Napoleon Capron, Company C

Two witnesses from Brooklyn, New York presented their statements on letterhead from the local office of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). However, their relationship with the GAR isn’t defined. 

 

Invalid — 894,194 / 785,149

 

Declaration for Original Invalid Pension, Napoleon Capron, 12 January 1892
43 years old;  “… on or about the 18th day of April 1864 he received an injury to right knee caused by the falling of his horse on same … That he was treated in hospitals as follows: Regimental Hospital at Hampton … That since leaving the service this applicant has resided in Norfolk, Virginia … That prior to this entry into the service above named he was a man of good, sound physical health, being, when enrolled, a laborer. That he is now 2/3 disabled… also personally appeared Wilson Brickhouse residing at 84 Nicholson St., Norfolk, Va., and Henry Weldon residing at 51 Howard St., Norfolk, Va. …”

 

Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Napoleon Capron, 4 June 1898
[married?] Yes, Irine Capron, Maiden name, Irine Miller
[when, where, by whom] Feb 19, 1891 by Rev. Jesy Jones, Norfolk, Va.
[record] marriage certificate
[previously married] no
[living children] no

 

Death Certificate (copy), Irene Corprew, 13 May 1909 
Female, colored, married
Age: 50 years old
Occupation: housework
Birthplace: New Jersey
Length of time in New York City: 30 years
Father’s name/Birthplace, Isaac Miller, Virginia
Mother’s name/Birthplace: Sarah Miller, Virginia
Usual address: 24 Fleet Street
Cause of death: Gangrenous stomatitis (non-traumatic)
Attending physician: C.B. Bawn, M.D., Cumberland St. Hospital
Burial: Mount Olivet, May 16, 1909
Undertaker: F.H. Smith, 64 Fleet Street

 

Questionnaire, Napoleon Capron, 18 August 1917 
Birthdate/place: January 6th 1842/Norfolk, Va.
Post-office @ enlistment: Norfolk, Va.
Wife’s name: Irene Capron (Miller)
When, where, by whom married: 1889, Norfolk Co., Va., colored minister
Official record: yes, Norfolk County, clerk has record; I had certificate but lost same.
Previously married: no, my wife is deceased
Was previous wife married: not married prior to me
Living with your wife? deceased, 1909
Names/birthdates of all your children, living or dead: one child. William Capron, born 1890 in Norfolk County, Va. and died 1896

 

Death Certificate (copy), John H. Corprew, 9 August 1922
Male; colored; married; 72 years old
Occupation: laborer
Birthplace: Virginia
Father’s name/birthplace: Unknown/U.S.
Mother’s maiden name/birthplace: Eliza Corprew, Virginia
Length of residence in NYC: 40 years
Physician on hand: Benj. M. Briggs, M.D., 101 Willoughby St.
Burial: National Cemetery, August 13, 1922
Undertaker: Edward Watkins, 395 Cumberland St.
[Note: Pensioner died August 9th. The death certificate was filed August 17th. The third (but undefined) date on the document is August 25, 1922 — Leslie]

 

Marriage Certificate, Jno. N. Corprew & Mary J. Hayes, 2 July 1913
“This certifies that Mr. Jno. N. Corprew of [Norfolk, Virginia] and Miss Mary J. Hayes of [Brooklyn New York] were by me united in Holy Matrimony according to the Ordinance of God and the Laws of the State of New York at Brooklyn on the Second of July in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred Thirteen. [Officiant] Dr. W.M. Moss, Witnesses: Mrs. James Jackson, Mrs. Henry Johnson

 

Application for Reimbursement, Mary J. Capron, 23 August 1922
55 years old; residence, 188 Duffield St., Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
1 — [deceased pensioner’s full name] Napoleon Capron
2 — [reason for pension] unable to work
3 — [married?] yes
[number of times, to whom] twice; Mary Capron, 2nd wife
[wife survive him?] first wife dead
[names and death dates of all wives] 1st wife, Irina
[ever divorced?] no
[divorced wife still living?] no
[deceased divorced wife’s name and death date] Irina [illegible] Capron
4 — [children under 16] no
5 — [living children under 16] no
6 — [sick or death benefits paid on pensioner’s account] none
7 — [life, accident, or health insurance for pensioner] [blank]
8 — [names of insurance companies] none
9 — [beneficiaries] none
10 — [beneficiaries’ relationship to deceased] [blank]
11 — [premiums paid by pensioner] [blank]
12 — [premiums paid by others] [blank]
13 — [executor or administrator] no
14 — [money, real estate, personal property] none
15 — [value of property] [blank]
16 — [disposal of real estate] [blank]
17 — [disposal] [blank]
18 — [unendorsed pension check] no
19 — [your relationhip] wife
20 — [married] yes
21 — [cause of pensioner’s death] sickness
22 — [when did last sickness begin] “sick always for a long time”
23 — [ill enough to require daily attendance] last of July 1922
24 — [name and post-office address of physicians] Dr. B. Briggs, 110 Willoughby St., Brooklyn, NY
25 — [person who nursed the pensioner] his wife
26 — [pensioner’s address during last sickness] 188 Duffield St., Brooklyn, NY
27 — [where pensioner died] 188 Duffield St., Brooklyn, NY
28 — [date of death] August 9, 1922
29 — [burial] Brooklyn, NY
30 — [applied]

 

Names	Nature of Expenses	Paid or Unpaid	Amount
Benj. M. Briggs	Physician …….. $    5.00	Unpaid …………….	$    5.00
	Medicine ………….  2.50	………………………..	2.50
	Nursing & Care
Ed. Watkins & Son	Undertaker…. ..$139.00	………………………..	$139.00
	Livery ………………………..	………………………….	$146.50
	Other expenses
	By cash …………………….	…………………………	50.00
			.50
	Total …………. $146.50	…………………..	$ 96.00

32 — [all expenses of final sickness and burial] yes

“Also appeared Pierre Zeno, Jr. and Mrs. Mary A. Webb … that they know the claimant herein and that their answers to the following questions are true:
1 — [Did pensioner leave a widow or minor child under 16 years?] Yes
2 — [Death date] August 9, 1922
3 — [Did pensioner leave any property?] No
4 — “We knew pensioner 25 – 30 years.”

Pierre Zeno, Jr., post-office address, 1530 Prospect Place, Brooklyn NY
Mary A. Webb, post-office address, 1450 Prince Street, Brooklyn, NY

Statement of Attending Physician
Pensioner’s name … Napoleon Capron
Date of commencement of last sickness …. one week
During what period did you attend the pensioner? July 22, 1924
Nature of disease from which pensioner died … asthma following influenza
Name of person who nursed him … Mrs. Annie Walker, one week
Name of other physician who attended pensioner in last sickness … none
“Does your bill include a charge for all medicine furnished the pensioner during last sickness? Yes””Has your bill been paid; if so, by whom? Self”
Benj. M. Briggs, M.D., 106 [?] Willoughby St.

 

Memorial and Executive Committee, GAR, Kings County, New York, Mary A. Webb, 23 February 1923
51 years old; residence, 145 Prince Street, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
“That he has known the claimant, Mary J. Capron, for about thirty years and knows that she had not married prior to marrying the soldier Napoleon Capron on July 2, 1913.
“Also that the claimant and soldier husband have always lived together as husband and wife and have never been divorced or separated until the death of soldier August 9, 1922.
“All this deponent knows from his long and intimate acquaintance with claimant and husband.”

 

Letter from Washington Gardner,  Commissioner of Pensions to Bird S. Color [?], Commissioner, Department of Public Welfare, 327 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, New York, 2 May 1923
“Mrs. Capron has no title to pension as widow of said soldier because she married him after June 27, 1905 … the witnesses to said marriage being Mrs. Jennie Jackson and Henry Johnson”

 

Memorial and Executive Committee, GAR, Kings County, New York, Pierre Zeno, 26 February 1923
77 years old; residence, 1530 Prospect Place, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
“That he has known the claimant, Mary J. Capron, for about thirty years and knows that she had not married prior to marrying the soldier Napoleon Capron on July 2, 1913.
“Also that the claimant and soldier husband have always lived together as husband and wife and have never been divorced or separated until the death of soldier August 9, 1922.
“All this deponent knows from his long and intimate acquaintance with claimant and husband.”