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 Petitioners, George W. Hopkins & John S. Hopkins, Executors & Trustees of John Hopkins deceased of said District by this their petition in writing, represents and states, that they are is 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 ten persons of African descent of the names of Gathy Handy, Joe Handy. Dennis Handy, Hannah Handy. Rachel Lounge. Leah Tyler Frank Tyler. Eliza Tyler. Robert Tyler. & Dennis Ellsworth Tyler. for and during the life of said Ten persons and that by said act of Congress said Ten persons 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 ten persons were was of the ages of and of the personal description following:(1)

• Gathy Handy aged fifty five years, dark copper coloured​.
• Joe Handy aged Thirty years, dark copper coloured​ with a defect in one eye.
• Dennis Handy aged Twenty six years, dark copper coloured​
• Hannah Handy aged Twenty two dark copper coloured​
• Rachel Lounge aged seventeen years Black
• Leah Tyler aged Thirty one years dark copper coloured​
• Frank Tyler aged Thirteen years dark copper coloured​
• Eliza Tyler aged Eleven years dark copper coloured​
• Robert Tyler aged five years dark copper coloured​
• Dennis Ellsworth Tyler aged six months, dark copper coloured​.

None of these persons have any strongly distinctive features or marks about them, except in the case of Joe Handy who has a defect in one of his eyes, but which does not at all impair his sight. They are of ordinary size & appearance.

 

That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Ten persons in manner following:(2) They were all bequeathed to your said petitioners, as Executors and Trustees under the last will & testament of John Hopkins late of said District deceased, to be by item held until about the first day of May 1864 when a division of said persons was to have been made in accordance with the provisions of said will, as by reference to said will admitted to probate, in the orphan's court of said District on the fourth day of December in the year eighteen Hundred & fifty eight, and to which said deed reference is hereby made.

That your petitioner's' claim to the service or labor of said Ten persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of 8450 dollars in money.(3)That said Gathy was their cook, Joe was a dray man doing duty for which $1. per day is paid. Dennis, performs similar duty, but is a more valuable boy. Hannah is a seamstress for which a hire of $8 per month can be obtained. Rachel is a cook hired at $6 per month. Leah is a house servant, and laundress & cook, for whom $7 per month can be obtained. Frank is a dining room servant & general workman about the house who would hire for $5. per month. Eliza is a house servant worth $4 per month. Robert is a boy 5 years old, and worth $300. Dennis Ellsworth is an infant worth $50—.

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 has not brought said Ten persons or any of them 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 was 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 petitioner 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.