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 Walters of Howard County Md 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 the negroes hereinafter described persons of African descent of the name of Margaret Burley, Alexander Burley, and Maria Burley (now Maria Johnson) for and during the life of said negroes respectively and that by said act of Congress said negroes respectively were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said negroes were was of the ages of [no handwritten text supplied here] and of the personal description following:(1) Margaret Burley 56 years old, copper color, about five feet two inches high; Alexander Burley twenty four years old, chestnut color, about five feet seven and a half inches high, the son of Margaret, small scar on his left cheek, Maria Burley (now married to a man named Johnson as I understand) about 21 years old

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said negroes in manner following:(2) The mother Margaret Burley was given to me by my Father James Walters about the year 1828, and the others were born since then slaves for life to me; I permitted them to reside in the City of Washington, with my father for several years past, and they are well known.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said negroes was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twenty two hundred dollars in money.(3)Each one of these servants is so far as he is informed and has reason to believe perfectly sound and healthy and there cannot be found any more trusty, faithful or competent: the mother is No 1 cook, washer, and ironer Alexander Burley is one of the best house servants, and waiters, good looking and tractable, and Maria has never given cause of complaint

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 negroes into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said negroes were 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 this said claim to the service or labor of said negroes respectively 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 negroes 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.