Civil War Washington

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 Lloyd Brooke of Fort Vancouver Washington Territory 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 a colored person of African descent of the name of Kitty Barbour for and during her life, and that by said act of Congress she was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor, that at the time of said discharge she was of the age about twenty one years, and that not having seen her since the year 1848, your petitioner cannot give a description of her person so as to identify her, but he refers to his brother Edmund H Brooke of Washington City who can give such description of her as may be required. That your petitioner's claim to the service of the said Kitty Barbour, and to her labor, was by devise   and bequest from his mother H M Brooke deceased late of Montgomery County Maryland.

That your petitioners claim to the service or labor of said Kitty Barbour was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of eight hundred dollars in money. He has no knowledge of any infirmity or defect which impairs the value here stated, and refers to such description as may be furnished by said Edmund H Brooke for all particulars.

Your petitioner also states in explanation, that he acquired his right to the service and labor of said Kitty Barbour as a gift from his mother, when said Kitty was quite young, that he left her with her mother, and that in the disposition of her property made prior to the death of his mother, she repeated and recognized the ownership and right of your petitioner to said service and labor, which was assented to and recognized by the other members of his mother's family; Your Petitioner was informed that said Kitty at the time of the passage of said act was hired   to service in said District of Columbia

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 Kitty Barbour into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act, and that at the time of the passage thereof said Kitty Barbour, as he was informed and believes 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 Kitty Barbour 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 Kitty Barbour 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.