Sworn Affidavit of Jeff Franklin Regarding His Enslavement and Emancipation in the Chickasaw Nation as Part of His 1896 Application for Enrollment as a Chickasaw

Before the Hon. Commission for the Five Civilized Tribes.

In the matter of the application of Jeff Franklin for enrollment as a member of the Chickasaw Freedman held in slavery by the Chickasaw Indians or at the date of the treaty at Ft. Smith, April 28th A.D. 1866, between the United States and the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians. 

Your applicant Jeff Franklin represents that he is a colored man and that he is 44 years of age and that he was held a slave by one Easter Colbert a full blood Chickasaw Indian. And at the time of the treaty, he did belong to said Indian and lived with her until set a liberty. And that since freedom, he has always lived in the Chickasaw Nation and enjoyed all the rights and privileges of a Chickasaw freedman. your applicant further represents that he has children whose mother has departed this life. She was also a Chickasaw freedwoman. We ask your Hon. Commission for to place our names on the Chickasaw roll for citizenship in said Nation upon the 3rd & 4th articles of the treaty.

Your petitioner prays to your Hon. Commission consider this his application and that of his children for enrollment as Citizens of the Chickasaw Nation under said articles of said treaty viz. Peter Franklin age 18 years; Lee Franklin 15y; Henry Franklin 13y; Doriety Franklin, 11y; Annie Franklin 9y; Albert Franklin 5y of age.

Jeff Franklin
his x mark

Sworn to and Subscribed before me this the 4th Day of Sept 1896

In and for the Third Judicial Division of the Indian Territory
J. C. Chapman
Notary Public