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 John S Johns, Lucy M Johns and of Wm S Darrell of Washington, D.C and Virginia E. Darrell 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 three female and one male, persons of African descent of the name of "Susan", "Marion", "Martha," and "William Henry" for and during the life of said Susan, Marion, Martha, and William Henry, and that by said act of Congress said Susan, Marion, Martha and William Henry were severally discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said "Susan was of the age of Twenty Seven years (27 yrs.​) or thereabouts and of the personal description following:(1) a dark mulatto woman—medium height—quite stout and strong—likely and intelligent. Marion daughter of Susan—was of the age of Twelve (12.) years. or thereabouts and of the personal description following: a dark mulatto girl, not very stout likely and intelligent. Martha—daughter of Susan—was of the age of Seven (7) years, or thereabouts, and of the personal description following: a dark mulatto girl—well proportioned—strong and stout for her age—likely and intelligent. William Henry—Son of Susan—was of the age of Fourteen (14.) months, or thereabouts, and of the personal description following: a dark mulatto boy.—well formed, and likely.

 

That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) through Sarah, V. (decd​) the late wife of Your Petitioner, Darrell: Benjamin E Brooke, who died testate, leaving his interest in said persons to Lucy M Johns (formerly Darrell.) the wife of John S. Johns—Your Petitioners, and Lucy Ann Brooke who died testate, and leaving her interest in said persons to the Children of Wm S Darrell—your Petitioner—Viz: to Lucy M. Johns, Virginia E Darrell, Armstead M Darrell, Mary Darrell, Wm Brooke Darrell Benjamin V. Darrell, and Florence E.—now the wife of H. Howard Young.—three of whom, viz: Mary, Wm Brooke & Benjamin V, are minors: that your Petitioner has been appointed Guardian to his said Children (viz: your Petitioner, Darrell) and is now acting in that capacity, and that the said Children are considerably in debt to your Petitioner (Darrell): That the said Sarah V. Darrell—formerly Brooke—Benjamin E Brooke, and Lucy Ann Brooke, acquired the said persons by inheritance, and were equally interested in the same: that is each having one-third interest in the same—which passed to your Petitioners as aforesaid—and by virtue of the marriage aforesaid.—And your Petitioners beg leave to pledge to said Wills, recorded in the Orphans Court—and that the said may be considered part of this petition.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons. was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twenty six hundred dollars in money.(3)that is to say: Susan $1200. Marion $700. Martha $500. and William Henry $200: That the said Susan, is a good cook, and housekeeper sound and healthy, of good disposition and trustworthy, and can command good wages anytime: the said Marion, is a very useful girl about a house—either as chambermaid, or nurse.—sound and healthy. of good habits—the said Martha, is a smart, active girl, useful about a house—of good disposition and habits. the said Wm Henry, is a sound, healthy boy and servant for his age. And your Petitioners aver that they have no Knowledge of any moral, mental, or bodily defect, or infirmity, in any of said persons calculated to impair their said claim.

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 not brought said persons 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 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 petitioners 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.