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, Rinaldo J. Bowen of Washington County District of Columbia 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 Two persons of African descent of the names of Charlotte Matthews and William Matthews for and during the life of said Charlotte, & William and that by said act of Congress said Charlotte & William were was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Charlotte Matthews was of the age of Thirty five years and of the personal description following:(1) copper coloured and of a medium height: that at the time of said discharge said William Matthews was of the age of Two years, and of the personal description following: of a black colour, ordinary size; and that neither of said persons have any descriptive marks about their persons.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Charlotte & William in manner following:(2) The said Charlotte Matthews was bequeathed to Miss Catherine Adams (the sister in Law of your petitioner's wife) and your petitioner's wife Jane Bowen by the will of Eleanor Adams of said county & District & admitted to probate in the Orphan's Court of said County & District June 22, 1847 . That said Catherine Adams dying said Charlotte became, by survivorship, owned in in toto by the wife of your said petitioner. That said William Matthews was born to said Charlotte after death of said Catherine, and while said Charlotte was owned by your said petitioner's wife.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Charlotte Matthews was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of nine Hundred dollars in money.(3) and the value at said time of discharge of the said William Matthews was of the value of three Hundred Dollars in money. That said Charlotte Matthews has been hired by me as a house servant & cook at the rate of six Dollars per month—and that your said petitioner hath within the last Two years been offered & refused nine Hundred Dollars for said persons and that they have no infirmity or defect moral, mental, or physical

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 Charlotte & William Matthews into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Charlotte & William 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 Charlotte & William 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 value of his said claim to the service or labor of said Charlotte & William 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.