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, D. Bryan of City of Washington 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 mulatto women both persons of African descent of the name of Milly Goodall and her daughter Emily Goodall for and during the life of said Milly & Emily respectively and that by said act of Congress said Milly & Emily have been discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Milly was of the age of fifty one or thereabouts, & said Emily was of the age of twenty three or thereabouts and of the personal description following:(1) Milly is a large, stout, likely, & healthy woman, dark mulatto. Emily is her daughter & rather lighter in color than her mother, not quite so tall or large, but a likely, stout & healthy looking woman.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Milly & Emily in manner following:(2) Col. Thomas Barbour of Orange Co. Va. gave the aforesaid Milly to my wife, many years ago, & Emily her daughter was born subsequently. Col. Barbour was my wifes father.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Milly & Emily was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $1500.00 dollars in money.(3) The said Milly is a first rate cook, & general servant & is hired to George W. Riggs Esq, at eight dollars per month which I regard as very low wage for so competent & valuable a servant.
Emily is now in the service of your petitioner, is a first rate cook, as well as house servant & there could not be found in the District a servant of better disposition or habits, or of greater efficiency. I value Emily at $900.00 & her mother at $600.00. x (see below)

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