Civil War Washington

To the Commissioners under the act of Congress approved April 16th, 1862, entitled "An act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia."

Your Petitioner Alfred H. Boucher of Georgetown 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 Act of Congress aforesaid held a claim to service or labor against one person of African descent of the name of Lucien Jones for and during the life of the said Lucien Jones—; and that by said Act of Congress said Lucien Jones 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 Lucien Jones was of the age of 35 years and of the personal description following viz: about 5 feet 10 inches high, of light brown color, very straight and able-bodied

That your petitioner acquired his title to the aforesaid service or labor of said Lucien Jones, in manner following namely by purchase of Mrs. Saunders in Georgetown D.C. in the year 1851 for Eight hundred dollars & that he has mislaid the bill of sale, which was once in his possession

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Lucien Jones was at the time of said discharge therefrom of the value of Fourteen Hundred dollars in money (that Thomas Ledan of Montgomery Co, Maryland, offered that amount for him): that he is unaware of any mental, moral or bodily defect in said Lucien Jones who is healthy, able, bodied has always uniformly been so;

Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true & 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 further that he has not brought said Lucien Jones into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act; but that at the time of the passage thereof, said Lucien Jones was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor: and further that his claim to the said service or labor of said Lucien Jones 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.

Wherefore he prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of his said claim to the service or labor of said Lucien Jones herein above set forth; and if the same be found to be valid, that they appraise and apportion the value thereof 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.