Nace Briscoe, Company B

It’s important to check every available source in order to corroborate findings and resolve conflicts i.e. conduct a reasonably exhaustive search. Nace Briscoe’s Compiled Military Service Record (CMSR) reported his birthplace as St. Mary’s County, Virginia but there’s no such place. Other documents correctly state that Briscoe was born in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. He enlisted at Point Lookout, Maryland and died at the post hospital in Brazos Santiago, Texas a few months after the war ended.

 

Widow – 112,561 / 163,183, Rachel Briscoe 

 

Declaration for Widow’s Army Pension, Rachel Briscoe, 2 December 1869
“State of New York, County of New York … Rachel Briscoe, a resident of New York City, in the County of New York, and State of New York … she is the widow of Nace Briscoe alias Briska …. [who] mustered into the service of the United States from the State of Maryland in the war of 1861, and who died at Brazos Santiago, Texas in Post Hospital on the 30th day of August 1865 …

“She further declares that her maiden name was Rachel Ford, and that she was lawfully married to the said Nace Briscoe alias Briska at St. Mary’s, St. Mary’s Co., in the State of Maryland by Father Lilly, a Catholic Priest … April, 1851 … and she further declares that she has four and only four children of her said deceased husband and herself under sixteen years of age, who are now living; that the following are the names, date of births, and present place of residence of said children, to wit:
Billy Briscoe born in May 1856, now resides in Brooklyn, NY
Anna Briscoe born in September 1858 now resides at River Head Long Island
Peter Briscoe born in March 1860 now resides at Chester, Conn.
Ignatius Briscoe born in April 1861 now resides at Bloomfield, New Jersey

“And she further declares that she is not able to give the days of the month on when said children were born because both herself & husband being unable to write & being slaves no official records was kept in the county of the births of the children … her post-office address is Rachel Briscoe, 1 Cav Rev. E.P. Smith, 53 John Street, New York City.

“Also personally appeared Edward P. Smith and Alexander Smith, residents of Brooklyn, County of Kings, and State of New York … say they were present and saw Rachel Briscoe make her mark to the foregoing declaration …”

 

Sworn Statement, William C. Bayne, 29 October 1872
“State of Maryland, St. Marys Co. to Wit:
This is to certify, that Rachel Briscoe, was a slave belonging to me (William C. Bayne) before the late War; that she was the wife of Nace Briscoe, who was a soldier in the Union Army during the late War, and was killed in the service; that they lived together as man and wife according to the custom of this county; and he was the father of Billy, Anna, Peter, and Ignatius, who are still living….
“Witnesses: Michael Barnes; George Ford
“H.N. Smith; Henry L. Davis” [These names appeared beneath the witnesses’ names but their identities aren’t clear — Leslie]
“Sworn to before me, a Justice of the Peace of St. Mary’s County, Maryland, this 29th day of October in the year 1872, Wm. Briscoe, J.P.”

 

Sworn Statement, Wm. N. Parker, 5 November 1872 
“State of Virginia, City of Alexandria, To Wit …
“I live in the City of Alexandria and have lived there for the last nine years. I was in Alexandria during the greater part of the War. I knew Rachel Briscoe when she was at the Freedmen’s Village four years ago, and also her four children, Billy, Anna, Peter, and Ignatius. I took the mother and her four children to the North and had a good opportunity of becoming acquainted with them. As well as I could judge, I should say, that at that time — that is, four years ago — Billy was about 12 years of age; Anna, 10 years of age; Billy [sic], 8 years of age; and Ignatius,, 7 years of age.”

 

Sworn Statement, Wm. C. Bayne, Wm. Briscoe, and John W. Bennett, 24 November 1872
“I hereby certify that Rachel Briscoe was a slave belonging to me and that Nace Briscoe lived with her as her husband and that they had 4 children which was born whilst she was my slave. Billy Briscoe her child was born Sept 4th 1854; Celeste, Feb 14th, 1855; Nace was born March 19th 1857; Peter, March 28th 1858. Add that he lived with her until he enlisted in the war.
Wm. C. Bayne

“State of Maryland, St. Mary’s County to Wit: On this 22nd day November in the year 1872 before me the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said County & State personally appeared William C. Bayne and made oath on the Holy Evangelly [sp?] of Almighty God that the above statement is true to the best of his knowledge and that he signed the same in my presence & in the presence of the above witnesses [whose signatures were illegible — Leslie].
Sworn before,
Wm. Briscoe, J.P.

“I hereby certify that the Claimant Rachel Briscoe is the widow of Nace Briscoe.
John W. Bennett
Surveyor of Customs
Nov 24, 1872”   

 

Sworn Statement, Wm. Nottingham, M.D., 20 February 1873
“State of New York, City and County of New York …
“I hereby certify that Ignatius Briscoe (colored) has been under my observation over a year, that I have examined him and consider him to be between twelve and thirteen years of age.
Wm. Nottingham, M.D.
Physician to Colored Orphan Asylum
c/o St. Nicholas 157th St
February 20th, 1873

“Sworn to before me this 5th day May 1873
[illegible]
Office of the Supreme Court
State of New York
[illegible]”

 

Sworn Statement, J.E. Hartrampft, 18 February 1873
“State of New York, County of Suffolk
[“J.W. Hartramft] a reputable physician … says that the probable age of Celeste Briscoe, of said town, daughter of Rachel Briscoe’s is fifteen years.
“J.E. Hartrampts, M.D.

“Sworn to and subscribed, on the eighteenth day February 1873, before me the undersigned Justice of the Peace and I certify that I am not in any manner interested in any claim for pensions made by the said Celeste.”
[It’s hard to make out the handwriting/correct spelling for the doctor’s name — Leslie]

 

Sworn Statement, M. Swasy, M.D., 28 February 1873
“Yonkers … This is to certify that I have examined the colored boy Peter Briscoe, now in the service of Rev. [?] Ballard of this city, in response to his probable age and that I judge him to be between twelve and thirteen years of age.
“M. Swasy, M.D.

 

Sworn Statement, H.F. Sten, M.D., 31 July 1873
“Personally appeared  before me on this thirty first day of July One thousand Eight hundred and Seventy Three, H.F. Sten of the City of Brooklyn, County of Kings and State of New York … to me known to be the individual described and to be a truly reliable physician. The said deponent asserts and swears that he has examined William Briscoe (Colored) son of Rachel Briscoe, and that according to this best judgment, that said William Briscoe is between sixteen and seventeen years of age, and that he has no interest in any claim he may have upon the United States Government for Pensions or otherwise.”

 

General Law (Form 3-1081), Pensioner Dropped, United States Pension Agency, Rachel Briscoe, 10 November 1905
Certificate No. 163,183
Class … Widow
Pensioner: Rachel Briscoe
Soldier: Nace alias Briska
Service: Priv B 1 U.S. Cav
“The Commissioner of Pensions.
“Sir: I have the honor to report that the above-named pensioner who was last paid at $12, to 4 June 1905, has been dropped because of Reported Death. Died 5 Nov 1905.
“Nathan T. Dyer, Gdn”