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, Andrew Martine of Washington D.C. 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 [no handwritten text supplied here] persons of African descent of the names of Maria Nelson, Flora Buchanan, John [Brigden?], Daniel Buchanan Charles Buchanan, and Catharine Buchanan for and during the life of said Maria, Flora, John, Daniel, Charles and Catharine and that by said act of Congress said Maria, Flora, John, Daniel Charles and Catharine discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Maria, Flora, John, Daniel, Charles and Catharine of the ages of Maria 45 years, Flora 28 years, John 58 years, Daniel 5 years, Charles 3 years, and Catharine six months and of the personal description following:(1) Maria Nelson, about five feet high, bright mulatto color very much freckled, stout build and with short curley​ hair

• Flora Buchanan of copper color, high cheek bones, about five feet high, slight build, curly hair
• John [Brigden?], of quite black color, short curley​ hair, spare build, high cheek bones, quick spoken a good carpenter
• Daniel Buchanan, bright copper color, smart active boy, scar over his left eye, short curly hair
• Charles Buchanan, bright copper color, smart active boy, short curly hair
• Catharine Buchanan, light mulatto color, straight black hair

• Maria Nelson is a worth one thousand dollars
• Flora Buchanan is a worth one thousand dollars
• John [Brogden?] is worth eight hundred dollars
• Daniel Buchanan is worth four hundred dollars
• Charles Buchanan is worth two hundred and fifty dollars
• Catharine Buchanan is worth fifty dollars

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) My title to Maria Nelson was by my intermarriage with Elizabeth Ann Coolidge, widow of the late Edmund Coolidge, in 1854, and my title to Flora, John and Daniel was by purchase about four years ago at the executor's sale of the Estate of the late Catharine [Bince?] at Upper Marlow, Ma, and paid for them the sum of fifteen hundred and fifty dollars Charles and Catharine are the children of Flora Buchanan, and were born since I purchased her.

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 3,500 dollars in money.(3) I know of no defect in any of these persons that would in the slightest degree impair the value of any one of them

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 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 his 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 his 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.