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, Edward Hall of Washington City, 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 a certain female colored person of African descent of the name of Fillis (or Phillis) Howard for and during the life of said Fillis Howard and that by said act of Congress said Fillis Howard was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Fillis Howard was of the age of about forty years and of the personal description following:(1) Woman- very dark complexion, black curly hair, black eyes, hearty, healthy and well developed

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Fillis Howard in manner following:(2) That on the 1st day of March A. D. 1856, one Baruch Hall made his certain deed of trust to your petitioner rendered in Liber J.A.S. No 112 folios 26, et. [acq?]. one of the Land records for Washington County D.C. conveying absolutely the said Fillis Howard to your petitioner to secure the payment of a certain debt due by said Baruch Hall to one Absalom A. Hall, as will more fully appear references being had to said deed. And that the said Baruch Hall and the said Absalom A. Hall are both willing anxious, and by exhibit herewith filed marked A, have agreed that your Petitioner shall receive whatever sum you may allow for the said Fillis Howard, to be applied for the payment of the trusts in said deed.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Fillis Howard was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of One thousand dollars in money.(3) That the said Fillis Howardis a most valuable house servant—And admirable cook, and fine washerwoman and ironer. She is very healthy, and has no defects or infirmities whatsoever, and your petitioner believes that none such exist.

Your petitioner and the said Baurch Hall, and the said Absalom A. Hall hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that they have not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.

And your petitioner and the said Baruch Hall and Absalom A. Hall further states and alleges, that they have not brought said Fillis Howard into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Fillis Howard 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 Fillis Howard 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 Fillis Howard 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.