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, Charles E. Mix of Georgetown, D. C. 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 certain persons of African descent of the names of respectively of Matilda Jones; Henson [otherwise] Henderson Perry; Charles Edward [otherwise] Charles Edward Wilson; Susan Contee; Alice Contee; Lizzie Contee; George Washington Davis; Bill Hamilton Jones; and Maria Myers. for and during the life of said lives 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 persons were respectively was of the ages of and of the personal description following:(1)

			Height,—about
Matilda Jones,	Dark;	aged 45 years;	5 feet 6 inches;
Henson [or] Henderson Perry,	Dark,	" 45 "	5 feet 9 inches;
Charles Edward [or] Charles Edward Wilson	Dark,	" 24 "	5 feet 10 inches;
Susan Contee,	Mulatto,	" 19 "	5 feet 3 inches;
Alice Contee,	Mulatto,	" 16 "	5 feet;
Lizzie Contee,	Mulatto,	" 14 "	4 feet 10 inches;
George Washington Davis,	Dark,	" 10 "	3 feet 11 inches,
Bill Hamilton Jones,	Dark,	" 4 "	2 feet 8 inches,
Maria Myers,	Mulatto,	" 3 months,

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) by purchase as to Matilda Jones from Young for $800.00, Mr. Hammack, Penn'a Ave near 14th St being a witness thereto. Matildas issue is Bill Hamilton Jones, by purchase as to Henson [otherwise] Henderson Perry for $600.00 from G M Watkins of Montgomery County Maryland, under an agreement between Mr. Watkins and myself on the 2nd day of June 1860, being urgently solicited thereto by Perry himself, and actuated by a desire to subserve solely his interests, as by reference to Statement marked A, herewith, fill more fully appear; by purchase as to Charles Edward [otherwise] Charles Edward Wilson for $870.00 from the Administrators of Sarah M Worthington late of Nottingham in the State of Maryland see Statement marked B, herewith. At a sale to divide the estate of my wife's parents, she bought in as part of her interest Maria Contee with her two children Susan and Alice, Maria had issue in my family of Lizzie Contee, and George Washington Davis. Susan had issue of Maria Meyers. Respecting Charles Edward Wilson I would state that he was in my employment by here, before purchase. One of my daughters is so afflicted that it was necessary to provide for her use a carriage and horse which Charles had charge of. She has such reliance on him as a trusty driver that when he was offered for sale I purchased him.

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 6,908.13/100 dollars in money.(3)See Schedule marked D, herewith.

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 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 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.