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, Allison Nailor of Washington 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 six persons of African descent of the name of William Johnson Joseph Johnson Sallie Butler Martha Wharton Phillis Lewis for and during the life 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 of the age of 15. 10. 19. 38. 40. & 24 years respectively and of the personal description following:(1)

• William Johnson, Mulatto about 5 ft 2 in high, 15 years old & sound
• Joseph Johnson Mulatto 4 ft 3 in high 10 years old & sound
• Sallie Butler Dark Mulatto 5 ft high 19 years old
• Martha Wharton Mulatto 5 ft 4 in high 38 years old
• Phillis, Black 4 ft 6 in high 35 years old
• Lewis, Black 5 ft 10 in high 24 years old

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Bought William & Joseph Johnson from their Mother they having to serve until they are 21 years old as shown by bill of sale. Sallie Butler was mine by birth, having owned her mother. Martha Wharton I bought of Col​. Smoot as shown by bill of sale. Lewis I bought of Mrs. Thomas as shown by bill of sale and Phillis I bought of [no handwritten text supplied here] as shown by bill of sale.

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 5400 dollars in money.(3)

• William Johnson is a good ploughboy & handy with horses
• Joseph Johnson is a good house boy
• Martha is a good cook, washer & ironer and seamstress
• Lewis is a first rate coach painter and performer on the violin being the leader of a band.
• Phillis is a first rate cook washer & ironer

nor do I know of any bodily infirmity or defect of either of them as to impair their value.

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 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.