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, Francis S. Walsh 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 Seven Slaves persons of African descent of the name of Emily, Charlotte,Henry, George, Elvira, Charles, and a Male child not yet christened. for and during the life of said Seven Slaves and that by said act of Congress said Slaves 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 Slaves were respectively of or about the ages placed after their names viz. Emily of the age of 40 years, Charlotte 13 Years,Henry 11 Years, George 6 Years, Elvira 5 Years, Charles 2 1/2 Years & the child unchristened 6 weeks and of the personal description following:(1) Emily is about 40 Years old 5 Feet 2 Inches high, Black, Color, Corpulent, Wooly​ hair, Black Eyes, and cheerful & animated when spoken to. Charlotte is about 13 Years old 4 Feet 9 1/2 inches high, Mulatto, Hair black and straight, Eyes dark. Henry is about 11 Years old 4 Feet 5 Inches high, Mulatto, Wooly​ hair, Dark Eyes & more than ordinarily active for a boy of his age. George is about 6 Years old, 3 Feet 7 Inches high, Black color, Stout, Wooly​ hair and Black Eyes. Elvira is about 5 Years old, 3 Feet 3 Inches high, Stout, Wooly​ hair and Black Eyes. Charles is about 2 1/2 Years old, 3 Feet high, Stout, Wooly​ hair & Black Eyes. The child unchristened is over six weeks old. Color dark. The above Negroes viz Emily & her six children do now and you above Enjoyed good health.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Seven Slaves in manner following:(2) viz. By purchase of Emily (the mother of the children named) and two children aged six Years & Eighteen months not now belonginging​ to the petitioner & named in the bill of sale, Ellen & Arthur, these slaves Emily Ellen & Arthur were purchased from Ruthey Edmonds on the 23 Feby​ 1847 for $550.00. Bill of Sale Recorded Liber W. B. No. 132 folios 217 & 218 one of the Land Records for Washington County in the District of Columbia.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Seven Slaves was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twenty Eight hundred dollars in money.(3) Viz., Emily $800 Charlotte $800 Henry $800 & George, Elmira, Charles & the baby $100 each. This amount I claim for the following reasons 1st that I would not sell them for this amount unless obliged to part with them, 2nd Emily the mother is a good cook and house servant and Charlotte & Henry as good & efficient servants as many more advanced in years, & I know of no moral, mental or bodily infirmity to lessen or impair the value of this claim.

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