Charles Milburn, Company B

Killed in action six months after his enlistment? Confirmed. Born in St. Mary’s County, Maryland? Confirmed. A young widow with two children? Maybe.  

 

Widow — 105,232 / 99,305, Mary E. Milburn
Minor – 406,701 / —– , Gustavus Milburn 

Note: Mary’s claim gave the soldier’s name as “Charles Milburn” which was the name under which he enlisted; Gustavus made a claim several years later and reported the soldier’s name was “Sandy Milburn.” Two pension index cards were created but on pension application folder. Please see the comments section which explains how the discrepancy was resolved — Leslie.]

 

Sworn Statement, Mary E. Milburn, [undated]
“[T]here was one child, born to her by her husband, Charles A. Milburn during her marriage that was living at the time of her husband’s death, to wit Ann Rebecca Milburn who was born about 1st December 1859, and now resides in the City of Norfolk, State of Virginia; and that after her husband’s death, to wit, on the ___ day of June A.D. 1865 she had by him another child, Frederick Abraham, now living with her in Norfolk.”

 

Widow’s Claim for Pension, Mary E. Milburn, 8 August 1865
22 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
“That her maiden name was Mary E. Mason and that she was married to said Charles A. Milburn on or about the 25th day of December 1857, at Great Mills, in the County of St. Marys and State of Virginia [sic] …”
“Also personally appeared before me Charles E. Raboteau [sp?] and Alice Tarlton, residents of Norfolk City & County . .”
[Note: St. Mary’s County is in Maryland — not Virginia — Leslie]

 

Department of the Interior, Pension Office (Form 14), 15 November 1865
“Were there two Milburns in Co. B?”

 

Widow’s Claim for Pension, Mary E. Milburn, 16 July 1866
23 years old; residence, Norfolk, Virginia … “That she was married to Charles A. Milburn on or about the 25th day of December 1858, at Great Mills in the County of St. Mary’s in the State of Maryland by Rev. Father McMullen and that she knows of no record evidence of said marriage and believes that none is in existence. …. [her husband] died at or near Newport News in the State of Virginia [in] December 1864, while in the discharge of his duty, at the hands of armed rebels by musket shots (shot while on guard) … Also personally appeared before me Alice Tarlton and Thomas H. Milburn, residents of the City of Norfolk … and that the said Alice was an eye-witness of the marriage ceremony of the applicant and Chas. A. Milburn & said Thomas knew that they cohabited as man and wife about six years.”

 

Widow’s Claim for Pension, Mary E. Milburn, 5 April 1867
25 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Box 270, Norfolk, Va. … “she was married to said Chas. Alex. Milburn on or about the 25th day of December 1859 at Allston’s Plantation, Md in [State of Maryland] by Father McMullen … She further declares that said Chas. Alexr Milburn her husband, died in the service of the United States on [the] James River … on or about the 11th day of December 1864 of gunshot wounds, received on a tugboat in charge of Capt. Sawtell, sent to procure rock for paving … [her children with her husband who were under 16 years old at the time of his death] Ellen Ann Rebecca born 25th December 1860 … Frederick Abraham born 12 June 1865″

 

Sworn Statement, Jane Jones & Rosa Turner, 5 August 1867
[Jones] residence, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va. and [Turner] residence, City of Norfolk, Va. … “they were well acquainted with Mary E. Milburn and her late husband Chas. Alexander Milburn … having known them for the space of twenty years, and that they were present and eye-witnesses of the birth of Ellen Ann Rebecca [a child of the couple] which occurred at Allston’s Plantation in the County of St. Mary’s and State of Maryland on the 25th day of Dec 1859. They further swear that there is no record, public or private, of the birth of this child, nor was there a physician present …”

 

Sworn Statement, Jane Jones & Rosa Turner, 5 August 1867
[Jones] residence, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va. and [Turner] residence, City of Norfolk, Va. … “they  were well acquainted with Mary E. Milburn having known her for the space of twenty years … they were present at and eye-witnesses at the birth of Frederick Abraham … which occurred on the 12th day of June 1865 at Norfolk in the County of Norfolk. They further swear that there is no record, public or private, of the birth of this child, nor was there a physician present …”

 

Claim for Widow’s Pension With Minor Children, Mary E. Milburn, 21 August 1867
residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Box 270 Norfolk, Va. … “Charles Milburn was mustered as a Private on 22 February 1864 … killed in action 6 December 1864 … Charles A. Milburn and Mary E. Mason were married 25 December 1858 at St. Mary’s, Maryland shown by testimony of a person who was present and evidence of cohabitation … [their children] Ellen Ann Rebecca born 25 December 1859 who will be 16 years old 24 December 1875 [and] Frederick Abraham born June 1865 who will be 16 years old 11 June 1881 … ”

 

General Affidavit, Charles Tarlton, 31 March 1890
75 years old; post-office address, Hampton, Va.
“I knew Sandy Milburn long before the war. He married my daughter and had only one child by her and it was Augustus. …. This is his son and the only one and I have been knowing him all of my lifetime.”

 

Claimant’s Statement, Gustavus Milburn, 11 March 1891
residence, Hampton, Va.; post-office address, Hampton, Va.
“That Sandy Milburn, claimant’s father … was five feet six inches in height, weighed about 180 lbs., was of heavy frame, large face, clean shaved, brown-black color, black eyes, short black hair, age at time of enlistment 25 years; by occupation a farm laborer; was born in St. Mary’s Co., Md. and that he was owned by a widow named Bower [sp?] and that he enlisted at Port Smith [sic], Va. and that he was shot on James River, Va. in the year 1865.”