Description
Benjamin Strawler enlisted at Wyandotte, Kansas on June 25, 1863, and was mustered as a Private into the 83rd USCT Infantry, Company C. On November 24, 1866, William Rogers of Clay County, Missouri, signed claim for compensation #213 for enlisted slave Benjamin Strawler and swore an oath of allegiance before Clay County Notary Public James E. Lincoln.
Rogers claimed he had acquired title to Benjamin Strawler because he “…was born his property, he (Rogers) having owned his mother and raised the slave from his birth."
James H. Berry and C. C. Shelton of Clay County swore under oath that Rogers had owned Benjamin for “a long time" and also swore oath that Rogers was loyal to the U.S. Government and had defended it against the Confederate States of America. Clay County Notary Public James E. Lincoln certified that Rogers, Berry, and Shelton had personally appeared before him and swore an oath to the truth of the claim. Rogers gave power of attorney to the law firm of James Craig of St. Joseph, Missouri, to prosecute his claim for compensation.Date(s) of Creation
11/24/1866
