Description
William Knight enlisted at Leavenworth, Kansas on August 27, 1862, and was mustered as a Private into the 79th USCT Infantry, Company F. On November 5, 1866, Jesse Miller of Platte County, Missouri, signed claim for compensation #37 for enlisted slave William Knight and swore an oath of allegiance before Platte County Circuit Court Clerk George W. Belt.
Miller claimed he had acquired title by “…the mother of William Knight, for whom compensation is claimed, belonged to the wife of Jesse Miller (note: Margaret A. Waller), the claimant and said William Knight was born the property of said Jesse Miller, the claimant.”
Edward M. Dobson and Samuel B. Hoy of Platte County swore under oath that Miller had owned William for “15 years." William M. Paxton and R. F. (Robert F.) Mason of Platte County also swore oath that Miller 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 Miller, Dobson, Hoy, Paxton, and Mason had personally appeared before him and swore an oath to the truth of the claim. Miller 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
11/5/1866
