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 (administrator of George) of the County of Washington and District of Columbia 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 Susan Vigil, Jane Vigil, Sally Washington, Aline Washington, and John Washington persons of African descent of the name of for and during the lifves of said persons respectively and that by said act of Congress said persons and each and every of them was and 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 respectively were of the ages of and of the personal description following:(1) Susan Vigil, about 44 years of age—Dark. 5 ft 3 or 4 in high—Good family servant Jane Vigil—about 18 years of age, Dark, 5 feet 1 in high Good House Girl, Sally Washington about 13 yrs of age, Black, 4 ft 9 in high—Good House Girl, Aline Washington, about 10 years of age, Dark, 4 ft. 7 in high. John Washington about 7 yrs of age Dark, 3 feet – inches high, Stout and Well made—(Susan, Sally, Aline and John are the children of Susan Vigil)

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons respectively in manner following:(2) George Naylor the brother of this Petitioner died in the year 18[no handwritten text supplied here], and your Petitioner administered on the personal Estate of said George, and part of that personal Estate was the said Susan Vigil a slave for life, the other servant, above claimed are the children of said Susan, born since the death of said George Naylor and in the service of petitioner: The said George Naylors​ children were quite small at his death, and this petitioner has had the general charge and management of his family and Estate, which has never been settled or distributed

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said servants (as administrator) was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Thirty five hundred dollars in money.(3) Your Petitioner is not aware of any defect physical or moral, in any one of the said negroes to lessen their value, who are all healthy, active, strong, negroes, honest capable and well instructed servants. One of the girls has a perceptible defect in one of her eyes, but it does not detract from her efficiency

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 servants 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 (as administrator) 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.