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, Sarah Forrest of Washington City, DC, 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 four person's of African descent of the name of George Gante, Charles Hopp, Rachel Hopp, Richard Marshall for and during the life of said person's and that by said act of Congress said person's 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 person's were of the age of George about 28 years, Charles about 45 years, Rachel 60 years, Richard about 35 years, and of the personal description following:(1)

• "George Gante," tall, of black color, honest, capable & very valuable in all respects.
• "Charles Hopp," very black, well behaved, very competent as a house servant, & coachman.
• "Rachel Hopp," very dark, an excellent cook, washer & honest, & capable of every kind of house work.
• "Richard Marshall," very bright mulatto, lame in one leg, well behaved, but in consequence of his lameness, has been accustomed only to very light-work, such as blacking foots, cleaning knives &c &c

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said person's in manner following:(2) George Gante, & Charles Hopp, were obtained by inheritance—Rachel Hopp, was purchased by me from my brother David M. Forrest—Richard Marshall was purchased by me, from the Estate of my Uncle, Cole Crawford.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said person's was, at the time of said discharge there from, of the value of 2100 dollars in money.(3)

George	$1000.
Charles	500.
Rachel	300.
Richard	300.

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 person's into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said person's were 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 person's 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 person's 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.