| |
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 Margaret C. Barber of Washington County, in said District by this 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 the service
or labor against thirty three persons of African descent of the names of Peter Jenkins, Mary Jenkins, Ellen Jenkins, Susan Carroll,
Dennis Carroll, Ann Maria Carroll, Wm Carroll, Rich. Williams, Chapman Toyer, Sarah Toyer, Mary Young, Kitty Silas, Gilbert Silas,
Wm. Silas, Phillip Silas, Samuel Yates, Judah Yates, John Thomas, Henry Toyer, Joseph Toyer, Louisa Toyer, Daniel Toyer,
Eliza Toyer, Jane Yates, Mary Brown, Becky Briscoe, Milly Briscoe, Marg. Briscoe, John Chapman, Mortimer Briscoe, Towley Yates,
Resin Yates, and Andrew Yates for and during the lives of said persons except as to Susan Carroll who was to serve for a term of years
viz until she should attain forty four years of age, eight years of which she had to serve at the passage of said act, she then thirty six
years of age 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 ages and personal description following ; as specified in
the statement or schedule here to annexed, and marked with her initials M.C. B., being also with the value, added thereto, of the
statement or schedule filed in the Clerk Office of this District pendant to the ninth section of said act, to wit
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of the said persons in the manner; to wit; said Peter Jenkins,
Mary Jenkins, Ellen Jenkins, Susan Carroll, Dennis Carroll, Ann Maria Carroll, Wm. Carroll and Richard Williams, the eight negroes
first entered on said statement or schedule from her late Father Major John Adlum and her mother Margaret Adlum, both deceased,
under their respective Wills dated 29 February 1836 and 14 August 1850 and on the settlement and distribution of their estates; and
all the persons mentioned in said schedule from her late husband Cornelius Barber by his will dated 23 August 1853; all of which wills
are recorded in the Orphans Court of this County, where all parties resided and died. Said persons were always held by, and in the
possession of her and her father, mother and husband respectively in their lives, and have been held by your petitioners, and been in
her possession since their respective deaths as slaves as above stated.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of the said persons was at the time of said discharge there from of the value of
twenty three thousand and four hundred dollars in money or thereabouts, according to the prices which have been paid in cast for similar
negroes by those dealing in them, as she is informed and believes; but as many of these were old family servants, or the descendants of
such and brought up in her, her husbands, and her parents families and her own since their deaths, and were well behaved and orderly
servants; she was averse to making such a deposition of them . The value of each according to her estimate and belief, is stated in
said schedule hereto annexed. Leaving out for the present those on said list marked No. 4. 9. 12. 18. 21. 25. and 30, to be spoken
of hereafter, all others, named in said list, are strong, healthy and honest negroes, and free from any moral, mental or bodily infirmity
or defect . As to the others, and their infirmities and defects, she states, that Susan Carroll (No. 4) and Mary Brown (No. 25) are delicate
and cannot bear out door work and exposure. Chapman Toyer (no.9) broke his leg, but is entirely recovered and can work out doors as
before the accident. Kitty Silas (No.12) is rather deaf. Samuel Yates (No.16) is deformed having a curved spine. John Thomas ( No. 18 )
has three fingers on his left hand injured by a corn sheller and lost two joints of his little finger, one joint of his third finger and his second
finger stiffen; but he can drive the Carriage and work as well as before. Louisa Toyer (No. 21 was sickly about nine months ago but is
well and healthy now. Mortimer Briscoe (No.30) had one of his toes frost bitten, but is otherwise sound. Rich. Williams (no.8), John
Thomas (No. 18) and Resin Yates (No. 32) on two occasions were concerned in taking some meat from the meat house and some
chickens. These three are remarkably strong, healthy and capable Negroes. And as to them and all others, your petitioner knows of
no other infirmity or defect; moral or bodily accept such as named and believes no other to exist. Some of these defects are slight,
and do not materially impair the value or usefulness of the negro. Some of them have been employed in her own family as servants
as marked on the list and for these wages could not stated. The others have been hired out, and usually stayed at their places and
have brought good wages to the estate being stated on the list. They were valuable servants. The incident of the meat and chickens
are about nine years ago. Since then they have been quite correct, but she deem it right to remain wary.
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 in any way given aid or comfort thereto.
And your petitioner further states and alleges that she has not brought said persons into the District of Columbia since passage of
said act of Congress ; and that the time of the passage thereof said persons were held in service or labor .
Your petitioner further states that her claim to the service or labor of said persons does not originate 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 persons herein 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.
(Signed by) M. C. Barber
|
|
