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, Allen Dodge
of 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 seven persons of
African descent of the name of Anthony Washington—Wesley Snowden—Rosa Brown—Thomas Brown—Robert Brown—Frank Brown & Wesley Brown— for and during the lives
of said seven persons and that by said act of
Congress said seven persons 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 seven persons were
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.
Anthony Washington— |
male— |
age 40— |
full height= |
dark color— |
Wesley Snowden— — |
— — |
24— |
tall— |
mulatto— |
Rosa Brown— — |
female— |
45— |
short— |
light brown— |
Thomas Brown— — |
male— |
23— |
full height= |
stout—brown color |
Robert Brown— — |
— — |
19— |
short— |
brown color—very stout |
Frank Brown— — |
— — |
16— |
dark brown, |
stout & growthy— |
Wesley Brown— — |
— — |
13— |
light brown— |
very active— |
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said seven persons
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.
- Anthony Washington purchased of the Chew Estate, P. George's Co. Md. Sept 1st '57 for $900—
- Wesley Snowden purchased of Wm C. Ogle Esq.Esquire Md. March 30th '54—$800
- Rosa Brown & 4 sons, purchased of Theodore Mosher Esq.Esquire 1854—2,800
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said seven persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of eight thousand 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.
- Anthony Washington accustomed to farming & planting work—
- Wesley Snowden— do — do — also an excellent ostler—
- Thomas Brown— " " " a first rate teamster—
- Robert Brown— " " " a good ox driver—
- Wesley Brown—an excellent house servant &
invaluable
- Frank Brown—accustomed to farm work—chopping wood—working garden &c—
- Rosa Brown—excellent cook washer &c—The above are without defect, unless the last who has one leg short from white swelling in early life—
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 seven persons
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said
act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said seven persons were
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 seven 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 seven 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.
(Signed by) Allen Dodge.