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, Elisha Jones, Executor of Edward Jones of Charles County Md. 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 the following six men persons of African descent of the name of Henry Dade, George Ward, Henry Dade Jr, Lewis Dade, Richard Dade, & Washington Dade, for and during the life of said six men and that by said act of Congress said six men 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 men were of the age of 57 years, 47 years, 25 years, 22 years, 21 years, & 18 years respectively and of the personal description following:(1) Viz Henry Dade is quite black about five feet seven or eight inches high, & has lost the end of the fore finger on the right hand—George Ward is supposed to be about 4 feet ten or eleven inches high black, has a rocking gait when walking—Henry Dade Jr. is supposed to be 5 feet 8 or nine inches high, dark copper color rather stout and has lost the ends of three fingers which hand not remembered—Lewis Dade supposed to be more than six feet hight, quite black rather slender, had his hand burned about seven months past but whether the scar yet remains or which hand is not known.—Richard Dade is about 5 feet 8 inches dark copper color heavy lips. Washington Dade is about 5 feet 6 inches high, light copper color has rather pleasant look when spoken to & has a small knot on the side of each of his little fingers

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said men in manner following:(2) viz by the last will and testament of his father Edward Jones late of Charles County Maryland as will appear by reference to the register at Port Tabacco Maryland; and he holds them for the benefit of the devisees and distributers​ of the Estate of said Edward Jones: your Petitioner and his sisters Caroline Lucretia, Rosina, and Rosanna Jones, all unmarried ladies

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said men was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of eight Thousand dollars in money.(3)that he was offered but a short time before the passage of said act the sum of one thousand six hundred dollars each for four of the above described men, and that your petitioner knows of no infirmity or defect that would impair the value of either of them

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 six men into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said men 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 six men 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 six men 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.