The soldier’s pension application was hindered when his attorney went out of business and left the state with documents and paperwork. Two cousins also enlisted: Humphrey McCoy served in the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry, Company B and Moses McCoy served in 36th U.S. Colored Troops. Peter’s widow had “three acres and a hut near Great Bridge, Norfolk County, Virginia. The couple’s former slaveowner supported the widow’s claim.
Invalid — 879, 471 / 688,044
Widow — 811,977 / 607,397, Lucinda McCoy
Deposition, Humphrey McCoy, 2 November 1891
44 years old; residence, 70 Willoughby St., Norfolk, Va.; occupation, huckster …”I have known [the claimant] all my life …”
Deposition (Form 3-446), Nelson Portlock, 2 November 1891
51 years old; post-office address, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va. “[The claimant and I] served together and have been neighbors continuously since our discharge from service…”
Deposition, Peter McCoy, 2 November 1891
56 years old; post-office address, Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va.
Deposition, Emmerson Cuffee, 19 May 1893
about 68 years old; post-office address, Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va.; occupation, farmer … “I know Peter McCoy. I been knowing since before the war … ”
Deposition, Jeffrey Cousins [Carson?], 20 May 1893
about 53 years old; post-office address, Berkley, Va.; occupation, farmer … “I have been acquainted with [Peter McCoy] ever since I have been big enough to know anything ….”
Deposition, Peter McCoy, 22 May 1893
about 58 years old; post-office address, Berkley, Va.; occupation, farmer …
General Affidavit, Peter McCoy, 24 June 1895
residence, Berkley, Norfolk County, Virginia … “That he cannot return his old certificate and voucher because he deposited them with one C.B. Roper, a notary public and alleged pension atty. of 31 Bank St., Norfolk, Va., about 2 years ago for the purpose of having his claim completed, that the said C.B. Roper has failed in business and left this state taking with him all his books and papers.”
Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Peter McCoy, 4 June 1898
[married] Lucinda McCoy, maiden name Lucinda McCoy
[when, where, by whom] married before the war by my owner
[previously married] never married before
[living children] Mary born 1863; Frances born 1866; Sarah born 1868; Martha born 1870; Josephine born 1874; Denorah born 1877. India born 1880; Peter Thomas born 1882; Estell born 1884.
Deposition, Peter McCoy, 11 October 1901
65 years old; residence, near Great Bridge, Norfolk County, Va…” I was born a slave; was owned by William H. Ellis. My father was Daniel McCoy, and it was from him that I took my name…I was never on detached service … I gave my discharge to Mr. Brown when I was trying to get a bounty and it was never returned to me. I got the bounty all right but I cannot recollect what the amount was…prior to enlistment was a farm laborer.
“I was in the following engagements: Chicihomie [sic], Drury Bluff, Petersburg. We had only one man killed out of my company and he was killed at Chickihominie [sic], but I cannot recollect his name.
“Jeffrey Garrard was my Colonel; Brown was our Lt.; Col. Sypes was our Major; Archie McIntosh was my Captain; Spencer was my 1st Lt.; LaBode was my 2d Lt.
“Albert Long was our 1st Ord., Sgt., but he was succeeded by John Sales.
James Pool, Enos Dennis were my bunk and messmates in service.
“Milo B. Stevens was my attorney in Washington, but Mr. Brown did my writing from here. Brown charged me very little for what he did — a few cents each time he wrote a paper. He is now dead. Stevens got ten dollars when the claim was allowed.
“Enos Dennis and Humphrey McCoy were my witnesses. They charged me nothing. I was also a witness for them. I never got over or under $8 pension … George Hall of Great Bridge executes my vouchers. He charges me fifty cents for each voucher executed. He always swears me. I have never pawned my pension papers.
“I have been married only once; married Lucinda McCoy so her marriage to me did not change her name. We were married near Great Bridge, Va. Neither of us had been previously married and she is still living with me. We have only one child under 16 years of age, viz. Estelle McCoy and she is now 13 years of age.”
Sworn Statement, Wm. H. Etheredge, 23 July 1904
“To Whom It May Concern — I hereby certify that Lucinda McCoy the bearer of this note is the widow of Peter McCoy (dec’d). They came together as man and wife according to a customer in the state then followed. I can’t say positively when this took place but to the best of my knowledge, it was in the fall of the year 1861 or /62. Peter went into the Northern Army sometime during the war, got through safe and returned home at the end of the war and lived together as man and wife up to his death in May 1904. Peter the husband of Lucinda was a slave and belonged to the undersigned.”
Sworn Statement, E. Lumford, Henry Sivils, Casper Tillery, 4 November 1904
[Lumford, 64 years old], [Sivils, 63 years old], [Tillery, 46 years old] … “E. Lumford knows of the death of Peter McCoy only by the statements of neighbors that were present at the funeral & saw him buried. Henry Sivils knows of his death by the reason of he was in the immediate neighborhood at the time of his death, was attending John McCoy, a cousin of Peter McCoy during his last sickness. Casper Tillery knows of the death of Peter McCoy from the fact he was present when he died at twelve minutes to five 3rd day of May 1904. He was at the funeral & saw him buried. Each of the above witnesses certifies that they have been knowing Lucinda McCoy since they were children & have been living in the immediate neighborhood with each other all of their lives …”
Sworn Statement, Edmond Clemens & George Thornton, 25 July 1905
[Clemens, 76 years old], [Thornton, 29 years old]; residence [for both], Great Bridge, Virginia … “That they lived and have lived for more than 25 years in immediate neighborhood with Lucinda McCoy widow of Peter McCoy deceased; That Lucinda McCoy has a life interest in about three acres of land and a hut near Great Bridge in Norfolk County, Virginia left by her husband at his death which occurred on the 3rd day of May 1904. Value of said land and hut being less than $200.00 and her estate of less value than $25.00. That said valuations of real estate at $200.00 and personal estate at $25.00 are the highest. That said real and personal is the only property she possesses and has not disposed of any property since her husband’s death May 3rd 1904. That Peter McCoy was a poor sickly man and left his wife at his death in very humble, if not really needy, claimant compelled to work daily for her support.”
Sworn Statement, Lucinda McCoy, 25 July 1905
post-office address, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va. … “That she has a life interest in three acres of land and a hut near Great Bridge, Norfolk County, Virginia valued at about $200.00 and personal property at same place worth about $5.00 … [she has not] encumbered the said land. That she has no bonds, stocks or other valuables or property that as above. That she is a poor woman without any income save her daily labor and asks that this claim may be made special. That her husband’s funeral and sickness before death caused expenses which she worked out and paid … ”
Sworn Statement, Leroy W. Nicholas, Commissioner of Revenue, Second District of Norfolk County, Virginia, 28 March 1906
“… have made a careful examination of said lists for the years 1904 and 1905 and find that there is assessed against
Peter McCoy … personal property … 1904 … $8.00
Peter McCoy … real estate … 1905 … $260.00
Peter McCoy … personal property …1905 … $dead
Peter McCoy … real estate … 1905 … $dead
Lucinda McCoy … personal property … 1904 and 1905 … $nothing
Lucinda McCoy … real estate … 1904 and 1905 … $nothing
Lucinda McCoy widow of Peter McCoy has nothing additionally assessed with her name for year 1905 over and above the estate standing in the name of Peter McCoy in the year 1904”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 