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, Benjamin P. Smith 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 persons of African descent of the names of Mary Ann Coleman, Margaret Woodward, Harriet Guy, Lila, Martha Betty and John Henry for and during the life 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 said discharge said Mary Ann Coleman was of the age of twenty seven years and of the personal description following:(1)

• Mulatto woman about five feet two inches in height
• Margaret Woodward was twenty five years of age a very bright colored woman about five feet two inches in height
• Harriet Guy black woman about five feet three inches in height thirty four years of age
• Lila mulatto girl about five feet in height 15 years old
• Martha black girl about four feet in height ten years old
• Betty black girl about three feet six inches in height seven years old
• John Henry mulatto boy two years and six months of age about two feet ten inches in height

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Harriet was a present from Mrs Geo. Price to petitioner's wife. Lila Martha Betty and John Henry are said Harriet's children born while she was owned by petitioner

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of thirty seven hundred dollars in money.(3)  

• Harriet is an honest and industrious servant a good cook, ironer and washer, strong and healthy valued at eight hundred dollars.
• Lila is an honest and industrious girl strong and healthy, a good dining room servant valued at six hundred dollars.
• Martha is a strong and healthy girl raised as house servant valued at four hundred and fifty dollars
• Betty and John Henry are strong and healthy children valued respectively at three hundred and two hundred and fifty dollars.
• The last named four are Harriet's children.
• Mary Ann Coleman is an honest and industrious servant, a first rate cook, ironer and washer, a healthy woman valued at eight hundred dollars.
• Margaret Woodward is an honest and industrious servant a good cook, ironer and washer strong and healthy.
• Margaret was sold some years back for five hundred dollars but was only in part paid for.
• These persons are free from any infirmity either bodily mental or moral

 

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.