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 J Stone Senr of the City of Washington 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 eight persons of African descent of the name of James Pleasants—Fanny Brown—Cornelius Digges—Polly Pleasants—Susan Pleasants—Anne Pleasants—Ailcey Pleasants and Tom Pleasants for and during the life of said eight Slaves and that by said act of Congress said eight Slaves were 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 slaves were was of the ages of and of the personal description following:(1)

• 1. John Pleasants—aged about 45 years—of a dark colour​—a good Ostler—Carriage driver & gardener—purchased of J C Jones of Montgomery County Maryland—
• 2 Fanny Brown—aged about 43 years—a good Cook & family servant—purchased of Robert Sewall of Prince Georges County Maryland—
• 3 Cornelius Digges—Mulatto—aged about 23 years a good house servant—Waiter & driver—purchased of Robert Sewall of Prince Georges County Maryland
• 4 Polly Pleasants aged about 15 years
• 5 Susan Pleasants aged about 14 years
• 6 Anne Pleasants aged about 14 years
• 7 Ailcey Pleasants aged about 13 years
  all Black—Chambermaids & house servants were born & raised at my place called Mount Pleasant near the City of Washington—
• 8 Tom Pleasants aged about 13 years—Mulatto—born & raised at Mount Pleasant & useful in Various ways about House & farm—

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said eight Slaves in manner following:(2)

• James Pleasants—purchased from J C Jones of Montgomery County Maryland for the sum of † (See Note No 1 below)
• Fanny Brown—purchased from Robert Sewall of Prince Georges County Maryland for the sum of † See Note No 2 below
• Cornelius Digges purchased from same for the sum of †
• children of Mintry— & Henrietta born at my place called Mount Pleasant near the City of Washington D. C. who were purchased of the aforesaid Robert Sewall
  • Polly Pleasants
  • Susan Pleasants—
  • Anne Pleasants
  • Ailcey Pleasants
  • Tom Pleasants

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said eight Slaves was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of twelve hundred dollars in money.(3)for James Pleasants—One thousand dollars for Fanny Brown—Fifteen hundred dollars for Cornelius Digges—and One thousand dollars each for Polly Pleasants—Susan Pleasants—Annie Pleasants Ailcey Pleasants and Tom Pleasants Your Petitioner also States that the above named Slaves have, to his knowledge, no infirmity or defect calculated to lessen or impair their value or that any claim exists to said Slave other than that set forth by himself

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 Slaves into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Slaves 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 Slaves 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 Slaves 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.