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 T. Carroll of Washington City 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 certain persons of African descent of the names of John Brooks, Ellen (or Nelly) Warren and Henry Warren for and during the livves of said John, Ellen and Henry and that by said act of Congress said John Ellen and Henry 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 John, Ellen and Henry were of the ages of and of the personal descriptions following:(1) John Brooks was a man about forty six years old, about five feet & nine & a half inches high, slender person, dark brown color, bushy black hair slightly tinged with gray. He was the very best waiter & dining room servant I ever saw & was worth to me over $2000 and I believe i could readily have realised that amount for him.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said John, Ellen and Henry in manner following:(2) John Brooks was given to my wife Mrs Carroll by her Father in the spring of 1829. The Mother of Ellen & Henry Warren was purchased by me in the Summer of 1827 and was owned by me when they were born. John Ellen & Henry have been owned and possessed by me from the aforesaid date in the first case & from their birth in the last two to the rate of the aforesaid act of Congress.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said John, Ellen & Henry was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of three thousand five hundred dollars in money.(3) Your petitioner has stated in the previous page such qualities as rendered said servants of that value to him, and now avers that he has no knowledge of any infirmity or defect that rendered them of less value to him.

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 John, Ellen nor Henry into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said John Ellen & Henry was 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 John Ellen Henry 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 John Ellen and Henry 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.