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, Sarah A. Greeves of Washington City, District of Columbia by this her petition in writing, represents and states, that she 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 eleven (11) persons of African descent of the names of Edward Bowen; Sallie Bowen; Nelson Jones; Morganna Greenlief; (now aged 37): two children of Morganna (now aged 7 & 1 1/2 yrs): Mary Homes, (now aged 37); Winna A. C. Greenlief, (now aged 24); Nancy Catharine Rustin, (age 23): Amanda Young, (age 22): Filmore Young (age 61): Said Morganna & her two children, said Mary, Winna, Nancy, Amanda, & Filmore to serve until they are thirty five years of age. And for and during the life of said Edward Bowen, Sallie Bowen and Nelson Jones 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 persons were of the ages of [no handwritten text supplied here] and of the personal description following:(1)

• 1st Edward Bowen—age, sixty: sex, male: about six feet high and a dark mulatto—slave for life.
• 2nd Sallie Bowen—age, fifty: sex, female: medium height and black—slave for life
• 3 Nelson Jones age 24, sex, male: about six feet high and black—slave for life.
• 4 Morganna Greenlief—age twenty seven, sex, female: about 5 feet high stout and black—held to service and labor until 35 yrs​ of age.
• 5&6—Two children of Morganna—a girl and a boy—the former seven and the latter one and a half years of age —held to labor until 35 yrs​ of age—the girl is lame, born so.
• 7 Winna A. C. Greenlief Age, twenty four, sex, female, about 5 feet high and black—held to labor until 35 yrs​ of age.
• 8 Mary John Homes age 27 sex, female, over five feet high, very black held to labor until 35 yrs​ of age.
• 9 Nancy Catharine Rustin age 23, sex, female, about 5 feet high, mulatto—held to service and labor until 35 yrs​ of age.
• 10 Amanda Young—age 22 sex, female, over five feet high, black—held to service until 35 yrs​ of age
• 11 Filmore Young—age six yrs, sex, male—black—held to labor until 35 yrs​ of age

the said Morganna, Mary & Amanda were conveyed to me as slaves for life, but they and their issue respectively were manumitted by me in Jan 1854, the deed of manumission to take effect from and after they attained the age of thirty five—Deed recorded in Manumission Records No. 4 folio 581—Manumission Records of the District of Columbia

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) She acquired title to said Winna Ann Cecilia and Nancy Catharine by the last will and testament of her son John Greeves, made July 21, 1853 and recorded in the office of the Register of Wills in the District of Columbia—Liber 3 E.R.R. To said Morganna and Mary by bill of sale from Mary Lawrence—recorded in Liber W.B. 73 - folio 328. To said Amanda by bill of sale from Mary Lawrence, recorded in Liber W.B. 96—folio 297—in the land records of the County of Washington; to said Filmore as the issue of said Amanda while she belonged to me. To Edward and Sallie Bowen by conveyance from Henry Hurley June 17, 1853 in consideration of $800.00, the evidence of which is herewith filed and marked "Exibit​ A." To Nelson Jones by conveyance from Caroline Cromwell November 28, 1855, in consideration of $1000.00, the evidence of which is herewith filed and marked "Exibit​ B." To the two children of said Morganna by reason of their being the issue of the said Morganna while she belonged to me.

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 five thousand dollars in money.(3) That the said Edward Bowen is a fine farm hand, active and intelligent, very trustworthy and has had the sole charge of my farm of some 80 acres in the District of Columbia, for the last nine years past. Sallie Bowen is a fine cook, washer and ironer. Nelson Jones is a very valuable servant, a first rate coachman and dining room servant, active and intelligent. The said Morganna is a good house servant, washer and ironer. Of the two children of Morganna, the girl is lame, born so, with that exception they are fine healthy children with every indication of making valuable servants. Mary Homes is a good active house servant, good washer and ironer, slightly lame, but not enough to impair her value. Said Winna Ann Cececlia, a good house servant, but now in delicate health, appears to have consumption. Said Nancy Catharine is a very valuable servant, an excellent cook nurse or dining room servant. Amanda Young also a very valuable servant, a good dining room servant and chambermaid. Filmore Young a remarkably intelligent and active boy, very useful. Six only of the above persons are assessed on the tax books of the Corporation of Washington at $3,600.00. Your petitioner knows of no other infirmities or defects in said persons which impair the value of Petitioner's claim to said service or labor & she believes none other exists.

Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she 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 she 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 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 her 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 her 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.