Description
Obediah Summers had enlisted at Wyandotte, Kansas, on January 18, 1864, and was mustered in as a Private in the 18th USCT Infantry, Company A. On November 19, 1866, Sina W. Roberts of Clay County signed claim for compensation #71 for an enlisted slave named Obediah Summers and swore an oath of allegiance before Clay County notary public David O. Miller.
Roberts claimed he had acquired title to Summers because "...he was born and raised the slave of this affiant."
Peter Hayden (Sina W. Robert's former slave and USCT soldier) and John W. Drew of Clay County testified under oath that Roberts had owned Summers for 15 years. Drew and Thomas Duncan of Clay County also testified that Roberts was loyal to the Government of the United States and had defended it against the Confederate States of America. Liberty, Missouri, Postmaster A. W. Griffith also testified to Roberts' loyalty. Clay County notary public David O. Miller certified that Roberts, Hayden, Duncan, and Drew all appeared before him and under oath swore to the facts and truthfulness of the claim. (Numerous Platte County Roberts were enslavers)Date(s) of Creation
11/19/1866
