Description
Wilson Cockerill enlisted in Mexico, MO, on January 3, 1864, and mustered as a Private in the 65th USCT Infantry, Company A. On November 19, 1866, H. Clay Cockrill, as Executor for the heirs of the Estate of Thomas A. Cockrill (H. Clay Cockrill, Nellie Almond and Florence Cockrill), signed claim for compensation #1465 for an enlisted slave Wilson Cockerill (Cockrill) and swore an oath of allegiance before Howard County notary public Thomas Shackelford as attested by C. H. Stewart, Howard County Circuit Court Clerk.
H. Clay Cockrill claimed Thomas Cockrill had acquired title to Wilson "...by being one of the executors of the Estate of Thomas A. Cockrill, deceased. That Thomas A. Cockrill acquired his title by purchase from one William Perkins, a citizen of Howard County, MO, on January 5, 1853. Letters of administrator are filed in claim #831 by me filed." Bill of Sale: "Know all men by these presents that I William Perkins of the County of Howard and State of Missouri for and in consideration of the sum of $1106 to me in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have sold and delivered to Thomas A. Cockrill of said county and state one Negro girl Dolly aged fifteen and one Negro boy named Wilson aged 8 years and I hereby warrant said Negroes sound and healthy and slaves for life." William Perkins Jan. 3, 1853.
James R. Donohoe and Alfred W. Roper of Howard County testified that H. Clay Cockrill had owned Wilson for over five years and that H. Clay Cockrill was loyal to the Government of the United States. H. Clay Cockrill gave power of attorney to the law firm of Chipman, Hosmer & Co. of Washington, DC. Howard County notary public Thomas Shackelford certified that H. Clay Cockrill, Donohoe and Roper had appeared before him and swore that the claim was factual and truthful. (Numerous Platte County Cockrills were enslavers.)Date(s) of Creation
11/19/1866
