Civil War Washington

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, Columbus Alexander of Washington, 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 fifteen persons of African descent of the name of Beverly Davis,—Nancy Holms Thomas Holms—Arena Holms—Jefferson D. Holms—Maria Bowman—Josephine Bowman—Frank Diggs—George Singleton—John Wesley (sometimes called John Wesley Holms")—Wesley Holms—Betty Hopp—Eliza Jones Lucy Jones—John Jones and Stephen Holms for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons 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 Beverly Davis—a male person was of the age of Twenty-five years, or thereabout. and of the personal description following:(1) Black Complexion. Medium Size or about five feet, Eight inches high, likely and intelligent. Nancy Holms—a female—was of the age of Twenty five years, or thereabouts—Copper Color,—about five feet high—likely and intelligent. Thomas Holms, a male, was of the age of Six years or thereabouts—Copper color about three feet high—likely and intelligent; Arena Holms, Female—was of the age of Twenty three years or thereabouts. Copper color—about five feet high—likely and intelligent; Jefferson D. Holms—Male—was of the age of one year or thereabout. Copper Color or Mulatto,—about two feet high. likely and intelligent; Maria Bowman Female—was of the age of Eighteen years, or thereabout. Black Complexion—about four feet, nine inches high, likely and intelligent; Josephine Bowman—Female—was of the age of Two years, or thereabout, Bright Mulatto—about two feet, Seven inches high—likely and intelligent; Frank Diggs. Male—was of the age of Twenty one years, or thereabouts. Black Complexion—Medium size; or about five feet, nine (9) inches high—likely and intelligent: George  Singleton. Male—was of the age of Twenty five years, or thereabout. Black Complexion—thick lips—Medium Size—or about five feet, eight inches high likely and intelligent; John Wesley (Male) was of the age of Twenty one yrs​, or thereabout,—dark Copper Color or inclined to black—marked with the small Pox.—about five feet six inches high—likely and intelligent: Betty Hopp (Female.) Black Complexion—was of the age of Seventy years, or thereabouts—of low Stature—Complains of defective eye-sight. Eliza Jones: (Female.) was of the age of Thirty five years, or thereabout, of a Black complexion—low Stature—about four feet, nine inches high—likely and intelligent: Lucy Jones. was of the age of Six years, or thereabouts, of a black complexion—likely and intelligent: John Jones. was of the age of one year, or thereabouts, of a dark Copper Color—well formed for its size, and age, intelligent: Stephen Holms. (child of Nancy Holms) was of the age of one year or thereabout; a bright mulatto, well formed for his age.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said fifteen Persons in manner following:(2) Beverly—sometimes called "Beverly Davis"—herein before mentioned—was purchased on the 29th day of July 1858 from Lewis Warrington—the consideration paid for him was $800 as by reference the Receipt for the purchase money herewith filed "Marked A" will appear. Nancy Holms and Thomas Holms—her child—were purchased of Philip Mackey, the consideration paid for them including child Maria-Louise deceased,—was $1200. as by reference to the Land & Chattel records of the District of Columbia—in Liber J. A. S. No. 17 & fols​ 174 — 175. for bill of Sale—the Same 

bearing date June 6th 1859. will fully appear. Arena Holms was purchased of John Waters on the 12th day of September A.D. 1857 the Consideration paid for her was $189 41/100—and to perfect the Title, a Bill of Sale was also executed and delivered to this Petitioner by Philip Mackey—the said last mentioned Bill of Sale bearing date the 14th day of Septr 1857. the consideration expressed in the last Bill of Sale is $926. and your Petitioner refers to the said Bills of Sale—duly recorded in Liber J. A. S. No. 141 folios 420 & 455 one of the Land & Chattel Records of the District of Columbia & it will more fully and at large appear. Jefferson D Holms—child of Arena Holms—passes under the Bills of Sale above mentioned. Maria Bowman was purchased of Dr. Johnson Elliot the 14th day of February 1855.—the consideration paid for her was $300.—and your Petitioner files herewith the Bill of Sale for said Maria marked the same being duly recorded in Liber J.A.S. No. 94 folio 4. one of the Land and Chattel records of the District of Columbia. Josephine Bowman—child of said Maria Bowman transferred and vested in your Petitioner by widow of the above mentioned Bill of Sale transferring the mother. Frank Diggs was purchased by your Petitioner, on the 9th day of April 1852 from Wm J Duvall—the consideration paid for him was $500. And your Petitioner files herewith the Bill of Sale and Receipt for said Diggs—and said Consideration and prays that the same may be read and considered as a part of this Petition marked No. 7 George Singleton, was purchased by your Petitioner on the 23rd day of Feby. 1836, from the late Major Wm B Scott. & Ann his wife—the consideration paid for him was $600. And Your Petitioner herewith files Bill of sale   for said George duly executed &c. Marked No. 8 and prays that the same may be recd​. and considered as a part of this Petition. John Wesley (sometimes called John Welesy Holms—and Wesley Holms.) was purchased by your Petitioner on the 8th day of April 1858. the consideration paid for him was $825—And your—Petitioner begs leave to refer to the Land & Chattel record of the City of Washington Liber J A.S. No 152 folios 364–365–366—Being a Bill of sale from Jacob F King Constable and Philip Mackey, bearing date April 10th 1858. Betty Hopp, was purchased by Petitioner from Wm H. Grinnell March 1st 1844.—the consideration paid for her was $80.—and your Petitioner files herewith Bill of sale and receipt marked Exhibit No. 10 and prays &c. Eliza Jones, was purchased from the Estate of a deceased Relation by Petitioner—and has been in his possession some 12 or 15 years.—the consideration paid for her was $600—Lucy Jones & John Jones—children of Eliza Jones (above mentioned.) born while in the possession of your Petitioner and raised by him—an passing under the purchase of the mother as aforesaid. Stephen Holms the son of Nancy Holms passes to your Petitioner under and by virtue of the instrument above referred to transferring the said mother—and by virtue of the Law applicable.—

 

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 $13,850 dollars in money.(3)as follows: Beverly Davis, is a most excellent and handy servant. Your Petitioner has never seen his equal at any thing he has employed him to do—He is an elegant dining room servant—a good Carriage driver—Hostler—ploughman & mower—he can cook scour & scrub—is a faithful and trustworthy man—and is highly prized by your Petitioner. as being one of the best Servants he has ever met with—Your Petitioner under the circumstances finds it difficult to name a price on one so useful and valuable. not less that $2000. a nominal price. (See B. B [annexd​ contin​?]

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 were 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. But your Petitioner declares that nothing herein contained may operate to exclude or defer him from (Signed by) applying to Congress, at any future day for such further compensation or claim as under all the circumstances, he may conceive himself entitled to.