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, Robert Beale of Washington City 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 said act of Congress, held a claim to service or labor against two persons of African descent of the names of Isaac Gross and Harriet Mason for and during the life of said Isaac and Harriet and that by said act of Congress said Isaac and Harriet 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 Isaac and Harriet were of the ages of thirty five years and sixty years respectively and of the personal description following:(1)Isaac is a man of about five feet seven inches in height and rather stout, of a dark but not black skin, and a high forehead and intelligent countenance. Harriet is an old woman but very hearty for her age, she is about five feet seven inches in height dark skin and projecting under lip, she stands very straight and is a most respectable looking family servant

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Isaac and Harriet in manner following:(2)he bought Isaac about ten or eleven years ago from James [J.?] Forbes of Maryland and Harriet from George [Ascom?] about twenty years ago. both were slaves for life to their former owners and he purchased them for life.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Isaac and Harriet was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of 2300 dollars in money.(3)viz. Isaac was valued at $2000.00, being a very [illegible] man, a good driver and house servant and also a very good carpenter. Harriet valued at $300.00, is an excellent cook [illegible] equally in her line. and that your Petitioner knows of no mental or physical defects in either of said negroes.

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 negroes into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said negroes was were 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 negroes 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 Isaac and Harriet 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.