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, Mary A. Perry, wife of Thomas J. Perry of Washington City 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 or labor against one male person of African descent of the name of Adam Johnson, for and during the life of said Adam Johnson, and that by said act of Congress said Adam Johnson, was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Adam Johnson was of the age of twenty three years, and of the personal description following:(1) About five feet six inches high, very black; nappy head; flat nose and broad teeth, a gap in his two upper teeth; low forehead; and is strong and healthy. She knows not where he is, but has heard that he was employed as a laborer in the Navy Yard during a part of last Spring. She could not file her Petition during the time fixed by law, because she was in prison in the Jail of Westmoreland County, Virginia, on account of her strong Union sentiments, until July last; and her husband was engaged in Fishing down the Potomac River and did not know of the Act above referred to until it was too late. She knows that her Husband is loyal to the United States, and would have filed a Petition if he had known of the law in time. He is now absent down the River in the Oyster Trade.

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Adam Johnson, in manner following:(2) He was left to her by her first Husband, William H. Crask, who died in this City about seven years ago; and she believes about that time there was a record of him entered in one of the Courts or one of the Corporation Offices in this City.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Adam Johnson was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of one thousand dollars in money.(3) She believes he was assessed at one thousand dollars sometime since; he is strong and healthy, and she knows of no moral, mental, or bodily infirmities or defects to impair his value, and does not believe that any such exist.

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 said Adam Johnson into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Adam Johnson 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 Adam Johnson 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 Adam Johnson 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.