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, Henry Naylor of the County of Washn Dist of Cola 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 Charles Young, James Dixon, William Taney, Bill Wood, Clara Norris, Frank Williams, Tom Williams, Dick Williams, John Williams, Chloe Dixon, Mary Jane Diggs, Stephen Dixon, Sarah Dixon, Ellen Dixon, Winney Dixon, Maria Ann Dixon, Joseph Dixon, and Kitty West persons of African descent for and during the lives of said persons respectively, and that by said act of Congress said Persons respectively 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 Persons were of the ages and of the personal description following:(1)

• Charles Young about 67 years of age, dark chesnut​ color, about 5 feet 10 inches high and well-made;
• James Dixon, about 57 years of age, dark color, about 5 feet 3 inches high;
• William Taney, about 38 years of age, Black, about 5 ft. 8 inches high;
• Bill Wood, about 28 years of age, dark, about 5 ft. 9 inches high;
• Clara Norris, about 55 years of age, Dark, about 5 feet 3 ins high
• Frank Williams, about 19 years of age, Dark Mulatto, 5 ft. 3 ins high
• Tom Williams, about 15 years of age, Black abt​ 5 feet 1 in high,
• Dick Williams, about 14 years of age, Dark, about 4 ft 8 of 9 ins high
• John Williams, about 8 years of age, about [no handwritten text supplied here] feet [no handwritten text supplied here] high
• Chloe Dixon, about 38 or 39 years of age, about 5 ft 4 inches, Dark Chesnut​ Color
• Mary Jane Diggs, about 23 years of age, Bright Mulatto, 5 ft. 2 inches high,
• Stephen Dixon, about 21 or 22 yrs of age, Black, 5 ft. 6 inches high,
• Sarah Dixon, about 17 years of age, Dark, 5 feet high—
• Ellen Dixon, about 13 years of age, Dark, 4 feet 9 inches high,
• Winney Dixon, about 10 years of age, Dark, very Stout
• Maria Ann Dixon, about 6 yrs of age, Dark very Stout
• Joseph Dixon, about 14 months old, Dark
• Kitty West, about 7 years of age, Dark Mulatto, very Stout

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Persons in manner following:(2) To Charles Young, by purchase from Mrs. B. O. Gantt; to James Dixon, by purchase from Thos. Williams, to Wm Taney by purchase from Dennis Sweeney, To Bill Wood, by purchase from Sarah Holmead & others, to Clara Norris by purchase, when sale made by the Marshall of the Dist of Cola, To Frank Williams, Tom Williams, Dick Williams and John Williams, the children of Ann and Clara Williams. Said Ann and Clara Williams, the Mothers of Frank, Tom, Dick and John Williams were purchased by your Petitioner, for a term of years, and during the term of their servitude the said Frank, Tom and John the children of Ann and Dick the only child of Clara were born and raised by your Petitioner and held and claimed by him as his slaves for life.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Persons were was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $15.050 dollars in money.(3)(Here insert A. and B.)

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 or either of them 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 respectively 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.