Description
Josiah Hale had enlisted at St. Louis Missouri on September 21, 1863, and was mustered as a private in the 56th USCT, Company K. On December 1, 1866, Hugh Lewis of Buchanan County, Missouri, signed claim for compensation #2712 for an enlisted slave named Josiah Hale and swore an oath of allegiance before Buchanan County Notary Public J. C. Robidoux.
Hugh Lewis claimed he had acquired title to Josiah Hale by purchase from John K. Welch. Bill of Sale: "Know all men by these presents that I, John K. Welch, have this day sold and delivered onto Hugh Lewis my Negro boy called Bob for and in consideration of the sum of $900 to me paid in hand by the said Hugh Lewis, receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged. I, John K. Welch, do by these presents warrant the said Negro to be sound of body and mind, clear of any encumbrances and a slave for life signed." John K. Welch March 26, 1857. Buchanan County Notary Public J. C. Robidoux certified the Bill of Sale was true and correct.
Smith Adams and William Fulkerson of Buchanan County swore that Hugh Lewis had owned Josiah Hale for "many" years and that Lewis was loyal to the Government of the United States and had defended it against the Confederate States of America. Buchanan County Notary Public J. C. Robidoux certified that Hugh Lewis, Adams, and Fulkerson had appeared before him and swore under oath that the claim was factual and truthful. Claim #2712 was on a Chipman, Hosmer & Co., Washington, DC. form. (Hugh Lewis was listed as a Platte County enslaver on the 1850 Platte County Slave Schedule)Date(s) of Creation
12/1/1866
