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, George Mattingly 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 Ten persons of African descent of the name of Lucy Miles—Ann Miles—Adelaide Miles—Dominick Miles—Mary Bass—James E. Stanford—Willis Young—Henry Lee—Paris Green and Henry Branson, for and during the life of said Lucy Miles—Ann Miles—Adelaide Miles—Dominick Miles—Mary Bass—James E. Stanford—Willis Young—Henry Lee, and Paris Green, and for and during the term of ten months against Henry Branson,   and that by said act of Congress said Lucy Miles—Ann Miles—Adelaide Miles—Dominick Miles—Mary Bass—James E. Stanford—Willis Young—Henry Lee—Paris Green and Henry Branson 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 Miles—Ann Miles—Adelaide Miles—Dominick Miles—Mary Bass—James E. Stanford—Willis Young—Henry Lee—Paris Green and Henry Branson were of the ages of forty-five (45) years—eighteen (18) years—fourteen (14) years—two (2) years—twenty nine (29) years—eighteen (18) years—thirty five (35) years— thirty two (32) years—fifty five (55) years—and forty five (45) years respectively, and of the personal description following:

• Lucy Miles, height, five feet four inches, complexion, Light Copper
• Ann Miles, height five feet one inches complexion, Dark Copper,
• Adelaide Miles, height five feet three inches complexion, Light Copper
• Dominick Miles, height two feet six inches complexion, Light Molatto​
• Mary Bass height five feet two inches </item></ul> <ul><item> complexion Light Molatto​
• James E. Stanford, height five feet seven inches Complexion, Black.
• Willis Young, height, five feet eleven inches complexion, Dark Copper
• Henry Lee height, five feet six inches complexion Bright Molatto​
• Paris Green height five feet nine inches Complexion, Black
• Henry Branson height, six feet one inch complexion, Black

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Lucy Miles—Anne Miles—Adelaide Miles—Dominick Miles—Mary Bass—James E. Stanford—Willis Young—Henry Lee—Paris Green and Henry Branson in manner following:

• Lucy Miles, by Purchase in the year Eighteen hundred and forty one, from Fontane Beckham for the sum of Six hundred dollars. Bill of Sale Lost.
• Ann Miles, Born of Lucy Miles after purchase of said Lucy Miles—
• Adelaide Miles, Born of Lucy Miles after purchase of said Lucy Miles—
• Dominick Miles, Born of Ann Miles the daughter of Lucy Miles as aforesaid—
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• Mary Bass—by Purchase in the year Eighteen hundred and fifty five from A. M. Hoffar for the sum of seven hundred dollars—as per Bill of Sale—
• James E. Stanford—by Purchase in the year Eighteen hundred and forty seven from Mrs Penoply Luckett for the sum of seven hundred dollars for his mother and himself and two other children he being then three years of age—
• Willis Young—by Purchase in the year Eighteen hundred and sixty one from the Estate of George M. Bibb for the sum of four hundred and sixty five dollars—
• Henry Lee—by Purchase in the year Eighteen hundred and fifty six from Mrs. Dr. Washington for the sum of five hundred dollars—
• Paris Green—by Purchase in the year Eighteen hundred and Sixty one, from Edward Plummer and wife for the sum of two hundred dollars per Bill of Sale—
• Henry Branson—By Purchase in </item></ul> <ul><item> the year Eighteen hundred and fifty nine from Stephen Shimm and others for a term of four years (ten months of said term being unexpired) for the sum of five hundred dollars, as per Bill of Sale—

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Lucy Miles—Ann Miles—Adelaide Miles—Dominick Miles—Mary Bass—James E. Stanford—Willis Young—Henry Lee—Paris Green and Henry Branson was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Sixty nine hundred and fifty dollars in money.

• To Wit; Lucy Miles—Is healthy and strong, Is a first class Cook, Washer and Ironer as well as general house servant. has no defects, moral mental or bodily except occasional intemperance; is worth one thousand dollars—
• Ann Miles—Is healthy and strong, Is a first class cook and General house servant—Is honest and trustworthy in every particular Is temperate and I know of nothing against her morals other than bearing </item></ul> <ul><item> children without being married Is of good mental capacity and is worth One thousand dollars—
• Adelaide Miles—Is healthy and strong Is a good house servant and childs nurse—Has no defects either moral, mental or bodily and is worth Eight hundred dollars—
• Dominick Miles—Is a healthy, likely child worth one hundred dollars—
• Mary Bass—Is healthy and strong Is a first class house servant and ladies dressing Maid—Has no defects, moral, mental or bodily and is worth twelve hundred dollars—
• James E. Stanford—Is healthy and strong—Is a first class cook and waiter—His services as such have averaged $14- per month for three or four years past; since April 1861, has been employed in the United States naval service upon one of the steamboats composing the "Potomac Flotilla" at $14 per month and is worth now Eight Hundred dollars
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• Willis Young—Has been healthy ever since I purchased him— was previously slightly troubled with haemorrhage—Is a first rate Body servant, Waiter and Coachman—has been in the employ of Lieut Col Owens of the 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry as body servant and waiter at $20.— per month since August 1861.—and has not been sick during the interval altho​' subject to the Exposure of Camp life—he is worth One thousand dollars—
• Henry Lee—Is healthy and strong, Is a first rate Cook and Waiter and is employed on the United States Steamboat Baltimore as Cook since April 1861 at $12.—per month—The terms of purchase from Mrs Dr. Washington, were that his (Henry Lee's) mother should have the privilege of purchasing him for the sum I paid for him, viz: five hundred dollars I therefore value him at only five hundred dollars—
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• Paris Green—Is a first rate farm hand and is worth much more than I paid for him; being strong and healthy and trustworthy and understanding all about farm work. I value him as worth at least three hundred dollars—
• Henry Branson—Is employed at the United States Navy Yard at Washington D.C. at $1 50/100 per day—out of which sum he paid me one dollar per day—supporting himself with the remaining fifty cents and whatever he made by overwork—there was ten months service due by him to me before the expiration of the four years for which I purchased him, at the time of the passage of the Act of Congress aforesaid And I value said services worth to me two hundred and fifty 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 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 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.