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, Rebecca R. Darby & Ruth E. Darby, and James A. Darby of Montgomery County, Md 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 Rachel Chambers a person of African descent of the name of Rachel Chambers for and during the life of said Rachel Chambers and that by said act of Congress said Rachel Chambers 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 Rachel Chambers was of the age of and of the personal description following:(1) She is about twenty six or seven years old: black: above the medium height: her general health has always been good; she is a good cook, can wash and iron well: is a good nurse in sickness watchful and prudent: a first rate chambermaid and house servant, with intelligence and practical experience which fit her for, and she is a good housekeeper: a dairy woman, and can take charge of & superintend the planting and management of a kitchen garden and knows how to raise and the management of poultry

That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Rachel Chambers in manner following:(2) By gift from their father Aden Darby of Montgomery County Maryland about the year 1851 or 1852. (your petitioner Rebecca R, being the older of the two sisters & brother filed the claim in this case under the Statute in her own name, but intended it to be for the benefit of both herself & sister & brother) and they filed herewith the original bill of sale and stated further that her said brother is now & has been for a long time a cripple confined to his bed & incapable of transacting any business

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Rachel Chambers was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of one thousand dollars in money.(3)Your Petitioners further say that this girl Rachel ought to come up to the highest market value not only for the qualities they have already mentioned, but for her superior moral qualities her truthfulness, integrity, and devotedness to their interests, which led them to trust her without constraint, not only with the keys, but with access to all their moveables

Your petitioners hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that they has 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 has not brought said Rachel Chambers into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Rachel 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 Rachel Chambers 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 their said claim to the service or labor of said Rachel Chambers 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.