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, Charles H. Dumas of Washington City 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 Lucy Key Catherine Virginia Key, Mary Alice Key, Charles Richard Key, and Arina Key persons of African descent of the name of Lucy Key Catherine Virginia Key Mary Alice Key Charles Richard Key and Arina Key for and during the life of said persons of african decent of the names aforesaid 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 Lucy Key was of the age of 34 years. Catherine Virginia Key of the age of 10 years Mary Alice Key of the age of 8 years Charles Richard Key of the age of 6 years and Ariana Key of the age of 4 years and of the personal description following:(1) Lucy Key of a dark chestnut color, five feet four inches high Catherine Virginia Key dark chestnut color, four feet two and a half inches high, Mary Alice Key dark mulatto four feet high Charles Richard Key dark mulatto three feet five inches high Ariana Key bright mulatto three feet two inches and a half high.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) by virtue of a deed of trust from William E. F. Skelly dated the third day of April A.D. 1861 conveying said persons to your petitioner to hold the same in trust for the benefit of Margaret E. Skelly wife of said William E Skelly as will more fitfully appear by reference to said deed of trust Recorded in deed U.S.N. 210 Sol 38 in this County said Wm E Skelly purchased the said Lucy Key of the estate of the late Dr. Benjamin Day of Bladensburgh in the state of Maryland on the 2nd day of January 1847 Dr. Cook being the executor said children being of her issue care since the purchase thereof.

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 twenty-eight hundred dollars $2800 in money.(3) That said persons are all sound healthy and free from any and all infirmities or defects. Lucy Key being a first rate servant and the remaining, all children of Lucy Key, being likely and promising children and nothing mental moral or bodily to impair their value, your petitioner declares that William E Skelly aforesaid and Margaret E Skelly for whose benefit this claim is presented bears true and faithful allegiances to the government of the United States and that they have not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto  

• Lucy Key worth one thousand dollars
• Catherine Virginia Key, worth seven hundred dollars
• Mary Alice Key, worth five hundred dollars
• Charles Richard Key, worth four hundred dollars
• Armina Key, worth three hundred dollars

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 personswas 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.