John W. Rooks, Company I

John W. Rooks has a surname that’s fairly common in now-defunct Norfolk County. A closer look at his widow’s pension application reveals potential lines of inquiry, for example, her parentage, residential history, and known acquaintances, that might provide more information about her husband. The U.S. Federal Census should certainly be examined — not just the population schedules but also the non-population schedules.

Widow — 429,183 / —– , Georgeanna Howell

Widow’s Declaration for Pension or Increase of Pension, Georgeanna Howell, 24 July 1890
39 years old; “[T]hat she is the widow of John W. Rooks enlisted as John W. Rooks at Norfolk, Va. on the 15 day of Dec 1863 in Co., I 1st USC Cav in the war of 1861 who died of pneumonia near Portsmouth, Va. on the 25 day of Feby 1884 … that she was married under the name of Georgeanna Shepard to said John W. Rooks on the 20 day of Dec 1872 by Dr. Reuben Jones at Churchland, Va. … [she] was married to Caleb Howell, Dec 20/88 … and her post-office address is Portsmouth, Va., cor Queen & Godwin Sts … also personally appeared Dempsey Thompson, residing at Norfolk Co., Va. and Sarah G. Nickerson, residing at Norfolk Co., Va.”