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Know all men by these presents: That we the undersigned citizens of Cherokee Co. NC. who formly [formerly]  belonged to the Cherokee nation East and on the  
23rd of May 1836, resided in said State, and became citizens under the provisions of the 12th article of the Cherokee treaty of  
1835, Hereby nominate Constitute and appoint William H. Thomas of Haywood County and state aforesaid our true and lawful attorney to prosecute our claims against the United States, provided for under the treaty of  
1835, and further confirmed by the treaty of  
1846, made between the United States and the Cherokee nation, And we further authorize our said attorney to recive [receive]  and reciept [receipt]  for, of and to the proper officers of the United States Government all the monies due to us and families under the act of  
July 29, 1848, passed "in favor of the North Carolina Cherokees", as well the interest which may hereafter accrue under said act as that which has accrued, By the act it is provided that the sum of $53.33, shall be set a part [apart]  in the Treasury of the United States bearing an interest of six percent payable annually to each individual of the Cherokee tribe that remained in the state of North Carolina on the  
23rd of May 1836, which amount to about $3.19, annually and the act further provides that interest at the same rate from the  
23rd of May 1836, to the date of this act,  
July 29, 1848, should be paid which amounts to $38.98.   
And as a Compensation to said Thomas for his services we agree to allow him ten percent upon the total sums gained on which shall be gained for us and our families and either invested or paid.   
And in addition to the powers of attorney previously given to said Thomas we hereby on the part of our selves [ourselves]  heirs executors, administrators and  
 
 
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 assigns with the said Thomas his heirs executors administrators and assigns that this power of attorney shall be irrevocable, for the purpose of serving said Thomas interest growing out of services rendered, expenses incurred and advances made to the claimants, And as the assistance of one or more attornies [attorneys]  may become necessary in the prosecution of said claims our said attorney is hereby authorized to employ one or more under him with similar powers.   
In testimony whereof we hereunto set our hands and seals, [deleted text:  [illegible text]  ]   
April 15th 1850, 
 [ Note: Handwritten seals appear next to the signatures below. ]   
 
[Signed] Stacy Blythe her X mark 
[Signed]  Mary Ann Snead her X mark 
[Signed]  Jessee Raper his X mark 
[Signed]  Polly Raper her mark 
[Signed] Catherine Johnson her X mark 
[Signed]  J W Johnson 
[Signed]  James Brown 
[Signed] Eliza Brown her mark 
[Signed] Powell Raper his mark 
[Signed]  [unclear text: Martin ]  Raper 
[Signed] Charles Raper 
[Signed] Patsey Raer 
[Signed] Lewis Raper 
[Signed] Gabraiel Raper  
 
 
 
 
 
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 Jesse Raper and others power of attorney to W. H. Thomas  
 
 
 
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  State of  North Carolina   Cherokee County  }  
This day personally came before me the persons named in the within power of attorney who are the same represented therein and the only ones of those named residing in the county and after having read and fully explained to each of them by me one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for said county signed it for the purposes therein contained, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal,  
March 1850  
JP, 
 
  State of North Carolina   Cherokee County  }  
I Drewry Weeks Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions held for said County hereby Certify that the [text omitted] persons whose proper signature appears to the acknowledgment of the within power of attorney by [added text (appears to be different ink and hand): (number of claimants) ]  claimants under the act of  
July 29, 1848, is and was at the date thereof an acting Justice of the peace in and for said county and due faith and credit is and ought to be given to his Official Act as such, Given under My hand and seal of office,  
March 1850,