Description
Townley Bileston enlisted at Leavenworth, Kansas, on August 31, 1863, and was mustered as a Private into the 83rd USCT Infantry, Company F. On November 3, 1866, William Boydston of Platte County, Missouri, signed claim for compensation #45 for enlisted slave Townley Bileston and swore an oath of allegiance before Platte County Circuit Court Clerk George W. Belt as witnessed by Jesse Morin and Edward M. Dobson.
Boydston claimed he had acquired title by “…said Townley Bileston belonged to and was the property of the father of William Boydston (note: Henry Boydston) and at his death was inherited by said Boydston, the claimant aforesaid.” Jesse Morin and John M. Fugat (Fugate) of Platte County swore under oath that Boydston had owned Townley Bileston for “10 years."
Jeremiah Beery and J. P. Miller of Platte County also swore oath that Boydston 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 Boydston, Morin, Fugat (Fugate) (Fugate), Beery, and Miller had personally appeared before him and swore an oath to the truth of the claim. Boydston 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
11/3/1866
