Description
Benjamin Gibson enlisted at Atchison, Kansas, on July 25, 1863, and was mustered as a Private into the 83rd USCT Infantry, Company B. On December 29, 1866, Margaret Gibson of Buchanan County, Missouri, signed claim for compensation #115 for enlisted slave Benjamin Gibson and swore an oath of allegiance before Buchanan County Notary Public J. C. Robidoux.
Gibson claimed she had acquired title to Benjamin Gibson because “…said Benjamin Gibson was born and raised in the family from a slave mother named Rose deeded to him by Stephen Gibson and Robert Crockett, a copy of which is hereunto attached."
On April 25, 1832, in Clay County, Kentucky, Stephen Gibson and Robert Crockett executed a deed of trust "for a Negro girl" where Stephen Gibson sold to Robert Crockett "...a certain Negro girl named Mary aged about 12 years...being the same girl that Stephen Gibson bought from Thomas Johnston and the daughter of a mulatto girl called Rose now owned by Johnston." Stephen Gibson gave Mary to Robert Crockett in trust for Peggy Gibson, wife of William D. Gibson, for Peggy Gibson's use and ownership, including Mary's future children.
Louis S. Stigers and James J. Reynolds swore under oath that Gibson had owned Benjamin Gibson for “6 years" and also swore oath that Gibson 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 Gibson, Stigers, and Reynolds had personally appeared before him and swore an oath to the truth of the claim. Gibson gave power of attorney to the law firm of Chipman, Hosmer & Co. of Washington, DC, to prosecute her claim for compensation.Date(s) of Creation
12/29/1866
