Title: Petition of Phoebe P. Dulaney and Rosa R. Dulaney, 14 July 1862
Date: July 14, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 6. The original document is held in the Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, 1775–1978, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 217.6.5. Within the National Archives' Archival Description Catalog, see ARC Identifier 4644616 / MLR Number A1 347 (http://arcweb.archives.gov).
Civil War Washington ID: cww.00932
TEI/XML: cww.00932.xml
Petition
To the Commissioners under the act of Congress Approved April 16th 1862, entitled "An act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia"
Your Petitioners Phoebe P. Dulaney and Rosa R. Dulaney by their next friend and Guardian their mother Caroline R. Dulaney by this their Petition in writing represent and state that they are persons loyal to the United States who at the time of the passage of the said act of Congress held a claim to service and labor against six persons of African descent named as follows—viz Fanny Brown, Mary Brown, Sarah Brown Louisa Brown Lucy Brown and Winnefred Nead.
That said six servants were held to service and labor as slaves for life by
your Petitioners mother the life tenant—That your Petitioners property
and interest in and claim to said six slaves was, to the said slaves in
remainder absolutely after the death of the life tenant their mother and
Guardian—That by said act of Congress said six slaves were discharged
and freed of and from all claim of your Petitioners to such service or
labor—That at the time of said discharge said Fanny was thirty two years of
age—a mulatto about five feet four inches in height—Said
Mary was seventeen
years of age—a dark mulatto about five feet two inches in height. Said
Sarah was fourteen
years of age—a dark 
mulatto about four feet six inches in height—Said Louisa was ten years of age—a
dark mulatto about four feet two inches in height Said Lucy was eight years of age—a
dark mulatto about four feet in height— Said Winnefred was seventeen years of
age of a black color—about five feet four inches in height—all
the above servants were at the passage of said act sound and
healthy Your Petitioners do not know of or believe that there exists,
any moral mental or bodily infirmity or defect which impairs the value of
said persons or of either of them—
Your Petitioners acquired their claim to service or labor against said six persons for life as aforesaid after the death of the life tenant, under the last will of their father the late Capt Bladen Dulaney said will as made in November AD 1856 and is recorded in the proper office in the County of Fauquier State of Virginia viz the Clerks office of the County Court of said County.
That your Petitioners claim to the service and labor of said six persons was at the time of said discharge therefrom of the value in money as follows
- of Fanny was worth $,500,—
- of Mary was worth $600
- of Sarah was worth $300
- of Louisa was worth $,200
- of Lucy was worth $,200
- of Winnefred was worth $,325
- Fanny is a good cook washer &</item></ul>
<ul><item> ironer - Mary is a house servant & sea[illegible]
- Winny a house servant
- all the others are house servants
Your Petitioners hereby declare that they bear true
and faithful allegiance to the Gov 
ernment of the
United States, and that they have not borne
arms against the United States in the present
rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.
And your petitioners further states
and alleges, that they
have not brought said six 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 six persons was held to service or labor
therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or
labor. and claim of their mother the life
tenant.
Your petitioner further states and alleges, that their said claim to the service or labor of said six 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 petitioners prays the said
Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of their said claims
to the service or labor of said six 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.
Phoebe P. Dulaney
Rosa R. Dulaney
by their Guardian and next friend Caroline R. Dulaney
Washington County to wit
Caroline R. Dulaney was on October the 23d A. D. 1858 duly appointed by the Orphan's Court of the District of Columbia, Guardian to Phibe R. Dulaney and Rosa R. Dulaney.
Z. C. RobbinsRegister of Wills
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Caroline R Dulaney Guardian and next friend of Phoebe P Dulaney and Rosa R. Dulaney, being duly sworn, do depose and say, that all the several matters and things which are set forth and stated in the foregoing petition, as of my own knowledge, are true in substance and in fact; and that all the several other matters and things therein set forth and stated, as from the information of others, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.and that said Phoebe and Rosa are both under the age of thirteen years—
Caroline R. Dulaney Guardian and next friend of
Phoebe P. Dulaney
Rosa R. Dulaney
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 12th day of July A. D. 1862.
H. Loughborough
Justice of the Peace in & for said District & County
Rosa R. Dulaney
