Civil War Washington

To the Commissioners under the Act of Congress approved April 16: 1862 entitled "An Act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia."

Your Petitioner, Robert Dick, a citizen of the State of Maryland, but at present residing in Georgetown in the District of Columbia, by this his petition in writing shows 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 three persons of African descent of the names of Tom—Mary—and Barbara, for and during the life of said Tom, said Mary and said Barbara; and that by said Act of Congress said Tom said Mary and said Barbara 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 Tom was of the age of thirty five years, of a dark color, about five feet ten inches high, well formed and active—said Mary was of or about the age of seventeen years, of a dark color, five feet three or four inches high, and rather stout and said Barbara was of or about the age of fifteen years, of a light color, five feet high, of neat appearance;

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of the said Tom, the said Mary, and the said Barbara by the same being born his slaves for life, on his farms in Montgomery County   State of Maryland, of parents his slaves for life.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Tom, said Mary, and said Barbara was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of fifteen hundred dollars, in money, for said Tom; of the value of eight hundred dollars, in money, for said Mary; and of the value of one thousand dollars, in money, for said Barbara

Your petitioner avers that said Tom said Mary and said Barbara are each and all young, healthy, strong and active persons capable of performing, and who have performed, in their appropriate spheres of household labor, the most efficient and valuable services as house servants; and your petitioner avers, that he knows of no moral, mental or bodily infirmities or defects, which can impair the value of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.

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 avers that he has not brought said Tom, said Mary, or said Barbara into the District of Columbia since the passage of said Act of Congress; and that at the time of the passage thereof said Tom said Mary and said Barbara were held to service or labor therein under and by   virtue of your petitioners claim to such service or labor.

Your petitioner further states and avers, that his said claim to the service or labor of said Tom, said Mary and said Barbara 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 Tom, said Mary and said Barbara herein above set forth; and if the same be found 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.