Civil War Washington

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 William S Johnston of Fairfax County, Virginia, 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 person of African descent of the name of George Carmichael for and during the life of said George Carmichael, and that by said Act of Congress said George Carmichael is discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said George Carmichael was of the age of thirty eight years, stout and very black and about five feet ten inches in height: That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said George Carmichael by the death of his father Dennis Johnston.

That your petitioners claim to the service or labor of the said George Carmichael was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Fifteen hundred dollars in money

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 George Carmichael into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that at the time of the passage thereof said George Carmichael was held to service or labour​ 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 George Carmichael 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 the said George Carmichael 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.