The soldier lost his right foot and was unable to do much manual labor. The injury helped distinguish his identity from a soldier with the same (or a similar) name. Another valuable identifier was the soldier’s year of death. Two items of interest: (1) the Pension Bureau was beginning to take a serious look at the attorney whose fraudulent practices abused veterans and their beneficiaries; (2) one of the deponents reported service at Fort Fisher, North Carolina or the Bluff near Richmond, Virginia.
Widow — 661,953 / —–, Polly Winn
Declaration for Original Invalid Pension, Robert Winn, 5 Augustt 1891
49 years old; residence, Petersburg, Virginia; post-office address, 15 Marl St, Petersburg, Virginia
“enrolled on the 15 day of June, 1864, Company F, 5th Regiment of Ohio, CI [Colored Infantry] Vol in the War of the Rebellion and served at least ninety days and was honorably discharged at Brazos Santiago, Texas on the 4th day of of Feb 1866, that he is disabled for earning his support by manual labor by reason of the lost [sic] of the right foot and [illegible] disease”
“Also personally appeared, Joshua Jones, residing at Prince George o, Va. and Elijah Taylor, residing at Prince George Co, Va.”
Deposition, R. Bagnall Jr, 3 August 1895
38 years old; occupation. student; residence and post-office address, 49 Lee St, Huntersville, Norfolk, Va
“formerly a NP ]Notary Public] in this city”
Deposition, Joshua Jones, 22 May 1895
about 50 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Petersburg, Va
“I do not know any man named Robert Winn, have never known any man of that name … I never knew any man in my neighborhood who lost a right foot … I have never known any man named Winn in Petersburg, Va.”
Deposition, Elijah Taylor, 22 May 1895
about 62 yeas old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Prince George County, Va.
“I knew a Robert Winn some years ago, he lived in Petersburg, Va.near there in Blandford …
“I have not seen him for 15 years … The Robt Winn that I knew near Petersburg had not lost his right foot while I knew him.”
“I also knew another Robt Winn who was a member of my Co and Regt. I have not seen him since he was wounded at Ft Fisher, NC or the Bluff near Richmond.”
Deposition, Frances L. Herbert, 25 May 1895
about 29 years old; occupation, househkeeper; post-office address, 225 Pink Alley, Petersburg, Va
“I was well acquainted with Robert Winn, he called my house, his home while he lived. He lived in the same house with me on Mars St, this city, in 1891, the number of the house was 26. People call the street Marl Street also. No he never lived No. 15 said street. … The said Robert WInn died in Dec 1892 in this city … his death took place about the last of Dec 1892. He was never married to my knowledge.”
Deposition, Robert Wheeler, 27 May 1895
about 58 years; occupation, laborer; post-office address, 211 Queen St, Norfolk, Va
“I do not know any man named Robert Winn … I cannot write my name and never could write it … I do not know any other Robert Wheeler, except my son whose name is Robt T Wheeler.”
Deposition, Robert T Wheeler, Jr, 27 May 1895
about 24 years old; occupation, book agent; post-office address, 214 Queen St, Norfolk, Va
“I do not know nor have I ever known any man named Robert Winn … I know of no other Robert Wheeler in or about Norfolk, Va or anywhere else, except my father, who cannot write his name.”
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