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, Augustus E. Perry of the of City of Washington, D.C, Trustee, and Ellen R. Middleton, of the County of Washington, D.C. Cestui que trust, 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 Six person of African descent of the names of Lucy Shaw—Gusty Shaw—Dawson Shaw—Sidney Shaw—Sally Price, and Gusty Jones— for and during the life of said Six persons, and that by said act of Congress said Six 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 Lucy Shaw was of the age of Fifty eight (8) years, and of the personal description following:(1) a Brown colored woman, 5 ft 5 in high, a Scar over her left eye. and nothing else remarkable about her.

• That the said Gusty Shaw was of the age of Twenty Seven years, and of the personal description following:
  a Brown colored man, six feet high, stout, straight and well made, having no marks or scars upon his person—
• That the said Dawson Shaw was of the age of Twenty two years, and of the personal description following:
  a Black man 5 ft 7 ½ in high, straight and well made, and of ordinary size—having no marks or scars upon his person—
• That the said Sidney Shaw was of the age of Eighteen years, and of the personal description following
  a dark mulatto boy five feet nine inches high, tall in his appearance, and no marks or scars upon his person—
• That the said Sally Price was of the age of Seven years, and of the personal description following:
  a dark Brown girl three feet eleven inches high, of ordinary size, and very sprightly—a pleasant countenance—no marks or scars upon her person—
• and that the said Gusty Jones was of the age of Twenty-Seven years, and of the personal description following:
  a Black man 5 ft 6 in high, straight and well made, though not large, having lost the nail of his right thumb.

 

That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Lucy, Gusty and Dawson in manner following:(2) By Mr. E. J. Middleton, in right of his wife, one of your Petitioners, on the division of the estate of her Father, the late Richard Ross, of Montgomery County Maryland, of which there is no written evidence, unless the late Mr. Nathan Lugborough, the Executor, so stated it in his return to and settlement with the Orphans Court of Montgomery County aforesaid—Sidney is the son of the above named Lucy, born in the family of Mr. Middleton Since his marriage with your Petitioner. Sally was also born in the family of Mr. Middleton—her mother died about one year ago; the claim to her service or labor was acquired by Mr. Middleton in right of his said wife, one of your Petitioners, on the division of the estate of her mother, Elizabeth Ross, who died in this city in the year 1848. X

 

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Six persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $6,700: dollars in money.(3)

• The said Lucy Shaw is a good Cook, Washer & Ironer, and a remarkably good Servant in every respect—and was of the value of $700—
• The said Gusty Shaw is an extraordinary valuable valuable man; being an excellent farmer, gardener and marketer. He now has, and for the last five years has had the entire charge and management of the Farm and garden of Mr. Middleton. He as of the value of $1800.—
• The said Dawson Shaw is also a very valuable man, being a first rate house servant and coachman, and was of the value of $1400.—
• The said Sidney Shaw is a most excellent boy, being a good farm hand, very industrious and attentive to his work, and was of the value or $1300.—
• The said Sally Price is a very sprightly and promising girl, and was of the value of $300.—
• The said Gusty Jones is also a valuable man, being a good Farm hand, House Servant, and a first rate Hostler and Coachman. He was bought for $1100, but the price was $1200; the former sum was taken in consideration of his being kept in the neighborhood of his family, and was worth at the time of his discharge from service or labor $1200.—

 

Your petitioners hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that they have has 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 Six persons or either 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 Six 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 Six 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 petitioners prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of their said claim to the service or labor of said Six 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.