Scipio Pollard alias William Henry, Company C

The soldier’s mother owned significant property in what’s now Hampton, Virginia. Her application was denied because she failed “to furnish the necessary evidence showing date and cause of soldier’s death.”  However, his mother’s application included addresses for members of Company C and though most lived in Virginia two individuals lived in Kansas and Oregon. A year after the war ended the soldier died in Norfolk County, Virginia; he was born in King and Queen County, Virginia. 

Mother – 527,256 / —–, Catherine Pollard

 

Notarized Statement, Scipio Pollard, 10 March 1866
“I, Scip Pollard have made, constituted, and appointed, and by these present do make, constitute, and appoint C. Leonard, Washington, DC, my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name, place and stead, to prosecute my claim to Bounty filed in the Washington, DC under act of Congress, and also to receipt; and hereby revoking all other Powers of Attorney, giving and granting unto my said attorney full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully, to all intents and purposes, as I might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution and revocation hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said attorney, or his substitute, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
“I claim $100 Vet. Bounty and difference of pay up to May 1, 1864.
“In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 10th day of March, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
“Scip Pollard [his mark]
“Sealed and delivered in the presence of
“E. Humphrey Randan
“J.E. Tuller”

 

Notarized Statement, Henry Rhone & Henry Pollard, 13 November 1868
“[These two men], citizens of the county of Elizabeth City, State of Virginia, reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid claim as follows:
“That the aforesaid Scipio, died in Norfolk, Va., in the month of September 1867, day unknown, that they both attended his funeral.”

 

Claimant Affidavit, General Affidavit, Catherine Pollard, 6 December 1897
74 years old; residence, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, Virginia; post-office address, Hampton, Va.
I Cathren Pollard is the mother of William Henry alias Scipio Pollard … When my son went in the Army we called him Scipio Pollard and his name is Scipio Pollard. But when he went in the army he enlisted in the name of William Henry. When he came from Texas he came to Hampton to my house and he was there since he told me that he enlisted under the name of William Henry, that he was going to Norfolk and be discharged and return back to Hampton here where I lived. He went to Norfolk and died. Mr. S.E. Beckford was acting as my agent. March 21st he sent for me to come downtown in Hampton. He had a letter for me. When I came he read the letter and it said that the paymaster was coming to Norfolk, Virginia and I must come over to get my money from my son’s bounty. . . [my son] died in the year of 1866 in Norfolk, Virginia. I don’t know the month. I only had one son in the service. His name was William Henry in service and when home his name was Scipio Pollard.”

 

Questionnaire (Form 3-514), Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions for Names and Addresses of Post-office Addresses of Officers and Comrades of Company C, 1st Regiment USC Vol. Cav, 12 February 1898

Frank A. Smith	1 Lt.	Pension Bureau
Edmund Bothwood	2 Lt.	Ottawa, Franklin Co., Kansas
Joseph Jones	Sgt.	Box 71, Newport News, Va.
Geo. O. Allen	Sgt.	Toano, James City Co., Va.
Harry Foreman	Pvt.	23 Mills Ave., Yonkers, N.Y.
Johnson Foreman	Pvt.	67 Va. Street, Norfolk, Va.
Sandy Crag	Pvt.	25 Fox St., Norfolk, Va.
Napoleon Capron	Pvt.	75 Newton St., Norfolk, Va.
Frank Robinson	Pvt.	Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
Louis Selden	Pvt.	Phoebus, Elizabeth City County, Va.
Cicero Hill	Pvt.	Natl. Home, Elizabeth City County, Va.
John Ferby	Pvt.	Grafton, York County, Va.

 

Questionnaire (Form 3-514), Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions for Names and Addresses of Post-office Addresses of Officers and Comrades of Company C, 1st Regiment USC Vol. Cav, 12 February 1898 

Sampson L. Whiteman	Capt.	Buena Vista, Polk Co., Oreg.
Edward R. Pitti	Sgt.	Bowers Hill, Norfolk Co., Va.
Stephen Riddick	Sgt.	Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va.
Azariah Griffin	Pvt.	Camden C.H., Camden Co., N.C.
Willis Counsel	Pvt.	Washington, Beaufort, N.C.
Moses Dawley	Pvt.	Knotts Island, Currituck, N.C.
Chas. Cooke	Pvt.	Peake’s Turnout, Hanover Co., Va.
Henry Hopkins	Pvt.	121 Pr. Anne St., Norfolk, Va.
Saml. B. Humphries	Pvt.	46 Moseley St., Norfolk, Va.
Jacob Ashburn	Pvt.	Bowers Hill, Norfolk Co., Va.
Peter Fentress	Pvt.	Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
Jerry Wilkins	Pvt.	Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.

 

 

Questionnaire, Catherine Pollard, 14 April 1898
[Residential history] Hampton post office, I live at the residence of Rosie Marable. In 1866, I lived in Hampton on King St. I live little out of town. Now on Queen St at the residence of Rosia Wormbley. No number.
[Occupation since date of filing your claim in 1891] Picking peas or little washing
[Also known as] Catharine Pollard 

 

Affidavit of Claimant, Catherine Pollard, on/about 29 June 1901
“My son, Sipio Pollard, alias William Henry, was born in King and Queen Co, Va. He was dark complected. His present home would have been here in Hampton with me had he not died. Before he got his discharge he came from Texas and went to Norfolk, Va. To be discharged but died before he got his discharge. The only way I can tell you why he changed his name was because he went in the army and he was afraid his owners would catch up with him.”

 

Notarized Statement, Catharine Jefferson, 7 November 1908
about 75 years old; post office address is #326 W. Queen Street, Hampton, Virginia … “I was first married to Henry Rhone when I was a colored slave during the Civil War and continued to live with him until he died sometime during the year 1891; I then married Thomas Jefferson, and lived with him until he died in June 1906: I have no other property other than a small house and lot worth about $400.00 and located in the Wythe District, Elizabeth City County, Virginia, which is assessed on the property books at $310; I have no personal property and no income: I am unable to do manual work and am entirely dependent upon my adopted daughter and her husband who live in my house, for support, and have been ever since the death of my husband, Thomas Jefferson. There is nobody legally bound for my support since the death of my husbands. And those who have contributed to my support are very poor and have families dependent upon them.”

 

General Affidavit, Walker Toliver & Gust Milburn, 23 November 1908
[Tolliver] [illegible] years old and [Millburn] 49 years old; both of Hampton, Virginia … “We are well acquainted with Catharine Jefferson the above-named applicant for pension and were familiar with her personal and financial affairs during the years 1891 and 1892 and we know that during this period that the only property owned by her or in which she had any interest was a small house and lot in Hampton, Va. Worth about $400.  From Sept. 1891 to Mch 1892 claimant has had no means of support other than her own work and the contributions of those not legally bound for her support.”

 

General Affidavit, William Morgan & Charles Buckner, 23 November 1908
[Morgan] 43 years old and [Buckner] 29 years old; both of Hampton, Va. …. “I am personally acquainted with Catharine Jefferson and knew her when she was the wife of Henry Rhone. She has a small house and lot on West Queen Street, Hampton, Va. Where she lives, and where she has lived for more than 20 years. Worth about $400….She has never had anymore than she has now since I knew her as Mrs. Catharine Rhone. I know the above facts by having lived in the same community with her and seeing her almost daily. Henry Rhone was dead about a year when she married Thomas Jefferson who about June 1st 1906.”

 

Dependent Mother’s Pension, Catherine Jefferson, 16 February 1909
“326 West Queen Street, Hampton, Virginia … Rejection on the ground of claimant’s failure and apparent inability to furnish the necessary evidence showing date and cause of soldier’s death.”