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, Catherine Golden of Washington, District of Columbia by this her petition in writing, represents and states, that she 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 one person of African descent of the name of Matilda Price for and during the life of said Matilda Price and that by said act of Congress said Matilda Price was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Matilda Price was of the age of nineteen years or thereabouts and of the personal description following:(1) Matilda is of a black color, about Five Feet, six inches in height—hair bushy, good looking & lively

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Matilda Price in manner following:(2) That she received the said Matilda as her proportion of the Negroes belonging to the Estate of her deceased Father, William P Golden, late of Charles County, Maryland, at the distribution of said Estate, as will appear by reference to the annexed Exhibit from the Register of Wills of said marked A.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Matilda Price was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of one thousand dollars in money.(3) She is a first rate House Servant—Cook—Washer—Waiter & Ironer &—is perfectly healthy & robust—is honest timely, & faithful She was hired out at the time of the passage of the Act, at $4 per month but at that low rate, only to accomodate​ a friend, she might have easily brought $8 per month. Your Petitioner knows of no infirmities or defects of said person which impair the value of Petitioner's claim to such service or labor. That she believes none other to exist.

Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she 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 she has not brought said Matilda Price into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Matilda Price 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said Matilda Price 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 value of her said claim to the service or labor of said Matilda Price 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.