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, Mary Key Wallace of Washington D.C 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 Catharine A. Herbert and Charles Henry Herbert person of African descent of the name of Catharine A. Herbert and Charles Henry Herbert for and during the life of said Catharine A. Herbert and Charles Henry Herbert and that by said act of Congress said Catharine A. Herbert and Charles Henry Herbert 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 Catharine A. Herbert was of the age of 34 years— and Charles Henry Herbert of the age of 11 years and of the personal description following:(1) Copper color, the said Catharine A. Herbert, Five feet one inch, in height. The said Charles A. Herbert Four feet, seven inches in height.

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) That is to say—Robert Wallace the husband of your petitioner purchased Milly Herbert and her infant the said Catharine A. Herbert, (a few months of age;) at Rockville Montgomery County Maryland; who were sold to satisfy the liabilities of the the​ estate of Charles Young deceased. The said Charles Henry Herbert is the son of the said Catharine A. Herbert, born since the death of the said Robert Wallace. That the said Robert Wallace immediately upon the purchase of said negroes, took them into his possession; and brought them to Washington City D.C. in the year 1838, when he came to said city to reside;—& where he held them until his death in December 1846. That said Catharine A. Herbert was allotted to your petitioner as part of her dower interest in the estate of the said Robert Wallace deceased. That your petitioner has been in the exclusive, adverse and notorious possession of the said Catharine claiming her as her property, ever since the death of her said husband, (about 16 yrs)—and the said Charles Henry; all his life.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Catharine A. Herbert & Charles Henry Herbert her son was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $1600. dollars in money.(3)That the said Catharine A. Herbert was brought up by your petitioner with care from her childhood as a house and Kitchen servant. The said Charles Henry Herbert her son is a very sprightly and intelligent house servant.

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 persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons 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 persons 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said persons 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.