Civil War Washington

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 Edward Owen for himself and as [illegible] for [Dr J Owen?] of the City of Washington, 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 three persons of African descent of the names following, to wit: Harriet Hawkins, and her two children Virginia Hawkins, and Lucinda Hawkins, for, and during the life of the said Harriet, Virginia, and Lucinda; and that by said act of Congress said Harriet, Virginia and Lucinda were freed and discharged of, and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge, said Harriet was of the age of forty years, and no more; the said Virginia was of the age of sixteen years and no more; and the said Lucinda was of the age of eight years and not more; and all three of them of the personal description following: all of them mulattoes, or brown in color, slightly curled hair with no special distinguishing marks, peculiarities, or appearance different from other persons of similar condition.

That the [illegible] your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Harriet, Virginia and Lucinda by intermarriage with Virginia Barrell, who   acquired the same by inheritance from her father, in about the year 1854, then a resident of the State of Virginia, and your petitioner never had any written evidence of title.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Harriet, Virginia and Lucinda, was at the time of the said discharge therefrom, of the value of twenty five hundred dollars in money; and that neither of them labor under any more or physical defect impairing their value.

Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true & faithful allegiance to the government of the United States, & 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 the said persons into the District since the passage of said Act, and that, at the time of the passage thereof said persons were held to service or labor therein, under & by virtue of your petitioners​ claim to such service or labor.

Your petitioner further states and alleges, that his said claim to the service or labor of said Harriet, Virginia and Lucinda, 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   Harriet, Virginia and Lucinda, 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.