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, Robert L. Teele​ 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 Eight persons of African descent of the names of Arilla Johnson, Charlotte Johnson, Joseph Johnson, Charlotte, Louisa, Charles, Edward, & George, for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons 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 Arilla Johnson was of the age of Forty nine years and of the personal description following:(1) A Bright mulatto woman Five feet Three and a half inches high. (valued at $600.)

• said Charlotte Johnson, was of the age of Fifteen years, A Bright mulatto, girl, Four feet Ten and a half inches high. ($ valued at $1000.)
• said Joseph Johnson, was of the age of Eleven years, A Bright Mulatto boy, Four feet three and a half inches high (valued at $900)
• said Charlotte, was of the age of Twenty Five years, A bright mulatto woman, Five feet One inch high. (valued at $1200)
• said Louisa, was of the age of Seven years, A bright mulatto girl Three feet, nine and a half inches high, (valued at $600)
• said Charles, was of the age of Four years, A bright mulatto boy Three feet One inch high, (valued at $300)
• said Edward, was of the age of Three years, A Black boy, Two feet seven inches high, (valued at $250)
• said George, was of the age of Four months, A bright mulatto child, One foot Eleven inches high, (valued at $100)

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) said Arilla Johnson, Charlotte Johnson, & Joseph Johnson, I purchased from Mrs. Harall in Richmond Va, Eight years since I paid for them $ 1100. said Charlotte, I purchased at a sale at Chesterfield Court House Va, Twenty years since, said Louisa, Charles, Edward, & George have been born of her since I have owned her.

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 Forty nine hundred & fifty dollars in money.(3) They have been in my family for the several years I have owned them. I have always trusted them, and always found them to be honest and correct. my family are all, very much attached to them.

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 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 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.