Charles Colding, Company A*

*The thirty or so witnesses provided “time and place” details about themselves and for many others known to them. Today’s post includes research notes for documents dated 1890-July 1917. Next week’s post will include research notes for documents dated October 1817-1921.

The Colding family from Suffolk, Nansemond County, Virginia applied for and received pension benefits for about thirty years. The soldier’s pension index card (not shown here) stated that he applied for benefits as an Invalid in 1890, his minor children received financial support, and his widow received a pension until her death in 1921.

Invalid — 765,634 / 598,507
Widow — 563,334 / 832,979, Burry Colding
Minor — 754,537 / 617,871, Burry Colding, Gdn

Statement, Dr. John T. Kilby [date illegible]
residence, Suffolk, Nansemond Co., Va. “I knew Charles Colding before the war & learned from himself and others that he enlisted & was a Sergeant in the Army of the U.S. during that late war between the states. … I am a graduate of University of Virginia, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia [illegible] 1848 & 49 & attendant lecturer for two years in the hospitals & schools of France & have been in active practice for forty years.”

Statement, Ed D. Phillips, MD [date illegible]
residence, Suffolk, Nansemond Co., Va. “I have been practicing medicine ever since my graduation 40 years and five days ago this the 29th March 1890…. his disability may very justly be estimated at one half.”

Marriage License, Charles Colding and Burry Kelly, 14 October 1892
Nansemond County, Va.; Colding was a 51-year-old widow when he married 21-year-old Burry. Both born in Nansemond County; both live in Suffolk. The groom’s parents were William Colden and his wife Mary. The bride’s mother was Mary Kelly; her father wasn’t named. The officiant was W.W. Gaines.

General Affidavit, Burry Colding, 14 December 1892
residence, Suffolk, Va.; “I commenced to live with soldier about Jany 1st, 1889, after the death of his first wife…. I had two children by him, Mary born Oct 14, 1889, and William born Oct 28, 1891. … Although we were not married by any legal ceremony prior to Oct 14, 1892, under the laws of Virginia, our cohabitation in the open manner of man and wife, recognized as such …”

General Affidavit, Sarah Lawrence and Kate Kelly, 14 December 1892
“We were present at the birth of Mary Colding … who was born Oct 14th 1889 … and also at the birth of William Colding … who was born October 28th, 1891.
“The said Sarah Lawrence was present in the professional capacity of midwife in eah occasion and Kate Kelly on account of her relation to the said Burry Kelly.”

General Affidavit, Thomas Holl and H. Holman, 14 December 1892
residence, Suffolk, Va.
“Affiants state they personally knew the soldier Charles Colding, from 15 years or more, they were also acquainted with his first wife, Mary Colding, who died in April 1884, which fact is known to affiants by reason of having attended her funeral. Affiants further declare that shortly after the Church Street Colored Cemetery in Suffolk, Va. on the 14 of April 1884.
“She died on Main Street in Suffolk, April 13, 1884 … we were intimate personal friends of the family …”

General Affidavit, S.S. Brosier and Wm. I. Reid, 17 December 1892
“We were present at the burial of Mary Colding, the first wife of Charles Colding who was buried in the Church St. Colored Cemetery in Suffolk, Va. on the 14 of April 1884.”

General Affidavit, Burry Colding, 18 January 1893
“I am unable to furnish a certified copy from the public or church record showing dates of births of the children because the church does not keep any record. There is no public record to be had.
“I am also unable to obtain the testimony of the physician in attendance at their births because there was no physician in attendance.”

General Affidavit, Thomas Holland and Oscar Powell, 18 January 1893
“We were well acquainted with soldier and claimant prior to January 1889…”

General Affidavit, Burry Colding, 30 January 1893
“I am unable to furnish a certified copy from the public records of the marriage of Charles Colding to his first wife Mary as I have been informed it took place about 1859 and in 1866 all the public records in the County Clerk’s Office were destroyed by a fire and I can find no one who can testify as to the time the marriage took place.”

General Affidavit, Josiah Crocker and William W. Newby, 6 February 1893
“That we have known Charles Colding for about twenty years and that his wife’s name was Mary … recognized each other as husband and wife up until up to within about two years of her death which occurred about seven or eight years ago and that he always recognized … Ada and Lula as his own children. We do not know the cause of their separation nor can we tell when they were married or became husband and wife.”

General Affidavit, Burry Colding, 13 March 1893
“I have made every effort to obtain some kind of proof of marriage of soldier to his first wife and proof of birth of her two children Ada and Lula … I have failed to find any such proof….”

General Affidavit, Burry Colding, 9 August 1893
“I am the widow of Charles Colding and we lived together and man and wife for four years, although no ceremony of marriage was performed … During that time two children were born and as we were told these children would not be considered legitimate by the laws of Virginia, and my husband being in bad health said that it would be best for us to have a ceremony performed and sent for Rev. W.W. Gaines of Suffolk, Va. who married us on the 14th day of October 1892. My husband died in about a week after the ceremony.”

General Affidavit, R.H. Hines, 16 April 1902 [stamped by Pension Office]
post-office address, Suffolk, Va. “I am well acquainted with Burry Colding … I live near the widow and have well know her, and her late husband for more than eighteen years.”

General Affidavit, Jas. S. Pleasants, 18 April 1902 [stamped by Pension Office]
post-office address, Suffolk, Va. “I have known Burry Colding all her life and also knew her husband Charles Colding. There is two children of Charles Colding now living with their mother, Mary and William, both of them beind under sixteen years old … I live close to her and have lived close to her for nearly all her life, therefore, am in position to know these facts.”

General Affidavit, Charlie Phillips and Josiah Crocker, 23 June 1903 [stamped by Pension Office]
post-office address, Suffolk, Va.
“We are well acquainted with the applicant, Burry Colding and were also well acquainted with her late husband, Charles Colding.
“Charles Colding only left two children, William and Mary, and we positively swear that these two children were under sixteen years old, Dec. 20th, 1901”

Statement, Luther Colding and John Cohoon, 16 October 1916
residence, Suffolk, Va.
“They have lived all these years in Suffolk, Va. and very close to the applicant …”

Statement, Mary Bryant, 10 March 1917
41 years old; post-office address, Suffolk, Va.
“I have known Burry Colding all my life, and knew her before her marriage to Charles Colding. I have always lived her in Suffolk, Virginia in same part of the town as Burry Colding…”

Deposition, Hannah Johnson, 20 July 1917
about 51 years old; occupation, housekeeper; post-offcie address, 815 Newlies [sp?] St., Suffolk, Va.
“I am the widow of Henry Johnson and am drawing a pension of $12 per month.
“I have known Burry Colding … since before the death of her husband. She was a chamber made [sic] on the boat between here and Norfolk, several years. I do not know how she has made her living since Colding died. I have seen her all along since her husband died 25 years ago in passing around. … I do not go about her. I don’t visit much.

Deposition, Burry Colding, 20 July 1917
“I do not know my age. I am beyond 40 though.”; occupation, housekeeper; post-office address, 100 Mahan St., Suffolk, Va.
“I do not remember the regiment in the army in which my late husband served but his company was H. When he died I had two children to draw pension William and Mary Virginia. I drew the pension as their guardian. I had to give bond to the court. Walter Hozier my attorney made settlement with the court for me.
“My maiden name was Burry Kelly. My father’s name was Peter Kelly and my mother’s name was Mary Kelly. I was born at Seppes [?] Chapel about 10 miles from here in this county. My parents brought me here when I was 8 or 10 years old and I have been here every since. I do not know what year I was married. I cannot say how old I was when I was married. I know I was wrong. My children were born before I was married. … I married him (the soldier) only a short time before he died but can’t give the date. I was living with my mother when I got married. Father and mother had separated. …. I never heard my late husband was ever married but once before he got married to me and I never knew the wife’s name that I remember. I understood that she died.”
“My youngest child was not twelve months old when his father died. He is 24 or 25 years old now.
“My husband died right across the street from where I now live. The house he died in has been torn down and a new one erected.”
“While the children were small I staid [sic] around home and washed and ironed and took care of them. I staid [sic] where my husband died only a short time. I then moved to Church Street. I have only lived in four places since my husband died and they were within a ston’es throw of each other. After my children got a little larger I got to be a chamber maid on the boat which used to run from here to Norfolk.
“I worked on there for 7 years. My rheumatism had gotten bad and I had to quit…. Here lately I have been doing some washing and ironing. All the officers on the boat are dead.
“Willis Price, Pine Street was a deck hand. He is the only deckhand I know of in Suffolk who worked on the boat. Different boats were used. It was called the Old Dominion Line. We made a round trip every time.
“I worked for Mr. ‘Nat’ Withers as cook for 4 yaers.
“I worked for Mrs. Hershey Woodard about one year before I went on the boat.
“I worked for a few weeks and a few months for some other people….
“I have been in this house for about 4 years. My son made his home here up to 3 or 4 months ago. He has gone to Hopewell to work. I lived at 110 Church Street before I lived here.
“Beda Butler and her daughter Margaret lived with me there. Margaret got married and I do not know she married. I do not know where in Norfolk they live. They went to Norfolk near 7 years ago. … Mr. Hozier is my attorney. I have not paid him anything or promised him anything.
“When he got my children money he took out his fees. I do not known how much ….”
[Note: Two witnesses were Tempie Kelly and Leon S. Colden — Leslie]