Genealogy: Beyond the BMD: Oaths

When a country was at war, after the dust had settled individuals, corporations or even States for that matter could make a claim against the country for losses suffered during the war. An example would be if soldiers used a school for billeting. Or someone's farm, and confiscated their animals or their crops.

I recently came across this book of interest to those of us with ancestors from the UK:

"Names of the Roman Catholics, Nonjurors and Others who refus'd to take the Oaths to His Majesty King George... with the value of their estates... Transmitted to the late Commissioners for the Forfeited Estates of England and Wales, after the Unnatural Rebellion in the North, in the year 1715"

This refers to the first Jacobite Rebellion of 1715. It states that those that refused to take the Oath of Allegiance had their lands confiscated.

One set of claims not stemming from war, are the Indian Depredation cases - these are claims filed with the United States Government by western settlers for property stolen by Natives, mainly cattle and other livestock.

Relevant Links:

A list of claims referred to the Court of Claims under the provisions of the Bowman Act by the Committee on war claims 1911

List of judgments of the Court of Claims in Indian Depredation cases paid - 1894

List of Indian depredation cases pending (USA) 1915

Stub entries to indents issued in payment of claims against South Carolina growing out of the revolution. Bk 1

Stub entries to indents issued in payment of claims against South Carolina growing out of the revolution. Bk 2

War of 1812: Board of Claims for Losses, 1813-1848 at LAC (Browse)

Supplement to The Observer: return of claims for losses sustained during the late War with the United States of America... Canada 1824

Private Claims presented to the House of Commons 1853

List of claims including a few exceptional cases of claims for churches; 1912

Cape of Good Hope War Claims - 1883

Swearing an Oath of Fealty, Loyalty or Allegiance could have been to King, Country, Church (cardinals swear fealty to the Pope), or even to an Organization. Soldiers would swear fealty to their leader before heading into battle, and the defeated would swear fealty to the new ruler.

In the traditional sense of swearing fealty to ones king, I can imagine my ancestor swearing fealty to William of Orange before the Battle of the Boyne.

I found a list of names of Oaths sworn at The George, Kingsbridge, 4 November 1723 before Courtenay Croker; William Ilbert, William Cholwich and John Fowell esqs.
This oath of fealty was taken during the local Quarter Sessions and administered by the justices of the peace.

Included on the list is one Thomas King of Loddiswell. This may be the father of my 5x great grandfather Thomas King who ran the mill in Loddiswell. Also a Dorothy King, widow (his grandmother?) There were not a lot of King surnames in Loddiwell in the 1700's, I just have no proof of relationship... yet! But it gives me something to go on.