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, Richard J. Ryon 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 two persons of African descent of the names of William Carroll and Mary Carroll being husband and wife for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons were 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 William Carroll was of the age of forty years and Mary Carroll was of the age of thirty eight years and of the personal description following:(1) The said William Carroll is about five feet eight inches high, colour Black, medium size and healthy, is very inteligent​, sober and industrious.
Said Mary Carroll is about medium size copper coloured and healthy.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said William Carroll and Mary Carroll in manner following:(2) Purchased said persons from the estate of Thomas P. Ryon of Prince Georges County Maryland two years and three months ago for the sum of fifteen hundred dollars for the said William Carroll and Mary Carroll his wife, they being sold together and bid in by the family of the said Thomas P. Ryon to prevent their going south consequently there was no competition is the reason why said persons were sold so much below their real value.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said William Carroll was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of twelve hundred dollars in money.(3) and the said Mary Carroll was at the time of said discharged therefrom of the value of, one thousand dollars. Said persons are both inteligent​, sober and industrious. the said William Carroll has acted as Porter to my Store for the last two years and three months and was worth to me in that capacity over one thousand dollars. The said Mary Carroll is a first rate cook, washer, and ironer and her services in my family were invaluable, and to my knowledge neither of said persons had any moral, mental or bodily infirmities or defects, and to my knowledge none exist.

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 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.