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, James Rhodes 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 two persons person of African descent of the name of Jim Crampton a male, and Eliza Carroll a female for and during the life of said Jim & Eliza and that by said act of Congress said Jim & Eliza 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 Jim Crampton was of the age of his age unknown suppose to be forty five to fifty years and of the personal description following:(1) about five feet six inches high, has a scar on his left hand between the forefinger & thumb extending two inches up the wrist, also a scar across the back of the fingers of his right hand he is gray headed and he is of a dark copper color

Eliza Carroll is thirteen years of age about five feet high, of a dark copper color, short flat nose very pleasant countenance and large for her age

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Jim Crampton purchase of [James?] Carbury Esq. as appear by bill of sale dated 14 Nov 1835 and recorded in [Liber?] N.B. No. 92 folio 461. I then paid three hundred dollars for him

Eliza Carroll was born my property.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Jim Crampton was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of four hundred dollars in money.(3) I learned him the trade of a butcher. I consider him a good hand and does the work of a journeyman If I was in the business now I would consider him worth from five to fifteen dollars per month—he is strong stout and healthy there is no defects about him [illegible]

I will have to pay seven dollars per month for a substitute in her place so that I consider her [nearly?] worth to me in money at least one thousand dollars.

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 into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons 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 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 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.