Alexander Foreman, Company E*

*Today’s post includes research notes for documents dated 1889-1894. Next week’s post will include research notes for documents dated 1899-1911.

The soldier suffered frostbitten feet while patrolling telegraph wires from City Point, Prince George County, Virginia to Swan Point, Surry County, Virginia. The cause of his damaged eyesight is unclear. After discharge, he was unable to work and couldn’t afford proper medical treatment. He lived with his wife and child in Norfolk, Virginia.

Invalid — 773,440 / 576,126
Widow — 881,045 / —–, Emma Foreman

Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Alexander Foreman, [no apparent date]
[married] Jane Etheredge
[when, where, by whom] 1886, Norfolk City, Rev. Benjamin Holt
[record] Norfolk City Court
[previously married] no
[children living] Jackson Mc DV Foreman, born 14 of September 1896

Questionnaire, Alexander Foreman, 16 June 1889
[married] yes, Emma J. Foreman, Emma J. Etheridge
[when, where, by whom] about 1887, Norfolk, Rev. Benjamin Holt
[record] Norfolk City Clerk’s Office
[previously married] no
[children living] one, Jackson McKinley D. Foreman born the 14 of September 1896

Declaration for Original Invalid Pension, Alexander Foreman, 3 March 1890
48 years old; residence, Tanners Creek, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 33 James St. Norfolk City, Va.;
“contracted frozen feet while patrolling taking care the telegraph wires leading from City Point to Swan Point, Va. He was cut off from his company by the enemy and he never got back to his company for near two days, laying in the swamp in his wet clothes and very cold.”
“Also personally appeared Othaniel Brown, residing at 86 Queen St., Norfolk, Va. and Edwd. Robinson, residing at Norfolk, Va. “

Claimant’s Affidavit, Alexander Foreman, 2 June 1890
48 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 33 James Street, Norfolk, Virginia
‘That he has never been treated but by one doctor since the war of 1861 and that was Dr. Lewis of Norfolk. He became [sic] to treat him soon after his discharge and continued to treat him often and on for five years. The said doctor is now deceased some ten years since said time he has used herbs and liniment and bought a great deal of medicine from different drugstores that was when he was able to urn [sic] money to buy medicine with.

Questionnaire (Form 3-060), Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, 10 January 1891
“It is alleged that Alexander Foreman … while on duty at Fort Powhatan, Va. on or about November, 1864, he was diabled by frozen feet & eyes affected … and was treated [in] camp by Dr. Bradford S. Manley“

Claimant’s Affidavit, Alexander Foreman, 19 January 1891
48 years old; residence, Tanner’s Creek, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 38 James St
“… Dr. Lewis of Norfolk Co. having attended him for long time after war but who is now dead, that he has depended on sick remedies as could be obtained from drugstores and other places where he was advised to apply that his condition has been so bad that he has not been able to obtain money to employ doctors “

General Affidavit, Alexander Foreman, 19 January 1891
48 years old; residence 22 James St., Norfolk Co., Va.
“Since his discharge he has resided at Newman Creek, Norfolk Co., Va. where he resided for about 18 years. He then came to Norfolk City and lived on Freemason, Green, Smith, James, Rogers Court and Brewer, and now resides at above address although he works in Norfolk Co. a short distance from town…”

Claimant’s Affidavit, Alexander Foreman, 5 April 1893
49 years old; residence, Indian Creek, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Indian Creek
“I suffer with frosted feets [sic] and affected eyes … and I cannot get the testimony of my commissioned officer because I know not where he is nor the first Sergeant of my Company because have not seen or heard anything of them since I come out the service.”

Claimant’s Affidavit, Alexander Foreman, 2 December 1893
47 years old; residence, Indian Creek, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Indian Creek, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I was taken in the year of 1862 with the rheumatism up James River at Fort Mahattan before being surrounded and I had to wade through the cold water in the winter”
Witnesses: Virginia Jordan and Ella Jordan
[Note: The back of the form indicates that Warren Jordan is Justice of the Peace — Leslie]

Circular Call No. 7 (3-100), Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions September 22, 1894
“Claimant failed to appear within the specified time.”
[Note: The document is signed “Dr. W.A. Plecker, Secy, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, Va.” — Leslie]