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, William G. H. Newman 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 Ann Bounds, a female, about 47 years old, Black Color, and delicately built—and Mary Bounds [illegible] female about 16 years old, light-black color, well built, persons of African descent of the names of Ann Bounds and Mary Bounds as aforesaid for and during the life of said Ann and of said Mary respectively and that by said act of Congress said Ann and said Mary were respectively was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Ann was about 47 Years of age and said Mary was of the age of sixteen Years and of the personal description following:(1) both of said persons walk erectly, said Mary being of rather lighter shade of black than the said Ann who is her Mother; they are of nearly the same height and of the respective ages and build above mentioned

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons respectively in manner following:(2) by virtue of the two papers herewith filed N. No 1. and N. No 2 respectively bearing date Somerset County Maryland 17th September 1857 and Washington 24 May 1852. both signed by Charles Rider the father of your Petitioners​ wife

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 Fifteen Hundred dollars in money.(3)that both of said persons are of good habits, healthy, well instructed in their duties as house servants and of greater value to your Petitioner than the money estimate placed upon them as above Your Petitioner avers he knows of no defect of infirmity bodily, mental or moral to impair the value of his claim to their Services, and believes none to exist

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 or either of them into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons respectively 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said persons or either of them 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 respectively 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.