Description
Franklin Ross enlisted at Fort Scott, Kansas on March 25, 1863, and was mustered as a Private into the 79th USCT Infantry, Company H. On December 24, 1866, O. M. Spencer of Buchanan County, Missouri, signed claim for compensation #132 for enlisted slave Franklin Ross and swore an oath of allegiance before Buchanan County Notary Public J. C. Robidoux.
Spencer claimed he had acquired title to Franklin by purchase from Wilson G. Noble and Elizabeth J. Noble.
Bill of Sale: "Know all men by these presents that we, Wilson G. Noble and Elizabeth J., his wife, have this day sold to O. M. Spencer two Negro boys; one by the name of Frank about 19 years of age, one by the name of Peter about 16 years old; which we warrant to be sound in body and mind and slaves for life, for the sum of $2100, to me paid in had, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged this 21st day of May 1857. Wilson G. Noble, Elizabeth J. Noble" Buchanan County Notary Public J. C. Robidoux certified the Bill of Sale to be a true and correct copy of the original.
John N. Smith and James H. Combs of Dekalb, Buchanan County, swore under oath that Spencer had owned Franklin for “8 years" and also swore oath that Spencer was loyal to the U.S. Government and had defended it against the Confederate States of America. Buchanan County Notary Public J. C. Robidoux certified that Spencer, Smith, and Combs had personally appeared before him and swore an oath to the truth of the claim. Spencer gave power of attorney to the law firm of Chipman, Hosmer & Co. of Washington, DC, to prosecute his claim for compensation. (Wilson G. and Elizabeth J. Noble, O. M. Spencer, and numerous Spencers were Platte County enslavers.)Date(s) of Creation
12/24/1866
