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, Leonard Harbough, of Washington City 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 four persons of African descent of the name of Henry Digges—Sarah Prout and her two children Juliana and Rosa for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons 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 Henry was about twenty four or twenty five years of age—Sarah, about thirty, of the age of Juliana between five and six, and Rosa about two years of age— and of the personal description following:(1)

• Henry is a dark brown—about five feet eight inches in height, strong and well built—with a scar on his face caused by a burn when he was a child—
• Sarah is a little lighter than Henry in color—about the same height—rather slender—
• Juliana and Rosa are both mulattos, and neither they or Sarah their mother have any particular marks which are now recollected—

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) He acquired Henry and Sarah in right of his Wife by marriage and Juliana and Rosa children of Sarah have been born while their mother was in servitude

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twenty Seven hundred dollars in money.(3) Henry—is strong, sound & healthy, quite intelligent—can read and write—a capable and willing house servant—Sarah is a good cook, steady and industrious—can read—both Henry & Sarah are perfectly honest and good tempered—Juliana and Rosa are perfectly sound and very promising—Your petitioner avers that neither of said persons have any moral mental or bodily defect or infirmity which should impair the value of his claim.

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 persons or either of them into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons 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 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 his 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.