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, Clark Mills of Washington County 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 six male and five female persons of African descent of the names of Lettie Howard and her children Tilly, Tom, Elick, Jackson, George, and Emily; Levi Thomas, Rachel Thomas, Ann Ross, and Philip Reid, for and during the lifes of said eleven persons, and that by said act of Congress said eleven 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 eleven persons were of the ages of and of the personal description following:(1) viz: Lettie Howard, 33 years old, color black; short and thick set—healthy: her six children, Tilly, 10 years, Tom, 8 years, Ellick, 6 1/2 years, Jackson, 5 years, George, 3 years, and Emily, 3 months old, all black color, sound and healthy; Levi Thomas, 59 years old, black color, over six feet high, a large leg, rather stiff, but sound and in good health; Rachel Thomas, his wife, 49 years old, mullatto​ color, healthy, very large, weighs about 200 pounds; Ann Ross, 48 years, mullatto​ color, about five feet seven inches high, rather slim make, and in good health; and Philip Reid, aged 42 years, mullatto​ color, short in stature, in good health, not prepossessing in appearance, but smart in mind, a good workman in a foundry, and has been employed in that capacity by the Government, at one dollar and twenty five cents per day.

Your Petitioner is not aware that any of above possess any moral, mental, or bodily infirmities that impair their value; and does not believe that any such exist; except that mentioned in regard to the stiff leg of Levi Thomas.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said eleven persons in manner following:(2) Lettie Howard and her child Tilly were purchased from Peter Havermen some 8 or 9 years ago for eight hundred dollars, and her five other children were born since. Levi Thomas and his wife Rachel, he purchased in Baltimore about the same time, and paid nine hundred and fifty dollars for them; Ann Ross he acquired by his Wife; and Philip Reid he purchased in Charleston, S. C. many years ago when he was quite a youth. He bought him because of his evident talent for the business in which your Petitioner was engaged, and paid twelve hundred dollars for him. His papers having been burnt some years ago, he has no record evidence of his title.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said eleven persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of (see below) dollars in money.(3) (See preceding page)

Lettie Howard,	seven hundred dollars. . . . .	$700.00
Tilly Howard,	five hundred dollars. . . . .	500.00
Tom Howard,	five hundred dollars. . . . .	500.00
Ellick Howard,	four hundred dollars. . . . .	400.00
Jackson Howard,	two hundred & fifty dollars. . . .	250.00
George Howard,	One hundred & fifty dollars. . . .	150.00
Emily Howard,	fifty dollars. . . . . . . . .	50.00
Levi Thomas,	three hundred dollars. . . . .	300.00
Rachel Thomas,	four hundred dollars. . . . .	400.00
Ann Ross,	five hundred dollars ($500. . .) . .	500.00
Philip Reid,	fifteen hundred dollars. . . . .	1,500.00
		$5,250.00

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 eleven persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said eleven 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 eleven 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 eleven 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.