Henry Falk, Company E

The soldier survived a debilitating gunshot injury to his eye during a skirmish at Chickahominy. After the war, he earned income first by repairing shoes and later by farming. His widow was known by at least three different names. The Special Examination’s investigation revealed that she’d falsely claimed her husband was the father of her four older children. The report revealed these facts and many details about relationships and community.

 

Invalid —  1,139,310 / 892,721 
Widow –680,631 /  476,993, Mary Falk

 

Form Letter from Arthur Beasley to Commissioner of Pensions, 29 January 1894
post-office address, Portsmouth, Virginia … “I know Henry Falk and have know him since 1866. I live within a half mile of him, know him to be confined to his house with rheumatism during the fall and winter of 1892 & 93 …”

 

Form Letter from Noah Ballard to Commissioner of Pensions, 31 January 1894
post-office address, Portsmouth, Virginia … … in the summer of 1865 soon after the arrival of our command at Brazos Santiago, Texas … [Henry Falk] … was reduced from the rank of a Sergeant and mustered out as a Private … at Chicahominy [sic], Va. in the year of 1864, the said Henry Falk was struck on the eyelid with a minnie [sic] ball”

 

Form Letter from Thomas Wright to Commissioner of Pensions, 31 January 1894
post-office address, Portsmouth, Virginia … “I know Henry Falk … live within a half mile of him and have for several years. He was confined to his house for a long time with rheumatism during the winter of 1892 & 1893 unable to help himself and was for over 5 weeks the recipient of charity from the public his children going around beging [sic] for me.”

 

Deposition, Henry Falk, 15 April 1895
about 55 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.
“My name is spelled Falk and I was called Falk in the Co but I don’t know my name was spelled on the rolls. There was no other man of my name or similar name in said Co.
“I lived in Nansemond Co., prior and up to the time of my enlistment near Holey Neck Chapel …
“At the time I was struck by a glancing bullet in the left eye, we were dismounted and I was crawling toward a fort (don’t know the name of it but was called the Chicahominy [sic] Fort) my co. and three other cos of the first C. Cav. were making an attack.  We were going through an old field and the fort was down in a marshy place. When about 150 yards from the fort I felt a stinging pain in my left issue. I thought the whole eyeball was knocked out….In a short time afterward Dr. Manning of my Regt. came washed out my eye and bound it up…. I cannot see the person before me with my right eye closed…. No one saw the bullet strike my  eye but Noah Ballard, Benj. Jenkins, and Capt. Charles Emerson (addresses unknown)… We had no Captain named Frank B. Garnet but had a Lt. named Lewis H Whiteman. He was present at that fight. Noah Ballard was my tentmate. Wm. Small, our first Sgt. at that time was afterwards killed. … After my discharge I came to Portsmouth, Va. and have lived in and about said city every since except from 1867 to 1869 when I lived 10 months in Bowers Hill and in 1874 & 75 when I went to Fla. worked in the woods getting out turpentine at different places. … [When I was living in Portsmouth] I lived in a double house … with my wife, now dead. Ellen Phillips also dead occupied the other part of the house … I have bought British Oil to rub with, have been using it off an on since 1866. I have also poulticed his back but I found that it did not do a bit of good. …
“Q.  What was your occupation in 1866?
A.    I followed shoe work, repairing shoes in Portsmouth, Va. In 1867, and since said time I have farmed for myself, except while I was in Fla. …  Elijah Copeland came to see me when I was sick the year after I came out of the army. He lived towards Deep Creek, the last I heard of him.”

 

Deposition, Arthur Beasley, 17 April 1895
55 years old; farmer; post-office address, Portsmouth, Va.
“I became personally acquainted with him within a year after we were discharged. He was then living in Portsmouth and I lived about 1/2 mile from him. … He has been living not more than 2 miles from me ever since the close of the war except for a while when he was away from here…”

 

Deposition, Thomas Wright, 17 April 1895
44 years old; farm laborer; post-office address, Portsmouth, Va.
I’ve known Henry Falk “ever since about the close of the war and have lived right close to him for about 20 years …”

 

Deposition, Robert Reddick, 17 April 1895
56 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Portsmouth, Va.
I’ve known Henry Falk “since 1866 as near as I can remember. I lived within about 2 miles of him up until about 10 years ago, since which time I have lived right close to him …”

 

Deposition, Benjamin Jenkins, 19 April 1895
about 58 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, Portsmouth, Va.
“I knew [Henry Falk] slightly before enlistment, saw him a time or two. …”

 

Deposition, Noah Ballard, 19 April 1895
about 52 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, cor Pearl & Columbia sts., Portsmouth, Va.
“[Henry Falk was struck’ near Ft. Powhatan up the Chicahominy [sic] …”

 

Deposition, Elijah Copeland, 22 April 1895
about 54 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Gilmerton, Norfolk Co., Va.
I’ve known Henry Falk “since 1875 … He came to my house in 1875 …. No, sir, I did not know the claimant prior to 1875. He never lived in Portsmouth, Va. to my knowledge. … I lived then near Gilmerton Locks. When I saw

 

Letter from Rev. Robert J. Hall to John Teicher, Special Examiner, 26 April 1895
“… He was in the army with me in Co E 1st US C Cav and I was command of the Co from Brazos Santiago, Texas to City Point, Va. and I hasn’t seen him since…”
Note: The reverend signed his letter “Rev. Robert J. Hall, Late Sgt. in Co. E 1st USC C Cav, Hicks Wharf, Mathews County, Virginia”

 

Deposition, Armstead Johnson, 2 July 1895
about 53 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, c/o Mr. W.H. Miles, Park Avenue, Norfolk, Va.
“I did not know [Henry Falk] prior to enlistment … Ransom Sutton was struck over the eye by a bullet during the flight at the Chicahominy …”

 

Deposition, Eli Dardon, 3 July 1895
about 74 years; occupation, none; post-office address, Portsmouth, Va.
“I have known the clmt Henry Falk since about 1855. After the close of the war in 1866 I saw him again. I lived near Getty’s Station, Va. and he lived about 4 miles from me. Later on he lived within about 2 miles of me, and about 20 years ago he lived in the same house with me for 12 months….”

 

Deposition, Thomas Dardon, 3 July 1895
about 57 years; occupation, farmer; post-office address, c/o Willis Driver, Portsmouth, Va.
“I have known the claimant Henry Falk ever since about the close of the war and have not lived more  than 4 miles from him. During that time, the greater part of that time I have lived much more near him and for 2 years about 14 or 15 years ago. I worked with him on the same farm.”

 

Deposition, Mary Falk, 29 May 1902
about 50 and 60 years old; residence, General Delivery, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, General Delivery, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va. … “His full and correct name is Henry Fulke or Falk. Can’t tell which is correct as he was called by both names though he told me his name was Falk.
“I got acquainted with him after the war — can’t tell how many years after — can’t say whether it was two or three years or more. Georgeanna was from about a year after I married soldier. She was born April 26, 1883. I had known soldier a couple of years before I married him.
“He had been married but once before he married me. He always told me that his and this first wife he had while he was away in the USA. … I understood she died at Armstead’s Store….
“He died in June or July 1898. Can’t give exact date. He died over at Mr. Watts farm, Sam Watts’ Farm. He had asthma and some other troubles. … Dr. __ Culpepper called on him … a colored doctor … not a regular doctor …
“I was married under the name of Mary Elizabeth Jones at Portsmouth, Va. by Rev. ___ Gaskins, a Baptist Preacher, I think. Can’t give you date….
“Since soldier’s death I have lived in this immediate neighborhood with my children. He left me 8 head.

Georgeanna	April 26, 1883
James H.	February 26, 1885
Martha	February 14, 1887
Anthony	January 17, 1889
Lucinda	August 31, 1891
Susan	June 13, 1893
Charles  }   twins	April 26, 1895
Thomas }

All these children are living with me here except Martha who is at home working. Georgeanna is married to Ben Crewell of Boren Town [sic].

“Q. How many children did you have before you married the soldier?
A.   Two boys and two girls. William Henry Jones who stays here with me. Dan Jones who is married in town on High Street across from ice factory. Lula lives here in town with her brother. Mary Jane who lives out here on railroad. She is married to John Albert Reddick.
Q.  Who is the father of William?
A.  He is dead. His name was Daniel Jones.
Q.  Of Henry — William Henry?
A.   The same man, Daniel Jones, was the father of all four.
Q.   How many other children did you have by him?
A.   None — dead or alive.
“Lula is the oldest child. Dan next. Wm. Henry, no Mary is next, and then Dan & then Wm. Henry.”
Q.   Can’t you give me some idea how old Lula was when you married soldier?
A.   No, she must have been 18, I guess, maybe less. My father’s name was Jones and I took the name Jones from him and not from the man I lived with.”

 

Deposition, William Jones, 11 September 1902
about 73 years old; residence, near Westover, Va.; post-office address, Westover, Virginia
“I know a woman who used to live here by the name of Mary Jones and hear she is now Mary Falk having married a soldier down in Norfolk Co. I got acquainted with her while she was living with Daniel Jones up in this neighborhood about two or three years perhaps before she went to Norfolk. … After Mary Jones or Falk went to Norfolk Co., Va. he remained around here about a year or more and then moved on or went to Washington, DC. …”

 

Deposition, Mary Falk, 27 September 1902
about 50 or 60 years old; residence, Piedmont Heights; post-office address, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.
Q.  I want to tell you right now that I have every reason to believe that there was never any such person in existence as Daniel Jones.  I inquired all the neighborhood and failed to find anyone who knew him. Can you explain this?
A.  No, I can’t. …
Q.  Do you know Tony Bass up in Charles City Co., Va.?
A.  Yep, I think I did.
Q.  You stated in your deposition before me on 29 May 1902 that Dan Jones was a slave and lived on the adjoining farm to yours up in Charles City Co., Va. during slavery and following the war you swear you had four children and still you mean to swear that you can’t name a single man who knew this Dan Jones or was related to him.
Q.  Why did you tell me Tom Wright knew Tom Wright knew Dan Jones?
A.  I don’t know anything about Tom Wyatt knowing Dan Jones.
Q.  Name some people knew you while you were up in Charles City Co., Va.
A.  My brother is the only one who knew me.
Q  You were called Betty Jones were you not when you were up in Charles City Co., Va.
A.  No. I can’t. …
“The above deposition was fully read over to deponent Mary alias Mary E. or Betty Falk in my presence and she fully acknowledged same to be true in all respects…”

 

Deposition, Thomas Wyatt, 27 September 1902
about 65 years old; residence, about three miles from Westover, Va.; post-office address, Westover, Va.
“I knew, or did know, a woman named “Betty” Jones but she moved down to Norfolk Co., Va. My niece Eveline is married to her brother Jack Jones. I have known Mary or Bettie Jones since soon after the war — about three years after the war or shortly before Lula was born — two years or so.  Don’t know what man she had or who she was living with. It was reported at the time at Tony Bass was the father of this child….
Q.  Daniel Jones?
A.  Never heard of him…. All I know about this woman Mary or Betty Falk or Jones is that she had a number of children up here before she moved down in Norfolk Co., Va. but I don’t know the father. She left here all of 15 or 20 years ago.”

 

Deposition, Jack Jones, 27 September 1902
about 58 years; occupation, laborer; residence, Brighton, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Virginia; post-office address, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I am the full brother of Mary Falk alias Mary E. Falk alias Betty Falk, She is about 45 as nearly as I can get at it. Don’t know how much older I am than she. … My father Moses (dead) and my father (dead) spoke of Dan Jones being the father.”