Civil War Washington

To The Honorable R. Goodloe Horatio King & John M. Brodhead 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 Joseph Holt, who has resided for the last five years and still resides in the District of Columbia, respectfully represents & 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 a against a negro man of African descent, of the name of Alfred Allen for and during the life of the said Alfred and that by said act of Congress said Alfred Allen has been discharged & freed of and from all claim of your Petitioner to such service or labor. That said Alfred Allen at the time of the passage of said act of Congress resided in the family of your Petitioner in the District aforesaid & had so resided since the spring of 1857—that he was thirty four years of age in the month of March last (1862) & is of the personal description following: to wit, height about 5 feet, 8 or 10 inches—complexion black, health & constitution good and sound. He has served your Petitioner during the last five   years as coachman & gardiner​ & as such has been a faithful & efficient servant.

Your Petitioner acquired his title to the aforesaid service or labor of the said Alfred Allen in manner following: viz. The mother & brother (Thomas) of your Petitioner were the owners of the said Alfred, & also of a woman who was the wife of a man slave named Richard, the property of your Petitioner, & on your Petitioner's removal to Washington in the spring of 1857, for the purpose of enabling the said Richard to remain with his wife he exchanged him with his mother & brother aforesaid, for the said Alfred—They, then transferring absolutely the said Alfred to your Petitioner & he transferring to them in the same manner the said Richard—

Your Petitioner states that his claim to the service or labor of the said Alfred Allen, was at the time of said discharge therefrom, as he believes of the value of from nine hundred to a thousand dollars in money.

Your Petitioner hereby declares that he bears true & faithful allegiance to the government of the United States & 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 Alfred Allen into the District of Columbia since the passage of said Act of Congress and that at the time of the passage thereof, said Alfred Allen was held to service or labor therein under & by virtue of your Petitioner's claim to such service or labor.

Your Petitioner further states & alleges that his said claim to the service or labor of said Alfred Allen originated and was perfected more than five years ago, since which time his said claim has been complete & undisputed; that your Petitioner's mother & brother by whom as already stated, the said Alfred Allen & the claim to his service or labor were transferred, were at the time of said transfer loyal to the United States, and your Petitioner has no knowledge that they have in any manner since aided or sustained the present rebellion against the government of the United States.

And your Petitioner prays the said commissioners to investigate & determine the validity of his said claim to the service or labor of the said Alfred Allen herein above set forth, & if the same be found to be valid that they appraise & apportion the value of said claim in money, & report the same to the Secretary of the   Treasury of the United States, in conformity to the provisions of said Act of Congress.