Two men with the same name served in the same company. Moses Wright and Maria Powell (below) married in Norfolk, Virginia. Moses Wright and Roselia Davis married in Portsmouth, Virginia. Both couples moved to New York and lived near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Incidentally, the USS Monitor made famous in the Battle of the Ironclads was commissioned there in 1862.
Widow — 464,198 / 342,309, Maria Wright
Transcript of Death Certificate (Brooklyn), Moses Wright, 1 August 1890
43 years old … date of death, 7 March 1885 … janitor … married … place of death, Bergen & 4th Ave., 10th ward … cause of death, apoplexy … cemetery, Evergreen … undertaker, Geo. H. Harris … medical attendant, H.J. Menninger, M.D.
Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Maria Wright, 31 July 1890
48 years old; residence, Brooklyn, Kings County, NY; post-office address, 150 Wyckoff St., Brooklyn, Kings County, New York … that she was married under the name of Maria Fowler, to said Moses Wright, on the 15 day of Nov 1870, by Rev. Ed. Williams, at Norfolk, Va. … That the names and dates of birth of all the living now children, under sixteen years of age, are as follows: Ida Wright, born Jan 7, 1875
[Note: Marriage reported as 15 November 1870 — Leslie]
Memo from Reverend Wm. L. Hunter, 4 August 1890
“This is to certify that I baptized Ida Wright at the Bridge Street AME Church Mar 11th 1888
“Rev. Wm. L. Hunter, 396 Carlton Ave., Brooklyn, New York, no Navy claim”
Sworn Statement, Rev. Edward W. Williams, 27 October 1890
“… a minister of the Gospel of the Methodist Episcopal Church who deposeth as follows: that he performed the marriage ceremony uniting Moses Wright and A. Maria Powell on the 15th day of December A.D. 1869 at his residence in the City of Norfolk, Virginia and was also present at the burial ceremony at the grave of said Moses Wright whose body was brought from the City of Brooklyn in the State of New York for burial, and know his widow A. Maria Wright who is now residing at No. 150 Wyckoff Street in the said City of Brooklyn.”
[Note: Marriage reported as 15 December 1869 — Leslie]
Note: The back of the statement is stamped “Butts & Phillips, Solicitors of [illegible], Lehman Colding [?], Washington, DC, Oct 31, 1890” — Leslie]
Sworn Statement, Maria Wright, 13 May 1892
44 years; residence, Brooklyn, New York
“… who deposes and says that she waives all claim for pension for children under Act June 27, 1890 for the reason that one is dead and that Ida Wright is now over 18 years of age, and if any claim has been made for such children she hereby withdraws and further that she has no other means of support than her daily labor since June 1890
“Witnesses: Lucinda Robinson, 190 Navy St., Brooklyn, NY; Rebecca Manley, 1479 Bergen St., Brooklyn, NY”
General Affidavit, Rebecca Manley and Lucinda Robinson, 2 July 1892
[Manley] residence, 1643 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, NY
[Robinson] 65 Fleet Place, Brooklyn, NY
“… have known Maria Wright and her husband Moses Wright for 27 and 28 years, respectively … ”
Transcript of Death Certificate (New York City), Maria Wright, 27 December 1931
female / colored / widow … 84 years old … housewife … born in Virginia … father, John Powell, born in USA … mother, Sophia Reid, born in USA … burial, Evergreen Cemetery … undertaker, A.L. Waters …
[Note: It’s a photostat. Much of it is blurred and can’t be read. — Leslie]
Letter from Ida Wright, 181 Carlton Ave., [no city, no state] to Mr. E.W. Morgan, Director, Veterans Administration, Washington, DC, 2 June 1932
“I am the daughter of Mrs. Maria Wright who died December 27, 1931 at 162 Adelphi St., this city. She was the widow of Mr. Moses Wright. Her certificate number was 342,309.
“I am forwarding the transcript I received from the Board of Heath [sic]. I have been away and just returned home.”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 
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