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, Thos. Carbery of Washington 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 12 slaves persons of African descent of the name of , see below for and during the life of said slaves and that by said act of Congress said slaves 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 Thos. Carbery was of the age of sixty five years and of the personal description following:(1)

• 1 Mary Agent 65 dark Mulatto, my faithful cook, very valuable worth $1000.
• 2 Sally " 45 dark Mulatto, a first rate cook & [House?] woman worth $1000.
• 3 Jane Minor 30 Black, a good House Woman, a good Farm hand worth $800
• 4 William 43 dark Mulatto, a first class Farm hand worth $1800
• 5 James Scott 25 Black, a first class House Servant worth $600
• 6 Sarah Prior 18 dark Mulatto, a first class House Servant and Farm Hand worth $1500.
• 7 Marcellus 15 dark Mulatto, a Healthy & willing Boy cost last fall $600
• 8 Dominick 12 Black, a very strong & healthy Boy cost last fall $450
• 9 George Minor 21 Black, a very good Farm hand, worth $1500
• 10 Mary Bryan 12 dark Mulatto, a healthy good girl worth $500
• 11 Rose Scott 7 light Mulatto, a first class [worker?] worth $400
• 12 Mary Ann Scott 6 Black, a very strong & healthy child worth $300

A year ago, these negroes would have sold for 18 or $20,000

• 1, 2, 4, 7, & 8 were purchased by me, as slaves for life
• 3, 5, 9 were willed to me, by a relation.
  6, 11, 12 were born slaves to me
• no. 10 Mary Bryan, was manumitted by me, at 21 years of age

All these negroes are honest, moral & correct and all that I could desire.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said servants in manner following:(2) by purchase and by will of a relation & some born in slavery to him and his heirs.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said slaves was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twenty thousand dollars in money.(3) All these slaves are healthy & free from disease of any kind, and from moral, bodily & mental defects.

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.the enemies of the country

And your petitioner further states and alleges, that he has not brought said slaves into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said slaves 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said slaves 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 slaves 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.