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,s Widow & heirs of Henry Miller deceased of Washington City D.C. by this their petition in writing, represents and states, that they are is a persons 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 the following person of African descent of the name of Thomas Rustin, Charles Barton, Elizabeth Barton, William Barton, Lewis Barton, and Mary Barton for and during the life of said Thomas Rustin, Charles, Elizabeth William, Lewis, and Mary Barton, and that by said act of Congress said Thomas Rustin, Charles, Elizabeth, William, Lewis, and Mary Barton were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioners to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Thomas Rustin, was 36 years old Charles Barton 23 years old, Elizabeth Barton 21 years old of the age of William Barton 19 years old, Lewis Barton 17 years old Mary Barton 4 years old. and of the personal description following:(1) Thomas Rustin, black man good field hand & hostler. Charles Barton Light Brown Man good dining room and house servant. Elizabeth Barton Woman dark brown color, and Mother of child Mary. good cook and house servant. William Barton good dining room servant or waiter, bright Mulatto Man Lewis Barton dark brown color male youth, dining room and house servant Mary Barton bright Mulatto female Child daughter of Elizabeth Barton.

 

That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons of African descent in manner following:(2) inherited from the late Henry Miller, who purchased the Man Thos. Rustin, and his Sister Letty, the Mother of Charles, Elizabeth, William, and Lewis Barton. Thos Rustin was purchased about 25 years since. The woman Letty was purchased about the same time for his son George Miller out of funds belonging to the said George Miller, and by him sold to Henry Miller the said Charles, Elizabeth, William, and Lewis Barton on the 20th day of March 1858, and are recorded in the Clerks office of the D.C. March 23rd 1858.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons of African descent, was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Fifty six hundred dollars in money.(3)as follows. Thomas Rustin $1000. one thousand dollars Charles Barton Twelve hundred dollars, Elizabeth Barton one thousand dollars, William Barton Twelve hundred dollars, Lewis Barton one thousand dollars and Mary Barton Two hundred dollars, and your petitioners further aver that all of the above named persons are in sound health and have no bodily or mental infirmitys​

Your petitioners hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that they have has not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.

And your petitioners further states and alleges, that they have 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 petitioners further states and alleges, that their 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 their said claim to the service or labor of said persons of African descent, 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.