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, Abraham F. Kimmel of the City of Washington 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 name of Darkey Jackson Rose Cartwright and her three children Violet, Daisey & a baby three months old.

for and during the life of said persons respectively and that by said act of Congress said persons respectively 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 Darkey was about 45 or 50 years of age—Rose about 27—Violet 10—Daisey 4 of the age of and the baby about 3 months old and of the personal description following:(1) Darkey is of a copper color—about medium size—Rose is black—Violet Daisey & the Baby are of a "Yellow Copper Color"—neither of these servants has any particular marks—

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said servants in manner following:(2) Darkey Jackson he bought in jail at Rockville in Montgomery County Maryland about ten years ago and has held her as a slave ever since in this City: Rose he obtained by marriage she forming part of the Estate of William Lambell late of the City of Washington, and passing to the wife of Your Petitioner who was a Daughter of said William in the distribution of his personal Estate.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Servants was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Three thousand dollars in money.(3)Darkey is a first rate cook & house servant—honest and industrious—Rose is a first rate house servant and nurse—the Children are perfectly healthy & very promising—neither of these servants has any moral mental or bodily defect or infirmity which should impair the value of petitioner's claim.

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 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 respectively wasere 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 or either of them 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 respectively 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. And that the sum or sums of money determined under the Provisions of the Act of Congress aforesaid to be due to me by way of compensation or satisfaction for the manumission of said (Signed by) persons, be paid to said trustee to be by him applied [towards?] the payment of said parts of said debt as may be still unpaid