Civil War Washington

Petition

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

Your Petitioner Thomas McGuire of Washington D. C. by this his petition in writing, represents and states, that he is a person loyal to the Government of 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 Eliza Ann Jones & Thos Edward Berry slaves for and during the lives of said parties, and that by said act of Congress said persons 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 Eliza Ann Jones a light colored woman 18 years old 5 feet 1 or 2 inches high Thos Edward Berry aged 12 years mulatto about 4 feet 8 or 9 inches high

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following that is to say from John C Cook of this city as will be evident from the annexed bills of sales.

 

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Eliza Ann Jones and Thos Edward Berry was at the time of said discharge therefrom of the value of Twenty Three hundred dollars in money said Eliza being worth $1300. & Thos Edward worth $1000, They are both excellent house servants capable of fulfilling all the duties appertaining thereto they are of good moral character, kind and obedient, and your petitioner avers that he knows of no defects or infirmities whatsoever 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 same 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 persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said Act of Congress, and that at the time of the passage thereof said parties, was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioners claim to such service or labor

Your petitioner further states and alleges, that his said claim to the service or labor of said parties 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 claim to the service or labor of said parties herein 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