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, Daniel B. Clarke of Washington 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 said act of Congress, held a claim to service or labor against Caroline Key and Ellen Key, two persons of African descent of the names of Caroline Key and Ellen Key for and during the life of said Caroline and Ellen and that by said act of Congress said Caroline and Ellen 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 Caroline and Ellen of the ages of and of the personal descriptions following:(1) Caroline is about 49 years, and Ellen is about 39 years of age—color, brown, medium female height—

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Caroline and Ellen in manner following:(2) in the distribution of the personal estate of his deceased Father, the late Walter Clarke of this City, said Caroline was assigned to your petitioner, and said Ellen to his decd​ Brother Walter M. Clarke, as per deed of partition recorded among the Land Records of this County in Liber J. A. S. No. 41 folio 55—said Ellen was bequeathed to your petitioner by his said Brother, Walter M. Clarke decd​ in and by his last will & testament probated and recorded in the orphan's court of this District—

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Caroline and Ellen was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of fifteen hundred dollars in money.(3)Said Caroline being worth $700 and the said Ellen $800. The said Caroline is a good cook, house servant and nurse. Ellen is a good cook, washer and ironer—They are both remarkably well disposed & willing workers, very conscientious, faithful and Trusting, and very intelligent. Caroline is in good health—Ellen is of robust health. These servants were very much attached to your petitioners family and even to him quite invaluable—Caroline is sometimes rheumatic, Ellen has imperfect teeth—He knows of no other mental, moral or physical infirmities in said servants

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 United States 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 Caroline and Ellen into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said servants 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said two servants 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 said claim to the service or labor of said two servants 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.