Squire Bright and his wife worked on a government farm before their “slave” marriage. Shortly after his enlistment, the soldier was terribly disfigured by smallpox. His pension application has a lot of information about family relationshps and specific locations in the community.
Invalid — 782,761 / 587,377
Widow — 712,645 / 556,718, Rosetta Bright
Statement, Albert Jones, 27 July 1893
“In reply to your request I have to state that I cannot write but knew Squire Bright, late Corporal Co. K, 1st U.S. Col. Cav. (Capt. Whiteman). That he had the small-pox in 1864 near Fortress Monroe at a place called Buckroe Shore. Was down with this disease about two months which affected his eyes & back from which he clams to still suffer, and to the best of my knowledge and belief from often being with him is true.
“I do not know Samuel Bright to whom you refer.”
Statement, Nelson Elliott, 10 November 1893
“In reply to your request I have to state that it was early in the war, 1864, returning from a scout on the Peninsula to Camp Mix near Fortress Monroe, Va., Squire Bright broke out with the small pox [sic] which affected his back and his eyes. His face was covered with small pox [sic] bumps and inflamed this settled in his back and yes these effects have ever since continued so much so that the soldier is unable to stand on hs feet but a few minutes at a time and his eyes are somewhat inflamed and his eye sight is poor. I believe it was about Februray 1864 when the small pox [sic] attacked the soldier.”
General Affidavit, William Young, 13 November 1896
73 years old; residence, 737 North St., Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va. “I was first acquainted with said Squire Bright in 1860. He and I became members of the same Regiment about December 1863, He was in Co K and I in Co I in 1st USC Cav. In March 1864 while our Regiment was at Fortress Monroe, Va., he contracted small pox [sic] and on that account was confined in the Army Pest House. After returning from the Pest House he complained of trouble with his eyes and back and continued to complain from these troubles throughtou the term of his service till the close of the war. He and I have Lived here in Portsmouth ever since we came home out of the army. I have frequently met him and talked with him and he almost alway complain of the same old troubles with his eyes and back. His face was very much disfigured by small pox [sic]. He is able to do about one half of the work of any able bodied man.”
Deposition, Squire Bright, 5 August 1897
“57 years old the twelfth of this month”; residence, 313 Dinwiddie St, Portsmouth, Va.; [occupation], “fishing with hook and line” … “I enlisted in Norfolk, Va. and was sent three days afterwards to Camp Mix near Ft. Monroe. My Regt was not organized at that time and I was assigned to Co K when it was made up about a week or ten days before Christmas …1st Sgt Thos. Pitt (dead)
“We went on a scout across the county to Gloucester Point, and as soon as we came back I was taken with the small pox and was sent to Buckroe Beach Pest House near Ft Monroe, Va…was sick in camp about three days before the doctor found out I had the small pox. I staid in my tent two days and in the hospital tent one day.
“I was in the Pest House all of two months … I was very sick when I was sent to the Pest House and when the small pox broke out on me my eyes were closed completely and I could not see at all for about 10 days … Nelson Elliott of my Co was in the Pest house while I was there and waited on me some. He was sent there before I was. .. I was not treated good in the pest house, did not have half [sic] attention … Elliott and myself were the only two men who had the small pox of my Co.
“The first year after discharge I worked about wherever I could get work to do. Afterwards I leased 7 acres of land and farmed myself.”
Deposition, Nelson Elliott, 5 August 1897
55 years old; residence, 624 Glasgow St, Portsmouth, Va.; cobbler … [Squire Bright] was in the pest House with me, was sent there not long after I was sent there. He was right bad off with the small pox and after I got a little better I waited on him… I think we returned to duty pretty near the same time…
Deposition, Thomas Riddick, 6 August 1897
56 years old; residence, 1437 King St, Portsmouth, Va.; light work … “I have worked with him [Squire Bright] since discharge, on a farm near Portsmouth part of a season. I have seen him often since his return from the army, every week sometimes.”
Deposition, Jacob Reddick, 7 August 1897
69 years old; residence, Seaboard RR near Portsmouth, Va.; farming … “We worked together at Ft Monroe, Va in the QM [Quartermaster] Dept and on the Government farm near Port Norfolk before he enlisted ..The same month he returned from the army, he moved near me on Pinners Point near Scotts Creek. We could talk to each other from our houses and lived near each other on the same farm some 8 or 10 years.”
Deposition, Albert Jones, 18 February 1902
62 years old; 313 Dinwiddie St, Portsmouth, Va.; laborer … “I was born in Perquimmans [sic] Co, NC and was a slave; was owned by Andrew Bright. My father was Solomon Bagley but I never took his name…I have lived right around here since I left the army and have been a laborer; at times I have been employed in the Navy Yard … We went to Texas on the USS Pometor [?] and then we remained in Texas till we were mustered out in Brazos … I was in only one fight, Chicihominie [sic] Swamp … Thomas Pitt was Ord Sgt. His brother Ned Pitt was Commissary Sgt. William Granby was QM Sgt. Virginias Jones was 1st Duty Sgt. Albert Jones was 2d duty Sgt. Stephen Reddick was a duty Sgt. … Zachariah Johnson … ______ Dollars [?], first name unknown and myself were corporals. Fred Williams eat [sic] and slept with me in service …
“… I had small pox at Hampton, Va in 1864 and was in hospital from it 8 weeks …
“… My witnesses under the old law were Jake and Tom Reddick, James Smith, Sam Robinson and Nelson Elliott … I was a witness for Nelson Elliott and Tom Riddick (who is now dead) …[Nelson Elliott] was discharged before we went to Texas
“… I have only been married once in service; married her in July 1863 in Norfolk County. We were married by a white school teacher from the North name Rhoda Smith. My wife was named before our marriage Rosetta Skinner.”
Death Certificate [copy], Squire Bright, 19 July 1902
[name] Squire Bright
[color] colored
[sex] male
[birthdate] 1841
[age] 61
[birthplace] North Carolina
[how long a resident of this city] 20 years
[residence or place of death] 313 Dinwiddie
[nativity of father / nativity of mother] North Carolina / North Carolina
[death date] July 19th, 1902
[parents] Solomon and Penny Bagley
[if married, name of wife] Rosa Bright
[occupation] laborer
[by whom reported] Dread Smith
[cause of death] chronic diarrhea
[burial] Mt. Calvary Cemetery
[burial date] July 21,1902
[undertaker] Samuel Fisher, Jr., Portsmouth, Va.
[medical attendant] W.E. Reid, M.D., 835 Glasgow St.
Deposition, Rosetta Bright, 7 July 1903
58 years old; residence, 624 Lincoln St, Portsmouth, Va.; washing and ironing … “I know that he was a Corpl because I was there in the spring of 1865, I reckon, when he was promoted from Pvt to Corp’l at Newport News, Va. He died at 313 Dinwiddie St, Portsmouth, Va, July 19, 1902. He didn’t die on the 9th; Mr Reid made that mistake. He died of bowel consumption or chronic diarrhea.
“I first know the soldier Squire Bright in Jan’y 1863, he was on Gale’s Farm working for the U.S. Government where Port Norfolk is now…. We were married in Webster School House, Queen St, Portsmouth, Va on July 1, 1863 by Horace Grealy who was a school teacher at that school house for colored children …We stood up before [Mr Greeley] and he read the “matrimony” to us. Jacob Riddick was present … James Crumpler, too … Riddick got married the same day. Ann Skinner and Louisa Hall were also present but are both dead…After we were married we lived on the Gale Farm … to 1865 when I moved on the adjoining farm, Wilkins Farm, and that is where the soldier found me when he returned in March 1866.
“My maiden name was Rosetta Skinner, I belonged to Dr Tom Warren, dead, near Edenton, NC but my father was Solomon Skinner. My mother was Caroline Skinner, afterward Carter. I left Edenton, NC the last of August 1862, was taken to near Norfolk, Va. The Yankees brought us. … My brothers and sisters were with me. They are all dead except sisters Sarah Sanders in New York and Annie Wright in Portsmouth, Va. I was 18 years old when I was married … [My husband’s mother] was Penny Sampson when I knew her. He belonged to Andrew Bright, near a place called Winfall [sp?].
“[Squire Bright] has a brother Luke Bright living at Lambert [sic] Point, 38th St. … Also has a sister Fannie White.
“I went to see him in the army while they were camped at Hampton and Newport News, Va. He was also at Getty’s Sta. Dawson Gordney and Cyrus Washington were in same Co.
Deposition, Pleasant Ann Nixon, 11 July 1903
72 years old; wife of Wm. Nixon; residence, 1419 High St, Portsmouth, Va. … “[Rosetta and I] both belonged to Dr. Tom Warren of Edenton, NC. She was called Warren after her master, during slavery times …”..
Deposition, Martha Riddick, 11 July 1903
55 years old; widow of Thos. Riddick; residence, 1437 King St, Portsmouth, Va.; housekeeping …” I have visited [Squire and Rosetta Bright] all the time … She was with him at Camp Mix near Hampton, Va. I was there with my husband and we all slept in the same tent”
Deposition, Jacob Riddick, 13 July 1903
75 or 80 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Va.; farming … I worked with [Squire Bright] for the Government before he enlisted to be a soldier. I enlisted with him but was rejected at Ft Monroe … A man named Horace Greeley married them here in Portsmouth, Va at Webster’s Hall. I was present and saw them married … He was not a school teacher at that Hall. A Miss Smith, a white lady was the teacher. …
Deposition, Luke Bright, 14 July 1903
59 years old; 38th St., Lamberts Point, Norfolk, Va.; laborer … “[The soldier] was my brother. We were both born near Hertford, NC. His last master was Andrew Bright, he left him during the war but I did not … He had two children by a woman named Hester Perry … She lived all of ten miles from him.”
Deposition, James Crumpler, 14 July 1903
70 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Va.; working in gardens … “I have known Rosetta Bright since she was a young girl … I was present and saw her married in Portsmouth, Va., on Queen St, at a hall, by Rev. Mr. Gregory, to Squire Bright, by ceremony in 1863 … Mr. Gregory was a preacher as he used to come out and preach to us on the Government farm …They married in Portsmouth in the Webster Hall.”
Deposition, Sarah Riddick, 14 July 1903
58 years old; laborer; residence, 1525 High St, Porstmouth, Va. … “knew her on the Gales Farm, during the war, near Pinners Point, Va. … I was married about the same time she was, to Jacob Riddick, by a white minister whose name I think was Greely. Horace Greely might have been Gregory.”
Deposition, Margaret Savage, 14 July 1903
63 years old; residence, 1133 King St, Portsmouth, Va.; widow; washing and ironing … “I knew Bright nearly a year before he married claimant. He was going about passing as a single man … Both of them were grown when they were married but Rosetta was quite young.”
Deposition, Annie Wright, 14 July 1903
53 years old; widow; residence, 244 Godwin St, Portsmouth, Va.; housework … “Rosetta Bright is my sister … I know Squire but a short time before he married my sister”
Letter from Rosetta Bright, 122 Parker St., Campostella, Norfolk, Va. to Bureau of Pensions, Washington, DC, [received] 19 May 1924
“To department of the Interior, Bureau of Pension Washington. I Rosetta Bright is humbly asking you will will you please give me the raise as I am totaly blind and old and thin and 78 in my 79 and cant go or com no farther then they carry or put me & real stand & in need of it this child has to stay right here and wait on me. She had to borrow on her house last fall to git coal and wood to keep a fire from Oct to Jan for me for I stay cold all the time. So if there are any way that I can earnestly praying that you will consider my case.
“I’m asking the Lord to please touch your hearts in my decling age. I will soon be off your hands I trust. And will you please change my address. The city of Norfolk has annexed this place and give us mail carriers at our houses. My no.
“Rosetta Bright, 122 Parker St., Campostella, Norfolk, Va.
My cousin name is
Mrs. Rosa L. Williams. 122 Parker St., Campostellal, Norfolk, Va.”
Letter from Rosa L. Williams, 122 Parker St., Campostella, Norfolk, Va. to Bureau of Pensions, Washington, DC, [received] 2 June 1924
“To the Department of Interior. My delay was on the account of sousin Rosetta [sic] illness. She has veen very sick since I sent ths letter. I thought I would wait and see what the end would be but she is better so she can go in her trunk and give me her papers for me to look through to get her on [pension?].
“Except [sic] my thank you for your consideration thus far.
From, Mrs. Rosa L. Williams
[illegible]”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 