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, Thomas Young of Washington DC by this [no handwritten text supplied here] 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 the following named person of African descent of the name of Louisa Forrest Joseph Forrest Jane Rosetta Forrest—Martha Ann Forrest John Wesley Forrest, Adelaide Clinton Forrest, Arthur Forrest and Annie Forrest for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons have been 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 all in good health and living in Washington as I now believe and state and of the age of described in my statement filed with John A. Smith Esq​, Clerk of the Circuit Court and of the personal description following:(1)

• Louisa Forrest, Bright Mulatto, short thick sett​
• Joseph Forrest, Dark Copper Colour​ do do
• Jane Rosetta Forrest, Bright Mulatto
• Martha Ann Forrest, Dark Copper short
• John Wesley Forrest, Bright Mulatto
• Adelaide Forrest, Bright Mulatto
• Arthur Forrest, very Bright do
• Annie Forrest, Copper Colour​

The hight​ of above are all given in former statement and the ages as taken from the family record

 

That your petitioner acquired the claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Maria Forrest and Louisa Forrest were given by the Will of James A. Crane of St. Marys County Maryland in 1836 to his daughter Mary, with whom I married and acquired the right & claim, Louisa and the first named five persons are the children of Maria Forrest, and Arthur and Annie Forrest are the children of Louisa The will of Jas A Crane is recorded at Leonard Town St Marys Co Md

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said within named persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $9700 dollars in money.(3)Louisa is a most valuable woman being a good cook, washer and ironer, and can cut and make mens or womens clothing and is worth $1500. Joseph Uriah is a fine cook and a fine dining room and general house servant—all are very healthy and of good moral character, I have refused one thousand dollars for Arthur, but he was never for sale or any of the others

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 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 [no handwritten text supplied here] 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.