Isaac Forbes, Company F

Isaac Forbes was born enslaved in Camden County, North Carolina. During his military service he recovered from measles at Fort Monroe and likely witnessed a hanging: a comrade who shot and killed another soldier in the regiment was hung for the crime. Forbes described in considerable detail his experiences with pension attorneys, witnesses, charges, payments, and the voucher process. His brother Robert Forbes served in Company A, 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry.

 

Invalid — 504,809 / 734,939
Widow — 951,657 / 715,349

Deposition, Isaac Forbes, 17 April 1902
59 years old; farmer; resident, near Deep Creek, Va. … “I was born in Camden County, North Carolina and was a slave; was owned by Walter Forbes. My father was Isaac Humphreys. I have never gone under any name other Isaac Forbes.”

“We went to Texas in June after Richmond fell and landed in Texas on the 4th of July following. We went by steamer and landed at Brazos Santiago, Texas. We were in Brazos and vicinity all the time that we were in Texas.
“I was in the following engagements: Chickahominy, That was the only regular battle we were in but I was in several skirmishes.
“We lost no men out of my company but Willies Scowers of my Reg’t shot F[r]ed Smith of the Regiment and he was hung for it at City Point, Va.

“Girrard was my Col. … We had no Lt. Col. … Brown was Major. … Seips was Second Major. … Schwartz was my Capt…. Garrett was 1st Lt. … I cannot recollect name of 2nd Lt. … West was Ord. Sgt. …  Porterlock [almost certainly ‘Portlock’ – Leslie] was a duty Sgt. …. Albert Taylor was also a duty Sgt. … I was a Pvt. … Peter Bush eat [sic] and slept with me in service.

“I was never wounded in service. Was never on detached duty. I was sick with measles for a week at Fortress Monroe, Va. That was the only time I was sick in service.

“McNulty, McNulsey, or something like that was my attorney. He charged ten dollars which was taken out of my first payment. Granville Towell [?] was my local attorney and his wife and a woman whose name I do recollect acted as witnesses for me. The witnesses charged me nothing.

“I am now paralyzed on one side and since February have been able to do no manual labor.

“I get a pension of six dollars a month under new law. I once put in a claim under old law but I do not recollect on account of what ailments I claimed pension and I have quit working on it. My eyes trouble me and I have a misery in my breast. My eyes have been troubling me for twenty years; my breast for five or six years…

“I have been married twice; my first wife Clarisa died in Camden Co., NC in three miles of the C.H. I next married in 1872 in Camden Co., NC.  I married Adeline Simmons. She was never married until she married me. We were married by [illegible] Burgess a J.P.  My wife and myself are still living together. We have no children under 16 years of age.

“Mr. Johnson executes my vouchers; he always swears me we have never had vouchers exectuted before the 4th.”

 

Sworn Statement, T.B. Godfrey, 22 October 1910 
“I, T.B. Godfrey, Register of Deeds for Camden County, NC, do hereby certify that the Records of my Office show that Isaac Forbes and Adline Simmons were married on the 18th day of January, 1872, by Z. Burgess, a Justice of the Peace.”

 

Questionnaire, Isaac Forbes [undated]
[married] “I am married. Her name Adlin Forbes. Her maiden name Adline Simmons”
[when, where, by whom] Jany 19, 1872 at North Carolina by Zeke R. Burgess, Justice of the Peace
[record] [blank]
[previously married] “I was but she die[d] May 17, 1868. Name Clarsie Forbes .. date of her death May 17, 1868 at N.C.”
[living children] Louvenny birth Nov 1, 1872 and Robert birth [illegible] 1876 … Anne Eliza birth Feb 8, 1877 … Emma birth Nov 1 1879 … Samuel birth [illegible]

 

Sworn Statement, Betty Trotman, Bettie Hughes, L.P. Sharpe, 22 October 1910
“Betty Trotman, Bettie Hughes, L.P. Sharpe, being duly sworn, depose and say and each for himself deposeth and saith that Clarsy Forbes, wife of Isaac Forbes late of said County and State died sometime during the month of May 1868.”

 

Sworn Statement, John W. Daugherty, M.D., 28 December 1910
“Deep Creek, Va., Dec 28/1910
To whom it may concern:
This is to certify that Isaac Forbes died Oct 4, 1910 and that death was the result of paralysis.
Jno. W. Daugherty, M.D.
Attending Physician”

 

Sworn Statement, Lucy Wilson, 11 January 1911 [date stamped as received by Pension Bureau]
“[Wilson] make oath that she has known Adaline Forbes the widow of Isaac Forbes since she was a girl and before she was of marriageable age and the war was never married before she married Isaac Forbes and that Isaac Forbes was only married once before and that to Clarsy Forbes who died in North Carolina and that Adaline Forbes lived with the soldier until his death.”

 

Accrued Pension, Isaac Forbes, 14 January 1911
“Pensioner: Isaac Forbes … Date of Death: October 4, 1910 … Claimant: Adaline Forbes, widow, RR #2, Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia … “