Willis Nixon, Company A

The applicant was the couple’s adult daughter. The midwife who delivered her testified that the applicant’s parents had been enslaved in Chowan County, North Carolina where they had a “slave marriage.”

Minor — 411,416 / 331,910, Harriet Allen

General Affidavit, Nathaniel Davis, 30 January 1890
52 years old; “citizen, Town of Norfolk … 257 Green [or is it Queen Street? — Leslie] St., Norfolk Co., Va.
“That he knew Willis Nixon from his return from army … was present at the time of his death which occurred in August 1868 … knows these facts from having lived in his house at time and having raised applicant from childhood. Mariah Davis age 53 living 257 Green [as above …Leslie] testifies to same facts as Nathaniel Davis. Penny Nixon the wife of Willis Nixon died in August 1883. She died in Mariah Davis’ house in Portsmouth, Va.”

General Affidavit, Richard Thompson, 14 Feburary 1890
34 years old; “citizen, Town of Norfolk … 283 [or is it 288? 238? — Leslie] Cumberland St. … “That he knew Willis Nixon from the time of his return from Army … Affiant waited on him during his sickness and was present at his death and attended his funeral. Also knows Harriet Allen daughter of soldier … his only child … Dr. Jassle attended him but is now dead. Emma Jane Ferebee, 32 years of age, living Springfield, Norfolk Co., Va. testifies to same, their knowledge is derived from having known the family well….”

Physician’s Affidavit, Harriet Allen, 15 February 1890
“citizen, Town of Norfolk, No. 19 Fifth St. … That she is unable to give the testimony of Doctors as there was none in attendance that she knows of, none who attended her father or mother, that she was young at the time and is entirely dept on the testimony of his comrades & friends…”

General Affidavit, Matilda Chambers, 15 February 1890
52 years old; “citizen, Town of Norfolk … Chapel Lane No. 21 … [that she knew] Harriet Allen from time of birth, that she was present when she was born and waited on mother in her confinement … January 1859 was the month and year … [the applicant’s mother and father] belonged to John Thompson in 1858 and were married on his farm in Chowan Co., NC. Know fact from having been present at time when married. Penny Nixon had two other children which were younger. They died in 1865, the same year and only one month after heir mother…”

General Affidavit, Mariah Davis, 30 January 1890
53 years old; “citizen, Town of Norfolk … 257 Queen St. … That she knew Penny & Willis Nixon, knew they were married, was present at time June 1858, cannot give exact date, that they had three children: Harriett, Willliam, and Henrietta
Harriet was born January 1861 living
Willliam ” ” ” August 1863 dead
Henrietta ” ” ” October 1864 dead
My knowledge of facts are derived from being present at time of birth but am unable to give a more accurate statement but know the month and year …”

General Affidavit, Ellen Johnson, 26 February 1890
45 years old; “citizen, Town of Norfolk … 158 Brewer St. … That she knew Willis Nixon, that he died close to my residence, that she visited him in last sickness, that he had been afflicted with what I supposed to be consumption … wasting away for years before death until he was a mere skeleton …”

General Affidavit, Thornton Johnson, 26 February 1890
52 years old; “citizen, Town of Norfolk … 158 Brewer St. … That he knew Willis Nixon, that he visited him frequently during his last illness … that he died on August 1872 I think I know that I attended his funeral and present when he died …”

General Affidavit, Edward Bray and America Hall, 5 March 1890
[Bray] 42 years old; residence, Princess Anne Rd., Norfolk Co., Va.
[Hall] 45 years old; 56 North Street, Norfolk, Va.
Norfolk County, Va. “That they knew Willis Nixon that they knew him from time of his return from Army until his death … finally died at Currituck Co., NC on or about 1869 … attended his funeral and assisted in burrying him. Also know Harriet Allen and know she is the only child of Willis Nixon, this knowledge is derived from long acquaintance and being intmate with the family until the present time.”

General Affidavit, Harriet Allen, 2 July 1890
29 years old; “Her father Willis Nixon died in 1868 August 3rd … her statements were made from what was told her by her uncle Nathaniel Davis that he had miscalucated the time and made it 1868 instead of 1869, that she was quite young and could not give dates from her own knowledge and was entirely dependent on others’ statements, that what she can learn from Maria Davis‘s statement was correct she being present when applicant was born and asserts that it was on the first month of 1861, the year the soldiers from her section entered in war of the rebellion, and this is what fastens the correct time of her memory. Claimant prays that the correct dates of August 3rd 1869 and the date of birth January 1861 be accepted as amendatory to her original statements in Declaration and that such corrections be accepted in proof of her claim.”