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, Carlisle P. Patterson of the District of Columbia, by this his petition in writing respectfully 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 six persons of African descent of the following names, viz: Cassy Ann Butler, Cassy Ann Butler Jr. (daughter of the above) Anthony Butler and Hannah Butler (also children of the first named,) Maria Dover and Josephine Valles (called Jid, and daughter of said Maria Dover,) for and during the lives 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 such discharge said persons were respectively of the ages and personal description following, viz; Cassy Ann Butler, born at Brentwood in this District in 1827, 35 years old, black and 5 ft 2 ½ in hight​   Cassy Ann Butler Jr., born at Brentwood in 1853, 9 years old and black: Anthony Butler, born in Washington, 5 years old and black: Hannah Butler, born in Washington in 1858, 3 ½ years old: Maria Dover, born at Brentwood in 1830, 32 years old, 5 ft. 4 in. high and dark mulatto: Josephine Valles (called Jid) born at Brentwood in 1847, 15 years old, well grown, 5 ft. ½ in hight​ and black.

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said six persons of African descent in the following manner, that is to say by virtue of his intermarriage with Elizabeth Worthington Pearson, his present wife, the daughter of the late Joseph Pearson, and Catherine Pearson of Brentwood: and that his wife's title thereto was acquired under and by virtue of the last will and testament of her deceased father, Joseph Pearson, recorded in Will Book No. 1. H.C.N. folio 258 in the Orphans Court of the District of Columbia.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said six persons was at the time of said   discharge therefrom, of the value of four thousand six hundred dollars in money, as per the following items;

Cassy Ann Butler, a remarkably finished laundress, house & lady's maid, in general good health, tho' not very strong.	$1400
Cassy Ann Butler Jr., 9 years old, a fine intelligent girl, strong & healthy	"600
Anthony Butler, 5 years old, a fine, strong & healthy boy	"350
Hannah Butler, 3 ½ years old, a fine strong & healthy girl.	"250
Maria Dover, a very good house servant. strong & in perfect health	"1100
Josephine Valles (called Jid) daughter of Maria Dover, 15 years old, wellgrown strong & healthy, good house servant	"900
Aggregate Value	$4600

Your petitioner knows of no mental, or moral or physical defect in the above persons.

Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that he has not born​ 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 any of said   six persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that at the time of the passage thereof said six 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 six 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 six 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.