Description
Joseph Bell enlisted at Fort Scott, Kansas on February 7, 1863, and was mustered as a Private into the 79th USCT Infantry, Company G. On October 31, 1866, Anna E. Hayes of Platte County, Missouri, signed claim for compensation #10 for enlisted slave Joseph Bell and swore an oath of allegiance before Platte County Circuit Court Clerk George W. Belt.
Hayes claimed she had acquired title by “…the said slave Joseph Bell was inherited by the claimant Anna E. Hays from her father John M. Hays (note: John M. Hayes died September 12, 1857).”
James M. Offutt and James Leavel of Platte County swore under oath that Hayes had owned Joseph for “8 years" and C. A. Skillman and Daniel H. Jenkins of Platte County swore oath that Hays was loyal to the U.S. Government and had defended it against the Confederate States of America. Platte County Circuit Court Clerk George W. Belt certified that Hays, Offutt, Leavel, Skillman, and Jenkins had personally appeared before him and swore an oath to the truth of the claim. Hays gave power of attorney to the law firm of Chipman, Hosmer & Co. of Washington, DC, to prosecute her claim for compensation.Date(s) of Creation
10/31/1866
