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, Noble Young of Washington D.C. 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 Lucy Lancaster, Henry Lancaster, Nathan Lancaster, Rachael Lancaster, Henny Lancaster, Eliza Lancaster and John Lancaster for and during the life of said lives of said persons and that by said act of Congress said seven 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 persons were of the ages below stated and of the personal description following:(1) Lucy Lancaster aged about 46 years is the mother of the others, light brown, Stout, able bodied and healthy: Henry Lancaster is about 30 years, dark brown, robust and powerful. Matthew Lancaster about 22 years old, is dark brown, medium size able bodied and active: Rachel Lancaster about 20 years of age is light brown, good size, active & healthy: Henny is about 18 years old, light brown, good size or medium size, active and healthy: Eliza Lancaster is about 16 years old, light brown, well grown and tall for her age, active and healthy: John Lancaster is about 13 years old, light brown, well grown for his age, active and healthy: they are all likely and cheerful.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said seven persons in manner following:(2) they are all family servants born in my father's family and were acquired by me from him: and although my father made a bill of sale to me for them for a nominal consideration, recorded in Liber J.A.S. No. 17 folio 163 in the Land Records. They were in fact received & acquired by me as my share of my deceased father's personal estate.

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 $8600 dollars in money.(3) viz: Lucy $800: Henry $1600: Matthew $1300: Rachael $1300: Henny $1300: Eliza $1100: John $1000: These are moderate market values: to your petitioner they were invaluable. What peculiarly enhances their value is their strict & scrupulous honesty: cheerful and affectionate dispositions: willingness to cook, capacity to learn and fidelity. Lucy an excellent cook—the men perfect waiters and the girls know nursing, washing and cooking.

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 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 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.