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, Ammon Green of the 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 a person of African descent of the name of Charles Mahorny for and during the life of said Charles Mahorny, also against a person of African descent of the name of Friday Hurbert for and during the life of the said Friday Hurbert and that by said act of Congress said Charles Mahorny and the said Friday Hurbert 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 Charles Mahorny was your petitioner believes, between the age fifty and sixty years, and the said Friday Hurbert your petitioner believes was of the age of about sixty five years. The said Charles Mahorny was and is and of the personal description following:(1) Bright Mulatto about five feet Eight and a half inches high.

 

That your petitioner acquired his said claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Charles Mahorny in manner following:(2) He bought the said Charles in the City of Washington between four and five years ago at a public sale of the personal estate of a Mr. Bowie deceased. Said sale was made by B. L. Jackson Esq.​ of said city as administrator upon the estate of said deceased. The price paid by your petitioner for the said Charles was $475. Your petitioner took no Bill of sale or other written evidence of title.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Chares Mahony was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Five hundred dollars in money.(3)and that his claim to the services or labor of the said Friday Hurbert was at the time of said discharge therefrom of the value of one hundred dollars in money. Your petitioner has great confidence in the honesty & moral integrity of the said Charles and has nearly ever since he has owned him. Kept him employed in driving a furniture car, in acting as bell ringer at auction sales and in attending to the delivery goods sold from the auction store of your petitioner. Your petitioner has no Knowledge of any bodily infirmity or defect of the said Charles except that he is slightly ruptured and believes no other exists, nor has your petitioner any Knowledge of any moral or mental defects of said Charles.

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 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.