Description
Henry Cooper enlisted at Fort Scott, Kansas on August 25, 1862, and was mustered as a Private into the 79th USCT Infantry, Company B. On November 10, 1866, Philip P. (Philemon P.) Robertson of Platte County, Missouri, signed claim for compensation #53 for enlisted slave Henry Cooper and swore an oath of allegiance before Weston, Missouri, Court of Common Pleas Clerk William F. Yocum.
Robertson claimed he had acquired title to Henry by “…the father of claimant's wife, William Wilson, was former owner of said Henry Cooper and gave said Cooper, for whom compensation was claimed, to Philip P. Robertson as per deed of gift herewith."
Deed of Gift: "About 9 or 10 years since I gave to my son-in-law Philip P. Robinson a Negro girl named Charity, then about 11 years of age, of the value of $300; And I have at this date given the said Robinson a Negro boy named Henry about 12 years of age of the value of $500 to have and hold said slaves and the present and future increase of said Charity to him the said Robinson, his heirs, and assigns forever. Given under my hand and seal this 21st December 1846. William Wilson, witnessed by M. D. M. Henry" (note: William Wilson wrote Robinson instead of Robertson in the Deed of Gift. Philip Robertson married Lydia G. Wilson from Shelby County, Kentucky, and came to Platte County in 1848.)
Thomas Beaumont and Israel Daugherty of Platte County swore under oath that Robertson had owned Henry for “10 years." Thomas F. Stone and W. M. (Wylie M.) English of Platte County also swore oath that Robertson 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 Weston, Missouri, Court of Common Pleas Clerk William F. Yocum certified that Robertson, Beaumont, Dougherty, Stone, and English had personally appeared before him and swore an oath to the truth of the claim. Robertson 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
11/10/1866
