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, Robert Gunnell of Fairfax County, Virginia 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 ten persons of African descent of the names of Paulina Booth, Sarah Fairfax, Florida, Anna, and William, Frank, Thomas and Joseph the sons of Sarah Fairfax. Sally the child of Paulina Booth, and Charles the son of Florida, for and during the life of said persons as before named and that by said act of Congress said persons as before named 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 persons as before name were of the ages of Twenty four—Twenty six years—Seventeen years—Twelve years, and Eight years, Four years, Three years, one year, one year, and 4 months, respectively in the order named and of the personal descriptions following:(1)

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said ten persons before named in manner following:(2) He purchasedPaulina Booth of E. C. Morgan Esq​. Attorney at Law of Washington D.C. and Evelene his wife, as per bill of sale, Sept. 20th 1858 for seven hundred dollars which bill of sale is recorded in the Land Records of Washington Co. in Liber J.A.S. No 16, fol. 153 and he has mislaid the original bill of sale, so that he cannot produce it, He purchased the said Sarah Fairfax with her child William, then a small infant, and Florida and Anna of Major Richard B. Lee then of the U.S. Army, in Washington D.C. in the year 1854 for the sum of six-hundred dollars. very cheap, but Florida & Anna were both small at the time—the bill of sale is in the possession of B. F. MacKall Esq​, who had mislaid it.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said ten persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of four thousand nine hundred dollars in money.(3) as he has no knowledge of any mental, moral or bodily defect in any or either of said persons, and he values them as follows: Paulina and Sarah each $1000: Florida $900: Anna $800— Anna $500: Frank $250: Thomas $200: Joseph $100: Sally $100: Charles $50.

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 were 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 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 as 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.