and that by
said Act of Congress said persons were discharged and freed of and from all
claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of such
discharge said persons were respectively of the ages and personal description
following, viz; Cassy Ann Butler, born at
Brentwood in this District in 1827, 35 years old, black and 5 ft 2 ½ in hightheight
Cassy Ann Butler Jr., born at
Brentwood in 1853, 9 years
old and black: Anthony Butler, born in
Washington, 5 years old and black: Hannah
Butler, born in Washington in 1858, 3 ½ years old: Maria
Dover, born at Brentwood in 1830, 32 years old, 5 ft. 4 in. high and dark mulatto:
Josephine Valles (called Jid) born
at Brentwood in 1847, 15 years old, well grown, 5 ft.
½ in hightheight and black.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said
six persons of African descent in the following manner, that is to say by virtue
of his intermarriage with Elizabeth Worthington Pearson,
his present wife, the daughter of the late Joseph Pearson,
and Catherine Pearson of Brentwood:
and that his wife's title thereto was acquired under and by virtue of the last
will and testament of her deceased father, Joseph Pearson,
recorded in Will Book No. 1. H.C.N. folio 258 in the Orphans Court of the
District of Columbia.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said six persons was at
the time of said
discharge therefrom, of the value of four thousand six hundred dollars in money,
as per the following items;
Cassy Ann Butler, a remarkably
finished laundress, house & lady's maid, in general good health, tho' not
very strong. |
$1400 |
Cassy Ann Butler Jr., 9 years old, a fine intelligent girl, strong & healthy |
"600 |
Anthony Butler, 5 years old, a fine, strong & healthy boy |
"350 |
Hannah Butler, 3 ½ years old, a fine strong & healthy girl. |
"250 |
Maria Dover, a very good house servant. strong & in perfect health |
"1100 |
Josephine Valles (called Jid) daughter of Maria Dover, 15 years old, wellgrown strong & healthy, good house servant |
"900 |
Aggregate Value |
$4600 |
Your petitioner knows of no mental, or moral or physical defect in the above persons.
Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true and faithful
allegiance to the Government of the United States, and
that he has not bornborne 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 any of
said
six persons into the
District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that at the time of the passage thereof said six persons 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 six 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 petitioner prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the
validity of his said claim to the service or labor of said six 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.
C. P. Patterson