John Pitt’s pension application might seem to have very few details about his personal life but it has a number of identifiers that could distinguish him from men with the same name i.e. father’s name, approximate year of birth, residence, occupation, wife’s name. The U.S. Federal Census should certainly be examined — not just the population schedules but also the non-population schedules.
Invalid 1,041,586 / 834,533
Deposition, John Pitt, 28 August 1902
“I am about 63 or 64 years of age: laborer and I live in Norfolk Co. I was always free. My father was James Pitt … height 5’9”; complexion, yellow; hair and eyes black and says he was an oysterman before enlistment”
“I have lived right around here ever since I left the Army and have been a farm laborer …”
“I have only been married once – married Margaret Elliott. We were married in Norfolk, Va. about 10 years ago. We were married by Rev. Powell.”
“I was living with a woman named Sarah Patrick but she is now married and is in Hampton, Va. but we were never married. She is now the wife of Bill Walker. I lived with her for two years when I first came from the army …”
“I have no children under 16 years of age.”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 