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,
Benj. L. Bohrer
of
Georgetown DC.
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 Thirteen
person's of African descent of the name of
Anabella Nash, Martha Nash,
Ariby Nash, Horace Nash,
Adelaide Nash & infant son George
Buffin Nash, James Nash,
Selina Nash, George Green,
Alexr. Green, John Green,
William Maize. for and during the life of
said person's and that by said act of Congress
said person's 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 of the ages
of and of the personal descriptions
following:Here describe the
person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave,
describe each one separately.
- "Anabella Nash," aged about 38 years. a small dark
mulatto woman, a first rate cook, & in every respect, the most faithful,
competent, & reliable servant to be found any where. Value 900$
- "Martha Nash," aged about 21. a bright mulatto woman,
rather tall, amiable, honest, capable & very trustworthy in all
respects. $700.
- "Ariby Nash." aged 18. a bright mulatto lad, of fine
disposition, remarkably honest, & a first rate dining room & house
servant. $800.
- "Horace Nash." aged 14. dark mulatto, a fine capable
boy, an excellent carriage driver, & very competent to do all kinds of
house work $700.
- "Adelaide Nash." aged 17. a very bright mulatto
capable, intelligent, nice washer & ironer, & competent for all
kinds of house work—her Infant is a very bright complexion, a boy
three months old—$700.
- "George Buffin Nash." aged 19. bright mulatto small
size, very smart, a first rate gentleman body servant, & a good carriage
driver. $800.
- "Selina Nash" aged 10. bright mulatto girl. well
grown, with the best capacity & disposition; in all respects a
remarkably fine child. $600.
- "James Nash" aged about 15. very bright complexion, very bright
intellect, well taught, honest, & extremely valuable. $800.
- "George Green" aged 26. dark color, rather tall,
honest, upright, & a first class house servant $1200
- "Alexr. Green" aged about 23. very black, tall,
amiable disposition, and a very good cook. $800.
- "John Green aged about 16. dark mulatto well grown,
capable & very useful
a
as
a house servant, & carriage driver. $700.
- "William Maize" aged about 25. bright mulatto, very
capable as a farm hand, & is also a good groom & stableman. $800.
All these servants are considered particularly valuable on account of
intelligence & honesty&
Alexr. Green, George Buffin Nash, and
Ariby Nash, a few weeks previous to the passage of the
act (abolishing slavery in the District) being hired to
U S Officers, with my consent, accompanied said
officers to Fortress Monroe and are still absent.
James Nash was hired to a Clergyman stationed in
Va previous to the commencement of the war, &
could not return to his home in this District, therefore
he is unavoidably absent.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said person's 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.
all the persons herein named were born in our family,
& raised by me & my wife. I purchased the mother, of a portion of
them, more than forty years ago, & the other portion I acquired by my
marriage, with my present wife, in 1834.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said person's was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of $9600 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.
I have no knowledge of any defects to impair their
value.
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 person's into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said person's 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 person's 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 person's 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)
B. L. Bohrer