Reuben Fox, Company F

Reuben Fox’s widow, Mary, was born in Perquimans County, North Carolina. Their children selected Sandy Holloman as their guardian.  Was Sandy Holloman the same man called Alexander Holloman, Company A, 2nd U.S. Colored Troops whose mother Winny Slaughter applied for a  pension from North Carolina? 

Widow — 544, 846 / —-, Mary Johnson
Minor — 548, 926 / —- , Sandy Holloman, Guardian

Marriage License [copy], Princess Anne Co., Virginia, Reuben Jefferson Fox & Mary Perry, 19 October 1868
28 years old and 18 years old, respectively; both single; both resided in Princess Anne County, Va.; husband born Prince William Co., Md. [sic] and wife born Perquimans County, NC;  husband’s parents were Henry & Hannah Fox; wife’s parents were Richard & Emily Perry. The marriage took place at Wise Farm, Princess Anne County, Virginia, 20 October 1868, Thomas Bayne, Minister.

 

County Court of Norfolk County, 1 February 1892
“The Court doth appoint Sandy Holloman guardian of Sarah Jane, Alice, Charles and Missouri Fox, orphans of Reuben Fox. The two last named being under fourteen years of age and the two first named being over fourteen years of age and having personally appeared in open court and selected the said Sandy Holloman as their guardian. Whereupon the said Sandy Holloman appeared in Court, made oath and together with James P. Carter, his surety, (who justified on oath as to his sufficiency) entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of Seventeen hundred dollars conditioned according to law, which bond is ordered to be recorded.”

 

Widow’s Declaration for Pension, Mrs. Mary Johnson, 4 March 1892
41 years old; “[That] her maiden name was Mary Perry, and that she was married to said soldier on or about the 19 day of October 1868, at Wise Farm in the County of Princess Anne and State of Virginia.
“She further declares that the said soldier, her husband, died on or about the 31st day of March 1882 at Princess Anne Co. in the state of Va. and the immediate cause of death was disease of lungs and pleurisy which were the result ofhis military service. That she has not remained a widow but remarried on the 26th day of Sept 1884 …

“The following are the names, dates of birth, and post-office addresses of all the children of her deceased husband who were under sixteen years of age at the time of his death; and name and date of death of such of said children as have died:
Emma J., born on the 18 day of March 1869, died Sept 21, 88
William H., born on the 30 day of Sept, 1871, died Sept 15, 88
Sarah F., born on the 3 day of Sept, 1873
Alice V., born on the 13 day of Sept, 1875
Charles H., born on the 1 days of Novr, 1877
Mary E., born on the 15 day of Mary 1879, died in 1882;
Missouri A., born 1 day of April, 1881;
Albert J., born on the 1 day of Novr, 1883, & died Jany 1, 87 …
“She remarried on the 26th day of Sept 1884.
“And that her post-office address is c/o 1311 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, County of Norfolk, State of Va.”

“Also at the same time and place, personally appeared Caroline Saunders and Jacob Riddick of Norfolk County, State of Virginia … have been for 20 and 21 years respectively, acquainted with the above-named applicant”

 

Declaration for Children Under Sixteen Years of Age, Sandy Hollomon, 18 April 1892
47 years old; post-office address 220 Church Street, Norfolk, Va.; “[H]e is the legal guardian of [the legitimate children of Reuben Fox … the names and dates of births of all the surviving children of the soldier under sixteen years of age are as follows: Sarah F. born Sept 3rd, 1873; Alice V. born Sept. 13th, 1875; Charles H. born Nov. 1st 1877; Missouri A. born April 1st, 1881 … that the father was married under the name of Reuben Fox to Mary Perry” … C.N Warden; [illegible], Norfolk County; have known [Fox] for 22 years … Mary Tansley, Park Avenue, Norfolk County; have known [Fox] for five years …”

 

General Affidavit, Mary Johnson, 18 April 1892
Post-office address 1311 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Virginia … “[S]he is the remarried widow of the said soldier and the mother of the minor children claimed for viz: Sarah Francis, Alice V., Charles H., and Missouri Fox and the child who was born Sept 3rd 73, is named Sarah Francis, as above stated and not Sarah Jane, as shown in letters of guardianship.”

 

Sworn Statement, James Brooks, 2 August 1892
Post-office address, 44 [“38” was struck through] Baltimore St., Norfolk, Va.; “Reuben Fox was apparently a sound hearty man at the date of his enlistment, that during his service in said coughed and spat up phlegm and contracted what he would call consumption, and continues to suffer with said disease during the balance of his service … [Brooks’] knowledge of the fact is from being a Corporal of Co. F, 1st Reg U.S.C.Vol. Cav … The claimant’s name and address is Mary Johnson, No. 1311 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va. The attorney’s Nathan Bickford, Washington, DC”
[Note: Brooks’ 1892 statement was noted in a document dated 29 December 1897.] 

 

General Affidavit, Marshall Land, 22 August 1892
44 years old, post-office address, Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia …”I certify that in September of 1885, I united in marriage, Mary Fox to Armstead Johnson, my record has been destroyed so that I cannot tell the exact date but I know the month and year. Very respct., M. Land, Pastor at that time of Ebenezer Baptist Church of Princess Annie [sic] Co., Va.
[Note: Brooks made the statement on 8 August 1892; the document was dated 22 August 1892.]

 

General Affidavit, Penny Poole, 4 February 1893
60 years old, post-office address, Flemmings Store, Princess Anne County, Virginia  “That she is thoroughly acquainted with the claimant and that she acted as midwife at the birth of two of claimant’s children both of which the above named soldier was the father. The two children which she was present and attended at birth their names are as follows: Alberta and Missouri … Missouri born 1st day April 1881; Albert born October 1883”

 

Letter from to U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pension, Washington, DC to [Attorney] Nathan Bickford, Washington, DC, 12 February 1896
“[Y]ou are informed that the claimant in her Declaration for Pension states that she was married to Reuben Fox on or about Oct. 19, 1868 but her marrige certificate now on file show that she was married Oct. 20, 1868 to Reuben Jefferson Fox. She al who performed the ceremony so states in her Declaration that she re-married on the 26th of Sept. 1884, but the Pastor M. Land who performed the ceremony states that the marriage took place in Sept. 1885. In her declaration she states that her husband the above named soldier died on or about March 31, 1882, but Dr. Chiles in his affidavit states that he died, according to his recollection, March 3d 1882. Further evidence should be furnished showing correct dates and the soldiers correct name and all discrepancies explained. The only evidence on file as to dates of the birth of children appears to be the affidavit of one Penny Poole, which is not satisfactory for the reason that she signs by mark and therefore could keep no record. If possbile record evidence of said children’s birth should be show as indivated in one of the accompanying circulars. Very respectfully, D.L. Murphy, Acting Commissioner”

 

Affidavit of Claimant, Mrs. Mary Johnson, 18 July 1896
Post-office address, 212 Goff St., Norfolk County, Virginia …”Her first husband’s correct name was Reuben Jefferson Fox; that she married him October 20th 1868, that he died March 3d 1882, and that she re-married in September 1885. Claimant further declares that the errors appearing in her former statement as to the dates of the soldier’s marriage to her, his death and her re-marriage were caused by the fact that she was then testifying from memory only, which was in fact as to said soldier. This affidavit was written in my presence from my own statement on the 18th of July 1896 at Norfolk, Va.”

 

Sworn Statement, Robert Brickhouse, 4 September 1896
65 years old; post-office address c/o Thos. Diesendorf, Church St. Norfolk, Va.; “I knew Reuben Fox very well; I enlisted in January 1864, I think, and Reuben Fox was in the army before I was; when he enlisted I do not know the date … “

 

James Brooks, 7 September 1896
53 years old, 38 Bottimore St., Norfolk, Virginia …”I knew Reuben Jefferson Fox well, he and I were in the same company. We enlisted at Camp Hamilton, Va. on the same day, namely December 3rd 1863, he was unmarried at that time, he never married but once and his widow is living now.”

 

Deposition, Beverly West, 17 January 1898
65 years old; post-office address, 9 Hampton Court, Norfolk, Va., brickmason …”I served as Ord. Sgt. Co. F. 1st U.S.C. Cav during the whole of its service but don’t remember the dates. I don’t know Mary Johnson the clmt, never did know her. I knew Reuben Fox, he was the Com. Sgt. of my company. I did not know him before enlistment. He was a sound man at enlistment, so far as I know. After he had been in the service about 8 months, and while we were stationed here in Norfolk, doing guard duty, he became sickly. I don’t know what disease he had, cannot say, was lingering and attending sick call. No, he was never sent to a hospital.
“No sir, I cannot remember the symptoms of his disease, do not recall what he complained of, it’s been so long … I was not his tent mate, but saw him every day when with the company.
“I saw him at times after discharge and he was still lingering. I never did know what his disease was.”

 

Deposition, Luther R. Chiles, M.D., 31 January 1898
60 years old; post-office address 570 Church St., Norfolk, Va.; “Yes, I recollect Reuben Fox, and I also recall that I attended him a number of years ago in Princess Anne Co., Va., during his last sickness. The cause of his death, the immediate cause, was dropsey, either the result of Bright’s disease of the kidneys or organic heart disease.
“I do not recall the date of his death, not even the year. I have made a thorough search for my old account books, hoping to find the date of his illness and death but hae been unable to find them.
“I am satisfied that he died at least 12 years ago. I think I treated him for several weeks.”
“I saw him at times after discharge and he was still lingering. I never did know what his disease was.”