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, John A. Dorsey of Howard Co. Md. 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 two male persons of African descent of the names of Nelson Douglass, and Luther Watkins, for and during the lifes of said Nelson and Luther and that by said act of Congress said Nelson and Luther 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 Nelson and Luther were of the ages of twenty five and twenty two years respectively, and of the personal description following:(1) Nelson Douglass, 25 or 26 years of age, six feet high, copper color, stout made, healthy and strong. Luther Watkins, about 22 years of age, five feet 10 inches high, black color, stout made, healthy and strong. note.—Nelson absconded from my farm in June 1861, and came to Washington—and Luther absconded in August 1862, and I suppose they are both now here, altho' I have not found them and cannot produce them. I am willing that they shall both have the benefit of the provisions of the above Act, and think my claim for their value ought to be allowed.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said two persons in manner following:(2) By inheritance. Nelson I inherited from my Father—and Luther was the property of my Wife by inheritance from her Father. I know of no public record of Nelson—but think Luther is named in the Will of my Wife's Father, Samuel Banks, recorded in Howard County, Maryland.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said two persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of (as follows)— dollars in money.(3) Nelson Douglass—Seventeen hundred dollars ($1700.) Luther Watkins, Seventeen hundred dollars, ($1700.)—

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 Nelson and Luther into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Nelson & Luther was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor, except as before stated.

Your petitioner further states and alleges, that his said claim to the service or labor of said Nelson and Luther 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 Nelson and Luther 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.