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 Petitioners, Jacob Hines 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 two male and three female persons of African descent of the names of Alice Maria Robinson, James Henry Robinson, Alfred Curtis Robinson, Eliza Jane Robinson, and Sally Robinson for and during the life of said Sally Robinson, and for a term of years of each of the four others above named, as specified in their description hereinafter given, and that by said act of Congress said five 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 five persons were of the ages of twenty three, fifteen, thirteen, seventeen, and eleven years, respectively, as stated below, and of the personal description following:(1) Alice Maria Robinson, twenty three years of age, mullatto​ color, about five feet three or four inches high, well built, to be free at twenty five years of age; James Henry Robinson, fifteen years of age, dark color, five feet three or four inches high, stout built, to be free at twenty eight years of age; Alfred Curtis Robinson, thirteen years of age, dark color, about five feet high, middle size, to be free at twenty eight years of age; Eliza Jane Robinson, seventeen years of age, dark color, five feet, three or four inches high, stout built, to be free at twenty five years of age; and Sally Robinson, eleven years of age, dark color, about four feet 5 or 6 inches high, slim made, and a slave for life;—all of the above in good sound health.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said five persons in manner following:(2) by marriage to his late Wife he acquired the mother of the above five persons; and about seven years ago he emancipated the mother, and retained the children subject to the terms of years as herein before stated; and the evidence of his said act of Emancipation and the said terms of years, is on record in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of this District

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said five persons, was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of (see below)— dollars in money.(3) Alice Maria Robinson, 2 years to serve, one hundred dollars; James Henry Robinson, 13 years to serve, three hundred dollars; Eliza Jane Robinson, 8 years to serve, two hundred fifty dollars;—Alfred Curtis Robinson, 15 years to serve, three hundred dollars; and Sally Robinson, slave for life, three hundred dollars. They are all healthy, and he knows of no infirmities to impair their value.

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 five persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said five persons were was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.

Your petitioners further state and allege, that his said claim to the service or labor of said five 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 petitioners pray the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of his said claim to the service or labor of said five 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.