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, Mrs. Mary Brien administratrix of Francis Masi deceased. late of Washington by this her petition in writing, represents and states, that she 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 following named persons of African descent of the names of Maria Butler and Samuel Butler for and during the life of said Maria & Sam and that by said act of Congress said Maria & Sam 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 Maria & Sam was of the age of fifty years and Sam of the age of 28 years and of the personal description following:(1) That is to say Maria is an ordinary sized woman. Black complexion with no particular marks on her person.
Sam Butler. Black complexion he has marks or scars on his face from small pox which he had when a child about five feet seven inches in height.

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Maria & Sam in manner following:(2) That is to say Maria was bought by her late father Frances Masi, Esq​. from Mr. Clement McWilliams deceased of Washington D.C. about thirty five years ago. She has a receipt for the money which is lost or mislaid.
Samuel was born after the purchase of his mother Maria Butler.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Maria & Sam was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of two thousand dollars in money.(3) That is to say, Maria is worth about five hundred dollars. She is an excellent cook good washer and ironer she is a good, honest very intelligent and trust worthy woman. Perfectly sound and has no mental moral or bodily defects or infirmities.
Sam is worth about fifteen hundred dollars is a good worthy and intelligent man a good house servant and waiter in the dining room & free from any defects of any description either moral mental or bodily.
Your petitioner does not know of any moral, mental or bodily infirmities or defects of either of the above servants.

Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she 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 she 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 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 she 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 her 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.