Thomas Portlock, Company F

The soldier was allowed to enlist despite his impaired vision. Once in service, he was injured when a horse kicked him in the right knee. There were significant discrepancies in his birthdate and resolving them probably delayed his application for pension benefits. He lived his last years in the Lamberts Point neighborhood of Norfolk, Virginia.

 

Invalid 140,855 /  756,900

 

Questionnaire, Thomas Portlock, 20 March 1915
Born July 1840, Norfolk Co., Va.
Married: 1866-67, Norfolk Co., Va. by Rev. Wm. Lewis; no prior marriage; she died July 1900

Children:
George	}
Joseph	}	all over 21
Sally Ann	}
Mary Eliza	}	dead
W. Henry	}
Charles	}
Lily	}

Declaration for Invalid Pension, Thomas Portlock, 16 September 1891 
69 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 9 Rheas Lane, Norfolk, Va.; “That he is partially unable to earn a support by reason of old age, partial affliction of eyes, lameness from kick of horse on right knee, also general debility … Also personally appeared Peter Boush, residing at Norfolk, Va. and Joshua Brickhouse, residing at Norfolk, Va. … their acquaintance with him for 20 years and 25 years, respectively

 

General Affidavit, J.W. Gramby, 28 September 1891
41 years old; post-office address, 95 Colley Avenue, Norfolk, Va. … “That he has known applicant aforesaid since 1869 … his knowledge is known from noticing him and seeing him limp with stick also wears glasses and think he is permanently disabled. He seems to be a good citizen and respected as such and so recognized by those who know him.”

 

General Affidavit, Joshua Brickhouse, 29 September 1891
52 years old; post-office address, “Cumberland St at 120, Norfolk, Va.” – “That he has known Thomas Portlock from the time he arrived home from Army and knows he suffered from lameness in his right knee which was caused from the kick of a horse … his knowledge is known from having known him for many years and have had every opportunity to see and know his condition”

 

Claimant’s Affidavit, Thomas Portlock, 19 November 1891
69 years old; post-office address, 9 Rheas Lane, Norfolk, Va.; “was discharged in Norfolk, Va. on the 23rd day of November 1864, that he was discharged  by surgeons Certificate of Disability, his eyesight being defective and being generally debilitative, he did not go to Texas and has not served in any naval or military service of the United States since to the present time.”

 

Deposition, Joshua Brickhouse, 12 June 1893
53 years old, wheelwright, 120 Cumberland St., post-office address #9 Loyall’s (or Ray’s) Lane, Norfolk, Va.

 

Deposition, Joseph W. Gramby, 12 June 1893
42 years old, blacksmith, 95 Colley Ave., Atlantic City, Va.; post-office address, #9 Loyall’s Lane, Norfolk, Va “known [Portlock] as long as 20 years … I first knew him in 1869 … I remember being at Drury’s office with Joshua Brickhouse, Peter Boush, and Thomas Portlock with Portlock made out his application. They all signed by touching the pen.”

 

Deposition, Thomas Portlock, 15 June 1893
nearly 70 years old; farmer; residence, Lambert’s Point, Norfolk Co., Va.; “post-office address, Lambert;s Point care Conover’s, Norfolk Co., Va. … was discharged November 23, 1864, for night blindness …”

 

Deposition, Thomas Portlock, 31 January 1901
about 75 years old; post-office address, Lamberts Point, Norfolk Co., Va.; occupation, laborer …“I was a slave and the name of my last owner was Miles Portlock, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.  My father’s name was Thomas Etheridge. My mother, Virginia Etheridge.  Etheridge was the name of my father’s owner and if my father had any other name I never knew it.”

“I enlisted here in Norfolk, Va. and my regt. went from Newport News to a point near Petersburg, Va. The winter I was with the Regt. we were in camp at Camp Hamilton and we marched towards Petersburg in the spring and into the fall of the year we marched back to City Point and Norfolk and I was discharged at Norfolk, Va. on account of disease of eyes. I was not in hospital at any time. I was not examined by a dr. when I was discharged. My Capt. said I was unfit for duty and had me discharged.

“There was a sgt. in my co F – by the name of Portlock – full name I do not remember – but he died, so I heard, soon after the war … I was not in any battles. We were in a skirmish at Chickahominy Swamp and some were killed but I do not remember how many. My Regt. was in the rear. None out of my company killed. Our first camp after we left Newport News was Bermuda Hundred …

“… Ned Whitehus was a tentmate.”

“I was a farm laborer when I enlisted.  I am single.  My wife died July 7, 1900.  I have no children under 16 years of age.”

“I had disease of the eyes before I went into the army. … Several years prior to enlistment, Dr. Tatem, then living near Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va. lanced my rt. eye and my vision was badly impaired when I enlisted. … W.R. Drury was my atty in my old law claim. I have not had a physical more than once or twice since the war. Dr. Newbill prescribed for me. Once or twice, a few years ago, _____ Bagnall filed my last claim but Drury did my writing down to the time I for my pension … Hubard & Hubard, 50 Bank St executes my vouchers. I go to the other office on the 4th. I keep my pension certificate. I never borrowed any money from Mary Pickens [?].

“I have resided in Norfolk Co., Va. all my life.
“I was a farm laborer when I enlisted. I am single. My wife died July 7, 1900. I have no children under 16 years of age.”

 

Declaration for Pension, Thomas Portlock, 5 March 1907
80 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 39th Street, Lamberts Point, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; occupation, farmer; born 1826, Great Bridge, Va.; “That his several places of residence since leaving the service have been as follows: Norfolk, Va. … Also personally appeared W. Creekmore, residing in Norfolk, Va, and Phillip Bagnall, residing in Norfolk, Va.”

 

Declaration for Pension, Thomas Portlock, 16 May 1912
71 years old; residence, Norfolk County, Va.; post-office address, 11 43rd Street, Lamberts Point, Norfolk, Va.; born July 1840, Norfolk Co., Va.”

 

Letter from J.L. Davenport, Commissioner, Bureau of Pensions to Thomas Portlock, 22 July 1912
“Sir: — In the above entitled claim for pension under the act of May 11, 1912, filed May 18, you give the date of your birth as July 1840. Other papers on file in your claim give the year of your birth as 1820, 1822, and 1838. You should explain this discrepancy, under oath, and give the correct date of your birth.”
[Note: Portlock’s address on this document was reported as 11 Forthy-eighth Street, Lamberts Point, Norfolk, Virginia — Leslie]

 

General Affidavit, Thomas Portlock,  26 July 1912
11 48th St., Lamberts Point, Norfolk, Va.,  “That he does not know what his correct age is as there are no public, baptismal or family records to prove same. That his mother told him he was born in the month of July, but he does not know the year. That he thinks he was between 23 and 25 years of age when he enlisted in the army, and he is willing that his enlistment age be taken as is correct age. That he is unable to read or write and there are no persons living who can testify as to when he was born.”

 

Questionnaire (Form 3-389), Thomas Portlock, 20 March 1915
[birth date/place] July 1840, Norfolk Co., Va.
[post-office at enlistment] Norfolk, Va.
[wife’s maiden name] Sarah Lee
[when, where, by whom] about 1866 or 67; Norfolk Co., Va.; Rev. Wm. Lewis
[record] Norfolk County Clerk’s Office
[previously married] no
[present wife previously married] no

 

Letter from G.M. Dillard, Attorney, to Bureau of Pensions, 10 March 1916
“One of my clients, Mr. W.I. Conover, by whom [Portlock] has been employed for some years notified me that Portlock died of pneumonia during last night.”
[William I. Conover, a trucker, lived at 1744 W. 47th Street, Lamberts Point — Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, 1915, City Directory, page 175 — Leslie]