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, Marshal​ Brown of Washington City 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 five Persons persons of African descent of the name of Henrietta Locke, Harriet Ann Talbott, Mary Jane Jackson, Patty Simms, and Jeremiah Jackson, for and during the life of said Persons and that by said act of Congress said Persons 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 was of the age of about 16, 32, 35, 60, & 60 and of the personal description following:(1)

• 1 Henrietta Locke was born in the family of the late Jesse Brown (decd​) and was bought by me from the estate. She is of the age of 16 years, very bright and handsome mulatto, sound and healthy; and is esteemed an excellent Seamstress and house Servant. She was worth $1200
• 2 Harriet Ann Talbott of Copper Color, about the age of 32 years, was purchased by me about, 15 years ago, of one James Gammon, now deceased. She is considered an excellent pastry Cook and laundress, and have been offered $1500 for her.
• 3 Mary Jane Jackson about the age of 35 years, and was purchased by me about 8 years last past of Charles Pie of Port Tobacco, Md. She is Copper Color, Sound in body and mind—a valuable Seamstress and house servant. She was worth $1000.
• 4 Patty Simms, about the age of 60 years, Copper Color, I inherited from my fathers estate, the late Jesse Brown, and was worth say, fifty dollars
• 5 Jeremiah Jackson, aged about 60 years, dark copper color, was purchased by me many years ago, from Slacum of Alexandria, Va. and was worth fifty Dollars.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Slaves in manner following:(2) Henrietta Locke, by purchase, as before stated. Harriet Ann Talbot, by purchase, as before stated, Mary Jane Jackson, by purchase, as before stated. Patty Simms, I inherited from my fathers estate, as before stated, and Jeremiah Jackson, by purchase, as before stated.

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 Thirty eight hundred dollars in money.(3) Your petitioner further states that he has no knowledge of the existence of any moral, mental and bodily infirmities or defects of said persons as impair as the value of your petitioners claim to such service or labor; except the two last names mentioned in the foregoing list—Patty Simms and Jeremiah Jackson, who may have bodily infirmities by reason of old age.

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.