Witness statement given by John Cocke to support a Southern Claims Commission claim by Grandison Thompson of Panola County for about $2900 worth of cotton and household items destroyed during the war, November 1872.
Deposition of John Cocke
says my name is John Cocke my age 45 years. My residence Panola County. my occupation a Farmer. I am not related to claimant Grandison Thompson and have no beneficial interest in the claim. I have known claimant for the last Twenty years – I knew him intimately during the war. We often conversed about the war and he always claimed to be in favour of the Union. he was the slave of Sydney Mitchell. I was present in August 1863, when the Federal soldiers under the command of Col Hatch destroyed [list of cotton and household items that is very hard to read]
John Cocke (X his mark)