Civil War Washington

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 Petitioner Caroline R Dulaney of the County of Washington District of Columbia by this her Petition in writing represents and states that she 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 and labor against eight (8) persons of African descent named as follows Fanny Brown—Mary Brown Sarah Brown Louisa Brown Lucy Brown Walter Brown Rose Brown and Winnefred Nead—That she held said eight persons to service and labor as slaves for life. That her property and interest in and claim to said by your Petitioners mother the life tenant—That your Petitioners property and interest in and claim to said Fanny—Mary—Sarah—Louisa—Lucy and Winnefred—was for and during her life. The remainder after her death being in her two daughters Phoebe P Dulaney and Rosa R. Dulaney (of whom she is guardian) absolutely—That said Rose and Walter were born of said Fanny after she became and while she was the property and slave of your Petitioner and belonged to her absolutely as she is advised.

That by said act of Congress said eight persons were discharged of and freed from all claim of your Petitioner 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 Walter was four years of age—a dark mulatto—about four feet in height
• Said Rose was two year of age—a mulatto about three 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 Petitioner does 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,—

All of said persons are females except Walter Brown who is a male—

Your Petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service and labor of said—Fanny—Mary—Sarah—Lucy—Louisa and Winnefred—under the last will of her late husband Capt​ Bladen Dulaney, a citizen and resident   That your petitioner acquired [no handwritten text supplied here] claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said [no handwritten text supplied here] in manner following:(2) of the state of Virginia and of the United States—which gave her a life estate in them and gave the remainder in them absolutely to her two children Phoebe P Dulaney and Rosa R Dulaney—of whom she was thereby appointed guardian. Said will was 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—the domicil of her said husband at the time of his death, within one year after the death of her said husband—your Petitioner a citizen of the United States—removed to and became a resident of and domiciled in the District of Columbia and within the said period, removed said slaves and her other personal property to said District viz in the Spring of AD 1857— x

   

That your Petitioner's claim to the service and labor of said eight persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom of the value of [no handwritten text supplied here] dollars in money.(3) as follows,

of Fanny was worth $1000.00	She is a good cook, washer & ironer
of Mary was worth $1200.00	She is a house servant & seamstress.
of Sarah was worth $600—	All the other are house-servants—
of Louisa was worth $400
of Lucy was worth $400
of Walter was worth $250
of Rose was worth $150
of Winnefred was worth $650
	650

Your Petitioner hereby declares that she bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she 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 she has not brought either said eight persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said eight persons, 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said eight 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said eight 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.