Henry Billups, Company G

The soldier, born enslaved in Mathews County, Virginia, was brought to Norfolk as a child and hired out to cart bricks. In adulthood, he loaded and unloaded grain at the wharves. The widow’s application contained several inconsistencies so the attorney (a female) and the notary (a Howard University student) were deposed. The attorney noted the difficulty in finding witnesses outside of Washington, DC who could read and write.

 

Invalid — 724,166 / —–
Widow — 506,855 / 407,149, Catharine Billups

 

Deposition, Catharine Billups, 15 January 1895
49 years old; occupation, housekeeper; residence and post-office address, 142 St. Paul st., Norfolk, Va.
“I have two applications for pension on file, one under the new law and one under the old law, in which I claim pension as the widow and as the dependent widow of Henry Billups, late of Co. G, 1st USCC
“Q. Where were you born and reared?
A.  I was born and reared the slave of Wilson Land of Princess Anne Co., Va. but I lived here in Norfolk eight years before the late war commenced. My maiden name was Catharine Webb. My mother (dead) was Katy Webb and my father was Jack Webb (dead).
Q.  Where was your late husband born and reared?
A.  He was born and reared in Mathews Co., Va. and he was owned by a man named Brooks whose first name I have forgotten. I know these facts from hearing my said husband relate them. I have never been in Matthews [sic] County, Va.
Q. When and where did you first meet the said Henry Billups?
A.  I met him here in Norfolk, Va. a year or two before the late war commenced. He was hired by his owner to a Mr. Noe who made brick at Norfolk. Mr. Noe died long ago. I was living at the time I made my husband’s acquaintance with Mr. Peter Whitehurst of this city, who died several years ago.
Q. When and where did you marry the said Henry Billups?
A.  I married him here in Norfolk on Chapel st. the same year that the war broke out. I was hired to a Mrs. Jones, a northern woman living on Chapel st between Cove and Holt sts. I don’t know what became of Mrs. Jones nor do I remember the number on Chapel st. where she lived. No, fighting had not commenced when we were married but soldiers were being recruited to go to war at the time we were married. We were married in the summertime, don’t remember the month or year. No, we did not have a license as license was not granted to colored people at that time. We had a minister or other person authorized to solemnize the right of matrimony to join us in marriage. We just got the permission of masters to our union and then we had a little supper to which we invited some of our friends. My aunt Charity Land gave us the wedding supper but she is dead.
Q. Give me the names and addresses of persons who were present at your wedding supper.
A.  I only remember of but one person now living who attended that supper and that is Mary Huggins who is now living in the state or city of N.Y. I do not know her address.
Q.  Where did you live from the date of your marriage until Henry Billups enlisted?
A.  We moved into the kitchen on Main st this city of a Mrs. Lizzie Jones and we lived there until Henry Billups enlisted and I continued to live there until after his discharge and return from the army. I had two children born there.
Q.  Had you been previously married or had you lived with any man as his wife prior to your marriage to Henry Billups?
A.  Neither …
Q.  How long did Henry Billups live with you after he came out of the army?
A.  He lived with me until he entered the Hampton Soldiers Home and after entering that Home he frequently visited me and my our [sic] daughter now Mrs. Mary Williams visited him at the home. I don’t remember the date we first visited him at the Home. We were living on National Lane, this city, when he went to the Home. Toler Bagnall can tell you more about the date of his going to the Home than I can and that we lived together as husband and wife from Billups came out of the army until he went to the Home. He also knows that my husband visited me after he went to the Home. The winter before he died my husband left the Home on his liberty pass and came to see me and the weather was cold and snow fell and the asthma from which he suffered became worse and he got money from me to pay his way back to the Home. This was within six months of his death.
Q.  Describe your late husband.
A.  He was about 5 ft 5 or 6 inches tall, dark complexion, black hair & eyes, and was about 48 years old when he died in May 1890. He was a year or two older than I. … I had 10 children by said soldier, all of whom are dead except my daughter Mary E. Williams.”

 

Deposition, Caleb Garrison, 16 January 1895
61 years old; occupation, laborer; residence and post-office address, 22 Lodge st., Norfolk, Va.
“I have known the claimant Catharine Billups since July 1867. I have known her well and have associated with her intimately since said date. In July 1867 her husband Henry Billups rented a part of the house No. 11 Allentown Lane, Norfolk in which I lived and which I controlled and they lived — I mean this clt and her said husband Henry Billups — lived in said house with me until 1871 when they moved into another house. During the time said parties lived in my house Henry Billups, the husband, paid the rent and provided for the clt and their children as a father and husband should do and he recognized this claimant as his wife and she was so recognized by all who knew them. After leaving my house in 1871 we visited back and forth as long as Henry Billups was in the city, and since he left the city to go to the Hampton Soldiers Home. The clt and my family have been on terms of intimacy.”

 

Deposition, Mary E. Williams, 16 January 1895
24 years old; occupation, laundress; residence and post-office address, 22 Salter st., Norfolk, Va.
“I am a daughter of the claimant … I lived with my parents up to the time my said father went to the Soldiers Home near Hampton, Va. and I continued to live with my mother, the claimant, until I was married three years ago, and then my mother lived with me several years after I married. My parents, the clt and Henry Billups, the soldier, lived together as husband and wife, and were so recognized by all who knew them, from my earliest recollection until my father became unable to work when he entered the Hampton Soldiers Home, and after his entrance to said Home, he visited my mother, the clt, and I at intervals until a short time before his death, and I visited him at the Home on several occasions, therefore I know from personal knowledge that the soldier Henry Billups who died at the Soldiers Home in May 1890 was the husband of my mother, this claimant. I have seen the certificate of discharge from service of my father, the said Henry Billups and I remember that he served in the 1st USCC, Co G. I have also heard him say that he served in said company and regiment.”

 

Deposition, Mary Wallace, 16 January 1895
53 years old; occupation, laundress; residence and post-office address, 17 Chapel Lane, Norfolk, Va.
“I have known the claimant Catharine Billups for the past 30 years and for the past 20 years she has been in my employ at intervals every year as a laundress, therefore I have known her well, in fact, we are cousins.
“I also knew her late husband Henry Billups from the time of his return from the army in the spring of 1866 until he died ….”

 

Deposition, Phillip Bagnall, 19 January 1895
51 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, 279 Cumberland st., Norfolk, Va.
“I have known the claimant Catharine Billups since in 1866 — the spring of 1866. I also knew her late husband Henry Billups who served with me in Co. G 1st USCC during the late war. I was a Sergeant in said company. I knew said soldier for nearly twenty years before we enlisted. He was born and reared in Matthews [sic] Co., Va. but was brought to Norfolk when a boy and was hired out in Norfolk where he and I worked together at carting brick. I knew from what the said Henry Billups told me that he had married this claimant but I do not remember to have seen her until he and I enlisted and were in camp near Norfolk & Fort Monroe, Va. when she used to visit him in our camp and on such occasions he recognized her as his wife and treated her as such. I did not however become acquainted with her until the said soldier and I were discharged from service and returned to Norfolk then the soldier Henry Billups and this claimant went to housekeeping and I visited them quite often. … I visited him several times [at the Soldiers Home]. …”

 

Deposition, W.P. Sands, 30 January 1895
52 years old; occupation, Adjutant Southern Branch National Military Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers near Hampton, Va.; post-office address, as above
“I am the custodian of the records of the Home above named. In the matter of Henry Billups the following appears on record viz:
Henry Billups, age 47. height 5 ft 6 in. complexion, dark. a resident of Norfolk in the state of Virginia. born in Matthews [sic] Co., Va. in service of the U.S. once viz: Enlisted Nov 1863 at Norfolk, Va. in Co. “G” 1st US Col Cav. Discharged at Brazos Santiago, Texas, Feby 4th 1866. Condition, married or single, not stated. Died in hospital 25th May 1890. Admitted to Home March 4th 1884.”

 

Deposition, John Binford, 31 January 1895
57 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, 7 Byrd st., Norfolk, Va.
“Q. Can you read and write?
A.  No, sir, neither.
Q. Do you know one Catharine Billups widow of Henry Billups late of Co. G, 1st USC Cavy?
A. No, sir, I do not.
Q. Do you know one Henry Harrison who appears to have lived at No. 82 Henry st. this city?
A.  No, sir.
Q.  Where did you reside in May 1892?
A.  I lived at 31 Scott st., this city.
Q.  Have you ever signed and executed any papers for use in the pension case of Catharine Billups?
A.  I have not.
Q.  Were you in and about the temporary office in Church st this city in May 1892 of Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood?
A.  I have been at her office at that place two or three times. I have been there when R. Bagnall, N.P. was there. I went there to be a witness for a Mrs. Pines and that is the only case in which I testified at Mrs. Lockwood’s office. I have heard you read the application for pension of Catharine Billups dated and executed before R. Bagnall, Jr. N.P. May 11th 1892, in which my name appears as if written by myself as an attesting witness to the signature by mark of the applicant Catharine Billups, and as witness to her identity to said application and I pronounce both of said signatures to be and they are forgeries. I did not sign and swear to that application nor did I authorize Mrs. B.A. Lockwood or any other person to write or sign my name thereto.”

 

Deposition, Catharine Billups, 1 February 1895 
49 years old; occupation, laundress; residence and post-office address, 141 St. Paul st., Norfolk, Va.
“Q. Who prepared your application for pension under the old general laws?
A. Mrs. B.A. Lockwood of Washington, DC fixed it up for me when she was in Norfolk something more than two years ago. She wrote out said application at her office on Church st near Queen in this city. but I don’t remember the day, month, or year when it was done
Q. Did you sign said application by mark or otherwise?
A. Yes, sir. I was in Mrs. Lockwood‘s office at the time and she called my attention to it. That is, that I had put in for pension under the new law and that I could get more money under the old law so we were told to go to her for same purpose in connection with my claim for pension and when I went to her office she asked me to sign my name to an application for pension under the old law.”

 

Deposition, Henry Harrison, 2 February 1895
about 39 years old; occupation, porter; residence and post-office address, 110 St. Paul st., Norfolk, Va.
“Q. Do you know John Binford who resided until recently at No.31Scott st, this city,
A. No, sir. ….
“Q. Do you know R. Bagnall, Jr. NP?
A. I am not personally acquainted with him and have never been in his office. He has recently been pointed out to me but I have never spoken to him.”

 

Deposition, Robert Bagnall, Jr., 10 April 1895
38 years old; occupation, student; residence and post-office address, Howard University
“I was the notary in the case of Catharine Billups. Belva Lockwood was the attorney. I think the two witnesses whose names appear as attesting and identifying Henry Harrison and John Binford. I was personally acquainted with Henry Harrison, wrote his own name for I saw him write it. I think he was living on Henry St. not positive I know he is at present living on East North st, Huntersville, Norfolk, Va. I think the number 66. I built the house he is living in. I was the Secretary of the Association that built it and superintended the construction. Harrison is short and stout about 5 ft 3, bacon color, also known by the name Henry Jones. He served in the army under the name Henry Harrison. I think he was in Co. B, 36 USCT, I also knew John Binford. He was a soldier. Can’t give service. He was a pensioner and was dropped & he was employed. I think by Mrs. Lockwood as a runner. He was very obnoxious in his manner. No, sir, he could not write. Mrs. Lockwood wrote his name in both cases. I asked her as to the legality of an attesting witness signing by mark. She told me that it was alright so it was done in my presence as the notary Burford was present and said Catharine makes her mark but as he could not write I questioned it. Mrs. Lockwood being an old and experienced pension attorney I yielded thinking I may have been in error. I know that both of these men have been witnesses in several cases and Mrs. Lockwood always wrote his name. I know both of them claimed that they knew the claimant before I swore them. I have no doubt but what Burford has an idea that if he can thread the case in court he would be employed at $1.50 per day as witness he has done this before and several others. Binford is a name that is considered among the lowest and most unreliable of his race, Henry Harrison is a honest laboring man and general reputation good. I am not surprised that Burford says now he did not know said claimant that is the character of the man I was not interested.”

 

Deposition, Belva A. Lockwood, 12 April 1895
60 years old; occupation, attorney; residence and post-office address, 619 F st, N.W., Washington, DC,
“I recall John Binford but not Henry Harrison. I wish to say with reference to it that the declaration is in my own handwriting as indicated was made up by me as indicated in my own office in Norfolk, Va. with the claimant before me and perhaps a dozen other witnesses of none of whom could write except Henry Harrison. John Binford was present. Said Catharine Billups marked her x mark and I wrote his name opposite as witness to the cross mark X of Catharine Billups in presence of notary but in the hurry seems to have neglected to make the cross mark X to his own signature. Which I have duly made of the opposite side. In that locality which is almost entirely colored there is only about two persons in one hundred able to write their names and I found it very difficult to do business at all as the name is boldly written in my own hand without any attempt dissimulation [?]. It is evident that it is not an attempt at forgery but a clerical error; When the fee agreements were signed later in the day I secured two white witnesses. The requirement of the blank calling for two witnesses who can write their names is not I understand a requirement of law nor even an unusual custom but simply a construction of claim agents to their clients to prevent unauthorized papers.

“I also get persons who can write for witnesses to cross mark X when I can but sometimes at places outside of Washington it’s almost impossible. I recollect having some talk with Notary R. Bagnall, Jr. about these signatures and the difficulty in finding persons who could write to identify claimants. I do not believe that either of one of those persons whose signatures appear upon the declaration would deny anything if brought face to face with me. I am the attorney. My statement has been real and is correctly recorded. If they deny it is from undue pressure.”

 

Deposition, Henry Harrison Jones, 26 April 1895
51 years old; occupation, laborer; residence and post-office address, 34 East North st., Norfolk, Va., Huntersville mail.
…
Q. Were you in the army in the late war?
A.  Yes, sir, I was in Co. C., 37th USCT
Q. By what name were you enrolled in said company?
A.  I was enrolled under the name Henry Harrison. I am pensioned under that name by Ctf 668,604.
Q. Do you know John Binford of Norfolk and formerly of the 36th USCT?
A.  Yes. …
“Q. Have you ever signed and executed any pension papers with the said Jno. Binford?
A.  Yes, sir. In May 1895 when Mrs. Lockwood had her office on  Church st near Queen in Norfolk. …”

 

Deposition, Catharine Billups, 19 June 1895
49 years old; occupation, housekeeper; residence, 249 Cumberland st, Norfolk, Va.; post-office address, 22 Salter st. Norfolk, Va.
“Q. Where were you living when your said husband left the service in March 1866?
A. He was discharged from service at Brazos Santiago, Texas on the 4th day of February 1866 and the regiment was brought to City Point, Va. and were discharged then or about March 15, 1866 and I think it was on or about the 15th day of March 1866 that my husband reached Norfolk where I was living on Main st and I forget the number with Mrs. Jones. after my husband got back from the army in March 1866 we lived in a kitchen in the backyard of the premises occupied by Mrs. Jones.

“I suppose we lived there about six months after my husband’s return from the army and then we moved to a house in Allentown Cove st, in the city and we lived there six or seven years. I had smallpox while living there. From Allentown, we moved on Chapel st., near Holt st. and we lived there two or three years. After that we moved about from place to place and did not stay long at any place.

“Q. When your husband returned from the army at what did he become employed?
A.  He worked on the wharves about the city at unloading grain from vessels and at loading it on the piers. That was his regular work even after he came out of the army.

“Q. Who worked with him at loading & unloading grain?
A. I used to hear my husband speak of a man named Bush as one of his fellow workmen but I don’t remember his first name. Henry Pearce is another man that worked with him. Pearce living on Bute st near the Old Baptist Church. These are all I remember.

“Q. What was your husband’s physical condition on his return from the army in March 1866?
A. He was in good health so far as I could see and I heard no complaint from him for all of ten years after leaving the service and then he began to have a hacking cough and complained of pain or a misery in his breast and he kept getting worse & worse until he finally gave up and went to the Soldiers Home, Va.

“I do not remember where we were living when my husband first began to cough but I knew it was some two or three years after we moved from Allentown. Yes, sir, my husband had varioloid and these some time thereafter he began to have a cough. After recovering from varioloid he took down with chills and fever then the cough and misery in his breast set in and he kept going down rapidly until he had to go to the Soldiers Home for treatment and he died there from disease of his lungs. The Dr. at the Home called it consumption.

“I was all right during the further investigation of my claim. I understand the questions asked me and my answers thereto have been correctly repeated here.”

 

Deposition, Phillip Bagnall, 20 June 1895 
51 years old; occupation, laborer; residence and post-office address, 279 Cumberland st., Norfolk, Va.
“I have known the claimant Catharine Billups since about the beginning of the late war. I just know her as the wife of Henry Billups. They were living together as husband and wife when I became acquainted with her but I had known the said Henry Billups for several years prior to the marriage. He was formerly from Matthews [sic] Co., Va.”

 

Deposition, John Boush, 19 June 1895 
53 years old; occupation, laborer; residence and post-office address, 42 Howard st., Norfolk, Va.
“I do not know the claimant … but I knew a Henry Billups with whom I served in Co “G” 1st USCC during the late war. I became acquainted with him in service. I knew him also as an associate here in Norfolk from the date of our discharge from service until he went to the Soldiers Home near Hampton, Va. to live and I saw him once after he went there.
“Q. Did you know him to suffer from any disability?
A.  He worked at loading & unloading grain from the time he came out of the service until he got sick and had to go to the Soldiers Home. It was several years after his discharge from service before I knew anything to be the matter with him. He then took a severe cold which resulted in a bad cough. Some of the men who worked with him in hauling grain told him that the dust from the oats & corn which he was handling caused him to have that cough. Richard Grant (dead), Oscar Miller (dead) & Owen Sykes were his fellow workmen.”

 

General Affidavit, Frank Foster, 16 March 1898
post-office address, Norfolk Co., Va.
“that he and Henry Billups belonged to the same owner before the war and were raised together; that he was intimately acquainted with him; that he served in the 37th USCT; that Billups was discharged a short time before affiant and came back to Norfolk; that affiant came to Norfolk as soon as he was discharged; that Billups lived in Norfolk from discharge until short while before death; that he saw Billups often during that time; that when Billups was discharged from service he was suffering from what affiant believes to have been a.sthma; that symptoms of disease were shown by difficulty in breathing; that during his attacks of this disease he was compelled to quit work; that he suffered from this disease continually from his discharge to time of death; that at times he was completely disabled from performing manual labor on account of it so much that he was compelled to give up all work and become an inmate of the Soldiers Home where he died; that affiant often visited at Billups’ house and saw him laid up in bed from the effects of this disease; that Billups often told him that this disease came on him while in service and that he began to suffer from it before he was discharged; that he makes these statements from his intimate acquaintance with the soldier and with his physical condition; that he has no interest in this case.”

 

General Affidavit, Phillip Bagnall & Jasper Cornick, 19 May 1898 
[Bagnall] 2 North St. (Huntersville)
[Cornick] 62 Chapel St., extended
“that they served in the same company and regiment with Henry Billups; that they were well acquainted with said Billups; that they knew Billups before he enlisted … ”

 

General Affidavit, Phillip Bagnall & Willis Quickmore, 20 May 1898
[Bagnall] residence, 2 North St., Norfolk, Va.
[Quickmore] residence, 42 Fifth St., Norfolk, Va.
“that they were both well acquainted with Henry Billups and served with him in the same company and regiment; that they knew said Henry Billups before he was enlisted in the same service …”

 

General Affidavit, Willis Quickmore, 13 August 1898
66 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk County, Va. … “that he served in the same company as Henry Billups; that he also knew him intimately about seven years before Billups enlisted in the army … that affiant lived in Norfolk, Va. with said Billups from the time they were discharged until Billups went to the Soldiers Home; that during that time he visited at Billups’ house, worked with him, and saw him about three times a week …”

 

Deposition, Catharine Billups, 13 February 1901
about 55 years old; occupation, laundress, post-office address, 127 Liberty st., Norfolk, Va.
“I am the widow … I never knew him by any name other than Henry Billups, and I knew him long before the war. His owner’s name was Brooks. My owner’s name was Land and we were married by the consent of our owners here in Norfolk, Va. several days before the war and we lived together until he enlisted. We resided in Norfolk, Va.

“I never knew any of his relatives except a sister, Maria Smith, Liberty St., Norfolk, Va.
“I know he enlisted in the 1st Cav for I visited him in camp at Old Point and at Portsmouth. He enlisted in Norfolk, Va. and was discharged in Texas. I don’t know how long he served. I don’t know what he did with his discharge. He was paid some money soon after the war. I don’t know whether it was bounty or what it was. I don’t know when he was born. A man by the name of Bagnall and another by the name of Wilson served with him. He was not a pensioner. He died at the Hampton, Va. Home 10 or 11 years ago.
“He had been a resident of the Home 2 or 3 years. He and I lived together in Norfolk, Va from the time he came home from the army until he became a resident of the Hampton Home.

“I had two children by the soldier — Mary Williams and Cass Billups. Mary was married shortly after the soldier died. My son Cass has been away from town most of the time since the soldier died. My children were over 16 when the soldier died.
“I have supported myself by doing laundry work since the soldier died.
“I resided on Bank st., between Queen & Bute when soldier died and for a year afterward. Then on Liberty st for 2 or 3 years. Then in Queen st between St. Paul and Cumberland for two years and since then at 127 Liberty st.
“I have never kept any boarders or lodgers. I have never rented any of my rooms.
“I have lived with my daughter and with my cousin Mary Wallace, 100 James St., ever since soldier died.
“I have not married since the death of my said husband.
Lazarus Tate and Philip Bagnall were witnesses in my pension claim.
“I never had a former husband and my said husband never had a former wife. J.W. Morris, Washington, DC was my atty.
“A Wm. Gant, dead, did my writing for me and I paid to nim $10 for his service. ______ Warren, Bank st. executes my vouchers. I go to his office on the 4th and take two witnesses.
I have not been known by any names other than Catharine Billups since my said husband died.”

 

Letter from Catharine Billups [on letterhead of Hubard and Hubard, Attorneys-at-Law, 145 Bank Street, Norfolk, Virginia] to Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, DC, 25 September 1916
“… I am 72 years of age having been born 1844 at Princess Anne Co., Va. …  [residence] 423 Liberty St., Norfolk, Va.”