When this soldier died in service, he was in debt to the U.S. Army (15 cents for ordnance plus $1.64 for camp and garrison equipage) and he owed $14.00 to a sutler.
— Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served with the United States Colored Troops [microform]: 1st through 5th United States Colored Cavalry, 5th Massachusetts Cavalry (Colored), 6th United States Colored Cavalry (1997). Reel 0001 – 1st United States Colored Cavalry: Ackess, Alexander – Bom, John H. at https://archive.org/details/compiledmili0001akesunit/page/n5 ). Banks’s Compiled Military Service Record (CMSR) can be viewed at n863-n880.
Widow — 141,638 / 108,524, Caroline Banks
Caroline Banks, Widow’s Claim for Pension, 26 January 1867
25 years old; post-office address, Norfolk, Virginia
“was married to said Dennis Banks on or about the 24 Dec 1860, near Elizabeth City in the county of Pasquotank, and State of North Carolina by mutual consent ….married by consent of master John Banks to Dennis Banks by consent of his master John Banks … Dennis Banks [died at] Brazos Santiago, in the State of Texas, on or about the 5 day of July, 1865, of cholera … at the time of his death, one child born in wedlock since dead”
“Also personally appeared before me, Dempsey Elliott, and Raphael Wright, residents of Norfolk County, and State of Virginia”
Sworn Statement, Caroline Banks, 29 January 1869
“her maiden name was Caroline Banks. That she was married in the mode common among persons of color in the state of North Carolina at that time, without a license or the service of a minister of the gospel, but by mutual consent and by cohabitation of the parties”
“At the same time, personally appeared Henry Banks and Manuel Banks … that they are well acquainted with Caroline Banks … have known her for twenty years. That they were also well acquainted with her husband Dennis Banks … the said parties and the affiant living near neighbors of each other in the county of Pasquotank, NC all their lives … were present when [the couple] married, in the mode common among persons of color in North Carolina”
Marriage License [copy], Edward Clarke and Mrs. Caroline Banks, 30 December 1871
Norfolk County; Husband, 26 years old and single. Wife, 25 years old and widowed. Both lived in Norfolk County, Virginia. He was born in Norfolk County, Virginia to “Jas. and Lottie Clark.” and worked as an oysterman. She was born in Edenton, North Carolina and her parents weren’t named. They were married by Reuben Jones at Churchland, Norfolk County, Virginia.
Widow’s Claim for Arrears Pension, Caroline Banks, 20 March 1883
39 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Virginia; post-office address, Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia
“she is the widow of Dennis Banks who was a Corporal of Company K commanded by Captain Whitehead of the 1st Regiment of the U.S.C. Cavalry Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Jeffey Geard and who died in U.S. Service at Brazos Santiago Texas … September 1865″
“That she was married to the said Dennis Banks on December 1856 at Perquinky [sp?], NC by consent of their former owners; that her name before her said marriage was Carline Banks … appoints William Ward, 276 1/2 Queen St. of Norfolk, Va., her attorney”
“On the same day personally came Charles Easn a resident of Western Branch township, Va. and Benjamn Jenkins a resident of Western Branch township, Va. … they have been personally acquainted with the soldier and his wife 30 years or more.”
“[signed by] Chas. Eason … Ben Jenkins“
Note: Spelling variants — “Dennis,” “Denous,” “Denis,” and “Dempsey” — appeared in the Compiled Military Service Record — Leslie
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 
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