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, W. E. Howard of Washington City DC 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 three female persons of African descent of the name of Ann Sophia Thomas Alice Thomas Susan Thomas for and during the life of said Ann Sophia Alice Susan and that by said act of Congress said negroes 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 Ann Sophia was of the age of thirty one—Alice—13—& Susan of the age of 8 years and of the personal description following:(1) all black—Ann Sophia is a medium sized woman, or perhaps a little under medium size Alice is a well grown child of her age & Susan the same—I recollect no marks about either of them—they can be produced—if desired I presume

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said negroes in manner following:(2) the mother of Ann Sophia was a slave for life & belonged to my father—at the birth of said Ann Sophia—Ann Sophia became my property from descent and Alice & Susan the children of Ann Sophia were born my slaves

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said negroes was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of sixteen hundred dollars in money.(3)Ann Sophia is a good cook washer & ironer and a very fine servant—I put her at 1000$ and would not voluntarily part with her for that sum—Alice is a very useful girl—and for her age a remarkaly​ good servant I put her at five hundred dollars Susan was beginning to be useful and I put her at one hundred dollars———I have no desire to part with my servants, and do so only in compliance with the law

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 negroes into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said negroes were was 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said negroes 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 negroes 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.