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, Ariana J. Lyles of the District of Columbia by this her petition in writing, represents and states, that she 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 twelve person of African descent of the names of Randall Ford, Adrian Conter David Oliver, John Oliver, Henry Rozin Hannibal Rozin, Sophia Ford, [Chiah?] Bowman Eliza Rozin, Maria Brown, Caroline Oliver Sally Rozin & Anthony for and during the life of said persons respectively and that by said act of Congress said person 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 person were of the ages following—Randall 57 years, Adrian 32, David 24, John 26, Henry 8, Hannibal 6, Sophia 70, Chiah 62, Eliza 31, Maria 26, of the age of Caroline 16, and Sally 4— and of the personal description following:(1) Randall, dark copper color about five feet seven inches in height— Adrian—dark copper color stout five feet ten inches in height—David, same color— five feet, nine—John, same color, five feet, eight,—Henry—same color —four feet high— Hannibal—same color—Three feet high—Sophia same color—five feet five inches in height—Chiah same color—five feet high—Eliza—same color—about five feet hight—Maria—same color—about five feet four—Caroline is of a lighter color—a "Yellow" about five feet high—Sally—a dark copper color about 30 inches in height—All are sound and neither of them has any particular marks, now recollected—

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Chiah, she purchased from The Estate of Hanson Marshall late of Charles County Maryland, deceased—all the rest she acquired by the will of her husband Dennis M Lyles late of Prince George's County deceased

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Eight-Thousand seven hundred & ninety dollars in money.(3)These servants are all sound healthy industrious and willing—honest and sober—good farm hands and house servants—The Children very promising and neither, has any moral, mental or bodily defect or infirmity which should impair the value of petitioner's claim

Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she 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 she has not brought said persons or either of them into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said persons 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said persons 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.