Description
Thomas Brightwell enlisted at Leavenworth, Kansas, on August 22, 1863, and was mustered as a Private into the 83rd USCT Infantry, Company B. On November 1, 1866, W. P. (William Ptolemy) Brightwell of Platte County, Missouri, signed claim for compensation #39 for enlisted slave Thomas Brightwell and swore an oath of allegiance before Platte County Circuit Court Clerk George W. Belt.
Brightwell claimed he had acquired title to Thomas Brightwell “…by purchase from W. K. Bryant, Sheriff of Platte County, Missouri; said Thomas Brightwell having been purchased under suit brought in the Platte County Probate Court of Missouri.”
Bill of Sale: "Received of W. P. Brightwell the sum of $720 in full of the purchase of one Negro boy named Tom about 9 years, sold under suit brought in the Platte Probate Court, Missouri, in favor of Fernandes C. L. Brightwell et al. against John R. Brightwell, et al. this May the 29th 1860. W. K. Bryant, Sheriff of Platte County, Missouri."
A. J. Guthrie and William E. Oliver of Platte County swore under oath that Brightwell had owned Thomas Brightwell for “3 years." R. D. Johnston and Stephen Cooper of Platte County also swore oath that Brightwell 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 Brightwell, Guthrie, Oliver, Johnston, and Cooper had personally appeared before him and swore an oath to the truth of the claim. Brightwell gave power of attorney to the law firm of Chipman, Hosmer & Co. of Washington, DC, to prosecute his claim for compensation.Date(s) of Creation
11/1/1866
