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, James L. Addison of Prince Georges Co. 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 — — three persons of African descent of the names of Charles Hall, Jane Hall and Betty Ann Humphreys for and during the life of said Charles Hall, Jane Hall and Betty Ann Humphreys and that by said act of Congress said Charles Hall, Jane Hall and Betty Ann Humphreys 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 Charles Hall was aged about thirty five years, Jane Hall about about​ 32 years of the age of and Betty Ann Humphreys about 32 years of age and of the personal description following:(1) viz.

• Charles Hall is about 5 feet 10 inches high, dark brown complexion, full suit of hair, black. fine countenance, ordinary size.
• Jane Hall, about 5 feet 6 inches in height, Brown complexion, medium features, good countenance, delicate figure.
• Betty Ann Humphreys Dark complexion, about 5 feet 5 inches height, medium size, good countenance

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Charles & Jane Hall in manner following:(2) That I purchased their Mother [Nickey?] Hall, from my Father the late John Addison Sr. of Prince Georges Co Md. before the birth of the said Charles & Jane Hall. I acquired my claim to the service or labor of said Betty Ann Humphreys in the following manner. She belonged to my wife at the time of my marriage, who inherited her from the Estate of her Father the late William Bayne of Prince Georges Co. Md

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Charles Hall was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of twelve hundred dollars in money.(3) Jane Hall $400, Betty Ann Humphreys $1000.—

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 persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons wereas 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 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 his 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.