Description
John Bland enlisted at Fort Scott, Kansas on September 10, 1863, and was mustered as a Private into the 83rd USCT Infantry, Company K. On November 16, 1866, M. M. (Martin M.) Bland of Platte County, Missouri, signed claim for compensation #18 for enlisted slave John Bland and swore an oath of allegiance before Platte County notary public James J. Hitt.
Bland claimed he had acquired title by “…the mother of said John Bland was owned by claimant, and said John Bland, for whom compensation is claimed, was born the property of said M. M. Bland, the claimant aforesaid.” E. W. Railey and Christopher Steele of Platte County swore under oath that Bland had owned Robert for “10 years."
James Lindsey and John Davenport of Platte County also swore oath that Bland was loyal to the U.S. Government and had defended it against the Confederate States of America. Platte County notary public James J. Hitt certified that Bland had personally appeared before him and swore an oath to the truth of the claim but did not certify that Railey, Steele, Lindsey or Davenport had appeared. Platte County Circuit Court Clerk George W. Belt certified that Hitt was a Platte County notary public. M. M. Bland 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
11/16/1866
