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, J. Fenwick Young 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 the following persons of African descent of the name of Anthony, Belinda, Maria, Harriet, and Kitty Lewis. Charlotte, Samuel, Margaret, William H, and Henry Covington. Daniel, Joseph, Eliza and Philip Dines. for and during the life of said persons of African descent and that by said act of Congress said persons of African descent 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 persons of African descent were of the age of as follows. Anthony 25 years Belinda 23 yrs​, Maria 5 yrs​, Harriet 2 yrs​, and Kitty 6 months, Charlotte 29 yrs​, Samuel 10 yrs​, Margaret 10 yrs​, William H. 8 yrs​, and Henry 5 yrs​, Daniel 12 yrs​, Joseph 10 yrs​, Eliza 8 yrs​, & Philip 4 yrs​. and of the personal description following:(1)

Anthony Lewis	color is Black	and about 5 ft 10 in in Height
Belinda" "	" " "	" " 5 ft 2 in " "
Maria "	" " "	" " 3 ft " " "
Harriet "	" " "	" " 2 ft 8 in " "
Kitty "	" " "	" " baby " "
Charlotte Covington	" " Mulatto	" " 5 ft 3 in " "
Samuel "	" " "	" " 4 ft 5 in " "
Margaret "	" " Copper Colored	" " 4 ft 3 in " "
William H "	" " " "	" " 4 ft " "
Henry "	" " " "	" " 3 ft 8 in " "
Daniel Dines	" " Black	" " 4 ft 4 ½ in " "
Joseph "	" " Mulatto	" " 4 ft 4. " " "
Eliza "	" " "	" " 3 ft 10 " " "
Philip "	" " Black	" " 2 ft 8 " " "

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons of African descent in manner following:(2) to wit: Anthony Lewis he purchased from Thomas Marshall of Prince Georges County, Maryland, in the year 1852. The Bill of Sale, Witnesses, to substantiate the above Theodore Mosher and Charles Digges. Belinda Lewis he purchased from George H Young of the District of Columbia in the year 1857. Maria, Harriet, and Kitty Lewis he raised. Charlotte, Samuel, Margaret, William H, and Henry Covington he purchased from his mother, Mrs Barbara S Young of the District of Columbia, in February of the year 1860. Daniel, Joseph, Eliza and Philip Dines were given to me by my mother Mrs Barbara S. Young at or about the time of their respective births, She having raised them.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons of African descent was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $9400,00/100 dollars in money.(3)Anthony Lewis a first rate farm hand, and Carriage Driver, and is ready & capable and willing at everything, my foreman on the farm, Robust & healthy value $1600. Belinda Lewis a [illegible] field hand and a good cook, healthy and obedient $1300. Maria Lewis healthy $400. Harriet Lewis healthy $200. Kitty Lewis healthy $50. Charlotte Covington a good cook and house servant at present in the family way, $1000. Samuel rather delicate, but a good waiter and house boy, $600, Margaret, a good child nurse unsteady gait but healthy, $500 William H. healthy boy. $500. Henry healthy $350. Daniel Dines healthy and one of the quickest and handiest boys in the District $1000, Joseph, healthy quick and active boy either in the house or on the farm $900, Eliza healthy, a good girl about the house $500. Philip healthy from a good family as the others of his name $400

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 person of African descent into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons of African descent wasere 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said persons of African descent 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 of African descent, 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.