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, Benj. L. Bohrer of Georgetown DC. 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 Thirteen person's of African descent of the name of Anabella Nash, Martha Nash, Ariby Nash, Horace Nash, Adelaide Nash & infant son George Buffin Nash, James Nash, Selina Nash, George Green, Alexr. Green, John Green, William Maize. for and during the life of said person's and that by said act of Congress said person's 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 [no handwritten text supplied here] of the ages of and of the personal descriptions following:(1)[no handwritten text supplied here]

 

• "Anabella Nash," aged about 38 years. a small dark mulatto woman, a first rate cook, & in every respect, the most faithful, competent, & reliable servant to be found any where. Value 900$
• "Martha Nash," aged about 21. a bright mulatto woman, rather tall, amiable, honest, capable & very trustworthy in all respects. $700.
• "Ariby Nash." aged 18. a bright mulatto lad, of fine disposition, remarkably honest, & a first rate dining room & house servant. $800.
• "Horace Nash." aged 14. dark mulatto, a fine capable boy, an excellent carriage driver, & very competent to do all kinds of house work $700.
• "Adelaide Nash." aged 17. a very bright mulatto capable, intelligent, nice washer & ironer, & competent for all kinds of house work—her Infant is a very bright complexion, a boy three months old—$700.
• "George Buffin Nash." aged 19. bright mulatto small size, very smart, a first rate gentleman body servant, & a good carriage driver. $800.
• "Selina Nash" aged 10. bright mulatto girl. well grown, with the best capacity & disposition; in all respects a remarkably fine child. $600.
• "James Nash" aged about 15. very bright com</item></ul> <ul><item>plexion, very bright intellect, well taught, honest, & extremely valuable. $800.
• "George Green" aged 26. dark color, rather tall, honest, upright, & a first class house servant $1200
• "Alexr. Green" aged about 23. very black, tall, amiable disposition, and a very good cook. $800.
• "John Green aged about 16. dark mulatto well grown, capable & very useful a​ a house servant, & carriage driver. $700.
• "William Maize" aged about 25. bright mulatto, very capable as a farm hand, & is also a good groom & stableman. $800. All these servants are considered particularly valuable on account of intelligence & honesty&

   

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said person's in manner following:(2) all the persons herein named were born in our family, & raised by me & my wife. I purchased the mother, of a portion of them, more than forty years ago, & the other portion I acquired by my marriage, with my present wife, in 1834.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said person's was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $9600 dollars in money.(3) I have no knowledge of any defects to impair their value.

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