Madison Lewis, Company B

Four unrelated men with the same surname served in Company B. Distinguishing identifiers were birthplace and parents’ names: Ashley Lewis, Company B (Edgecombe County, North Carolina), Isaac Lewis (Norfolk County, Virginia), Madison Lewis (Spotsylvania County, Virginia), and Peter Lewis (Northumberland County, Virginia).

Invalid — 1,026,463 / 1,103,600
Other Numbers — C-2503,575 / —-

Deposition, Madison Lewis, 12 June 1893
55 years old; occupation, minister of the Gospel; residence and post-office address, 80 North St., Norfolk, Va.
Q. When did you first apply for a pension?
A. Soon after the new law came out — about a year after I went to W.R. Drury to make an application for pension: James Langley and Isaac Kellum of my company had promised to be present as identifying witnesses for me but they were not there that day at all. There were several colored men in Mr. Drury’s office but none that I knew. W.R. Drury was the only white man in the office while I was there. Mr. Drury wrote out the application and I signed it by writing my name.”
Q. Do you know B.A. Richardson, Jr., a notary public? Did he ever swear you?
A. No, sir. I have no knowledge of him whatever. No man of that name ever swore me.
Q. Do you know W.R. Drury and S. Cherry and were they present that day?
A. I don’t know those men at all…”

Deposition, Isaac Kellum, 14 June 1893
69 years old; occupation, laborer; residence and post-office address, 83 Newton St., Norfolk, Va.
“I was never a witness for [Madison Lewis] in his pension case and I was never in Drury’s office with him …
Q. Do you know James Langley and were you a witness in any case with him?
A. Yes, I know him. He was in my company and we have been witnesses together in several cases but I was never a witness for Madison Lewis with Langley.
Q. Do you know B.A. Richardson, Jr. and did he swear you?
A. Yes, I know him but he never swore me in my life.”

Deposition, James Langley, 17 June 1893
55 years old; occupation, laborer; residence, Chickazola Ave., Huntersville, Norfolk, Va. … I have known Madison Lewis ever since we were together in the army but I was never a witness for him in his pension case. … I know Isaac Kellum well and was a witness for with him twice, once for a woman named Ford & once for a woman named Biddle. Those are the only two times I have been a witness with Kellum.
“I don’t know B.A. Richardson at all … I don’t know W.T. Drury and T. Cherry and they never witnessed my mark in any matter.
“I cannot tell how my name and mark came to be on Lewis’ paper as I never put it there or told anyone to put my mark or use my name in that case.”

Questionnaire (Form 3-389), Madison Lewis, 24 January 1905
[married] Matilda Janefield
[when, where, by whom] “25 day of December 1861; Died. Jan 1885”
[record] “the record of Masie Word [?] took place on about 27 of August 1887″
[previous marriage] divorced by Judge Gunner, pled desertion; married again to Ledora Henry from King William Co., Va.”
[living children] 5 children “Lewis born 12 of Oct 1864. James Lewis, June 30, 186? … Elman Lewis, 1842 … Uppermaure Lewis, 1875; Ida Lewis Aug 22nd 1879

Questionnaire (Form 3-493), Madison Lewis, 25 January 1905
[birthplace] Spotsylvania Co., Va.
[enlistment] Old Point
[residence before enlistment] Fortress Monroe, Va.
[occupation] sadler
[former owner(s) if enslaved] Joseph H. Jordann, near Mt. Pleasant, Va.
[discharged] City Point, Va.
[residence since discharge] Hampton, Washington, DC and Norfolk
[present occupation] pastor, Calvary Baptist Church in Norfolk
[height / skin color / scars] 5′ 6″ / dark brown / no
[known by another name] no
[current name/ known by] Rev. Dr. Madison Lewis
[current residence] “the nearest sub-post office 3 or 4 blocks away”

[Note: According to a church history, First Baptist Church, Berkley, and claimant’s questionnaire, Cavalry Baptist Church, in Norfolk, Virginia were pastored by “Madison Lewis.” Was this the same person or two people? — Leslie]