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 Petitioners, M. Jane Turner and Rebecca H. Turner of Frederick County State of Maryland by this their petition in writing, represents and states, that they are is a persons 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 James Thomas Rachel Johnson and Lucinda Johnson persons of African descent of the name of James Thomas, Rachel Johnson now married, the name of her husband not known, and Lucinda Johnson for and during the life of said M. Jane Turner and Rebecca H Turner and that by said act of Congress said James Thomas, Rachel Johnson and Lucinda Johnson were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioners to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said James Thomas was of the age of fifty five years—the said Rachel Johnson of the age of thirty years, and said Lucinda Johnson of the age of fifteen years and of the personal description following:(1)

• James Thomas, Black about five feet ten inches in height
• Rachel Johnson; a dark mulatto—about five feet, five or six inches high—
• Lucinda Johnson a dark mulatto about four feet, six inches in heighth​

 

That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said negro slaves in manner following:(2) James Thomas—one third by purchase from our brother the late Thomas Turner—the remaining two thirds by inheritance, from our father Thomas Turner of the District of Columbia Rachel Johnson—in the same manner Lucinda Johnson in the same manner These negroes belong to Your Petitioners jointly, there never having been a division of the same

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said negro slaves was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of fifteen hundred dollars in money.(3)James Thomas is a valuable negro, hiring himself out at fourteen dollars per month with our consent James Thomas is sometimes affected with rheumatism—not impairing his value Rachel Johnson—and Lucinda Johnson are in good health—and we have no knowledge of any infirmity or defect moral or physical—

Your petitioners 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 petitioners further states and alleges, that they have not brought said slaves into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said negro slaves was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.

Your petitioners further states and alleges, that their said claim to the service or labor of said negro slaves 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 petitioners prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of their said claim to the service or labor of said negro slaves 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.