John Williams, Company K***

Five soldiers in this regiment have the same name and all five are associated with pension applications. One of them was a witness in this application.

Today’s post is about a soldier was born enslaved in northeastern North Carolina. He settled in Norfolk, Virginia after discharge and worked as a house carpenter. For three years veterans, neighbors, and friends provided testimony — and some repeatedly. Names and locations of close to 40 people have been identified. Though the applications were rejected, the interviews provide detailed information nowhere else recorded e.g. name changes, half-siblings, aunts and uncles, a fiancee, a disreputable attorney and notary public, occupations and trades, living conditions, customs, and so on.

***This might be the lengthiest pension application I’ve examined. Today’s post includes research notes for documents dated July 1895-1896. Previous posts included research notes for 1892-1893 and 1894-June 1895.

Invalid — 918,580 / —–
Mother — 567,311 / —– , Juda Williams

Deposition, Raphael Wright, 2 July 1895
53 years old; occupation, huckster; post-office address, 80 Ave.. A, Huntersville, Norfolk, Va.
“I became acquainted with the clmt Judy Williams about the fall of 1866, she then lived near Craney Island, Norfolk Co., Va. with her husband Decature Williams. Later on in the same year I became acquainted with the soldier John Williams. I used to see him at the house of his mother the clmt. … I lived in clmt’s neighborhood and not more than 4 miles away from her from 1866 until about 9 years ago. … died about 17 or 18 years ago in Norfolk Co., Va. …When I got acquainted with him in 1866 he told me that he served in my Regiment in Co. K. … I know that the soldier sent the clmt some money at times.”

Deposition, Edward R. Pitt, 3 July 1895
56 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Bowers Hill, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I was present with my company all the time except for 2 weeks about Sept 1864…. I remember John Williams. … did not know him before enlistment.
“He was a well man when he enlisted … but became feeble and sickly during his service. … We had nothing but shelter tents at [Camp Hampton near Ft. Monroe, Va.] and the weather was very cold… I saw him in Norfolk once or twice after discharge. I do not know the claimant.”

Deposition, John Hardy, 6 July 1895
50 years old; occupation, hacker; post-office address, 208 Cumberland St., Norfolk, Va.
“I have known the clmt Judy Williams all my life. She lived in Currituck Co., NC when I first met her. I also knew her son John Williams from his boyhood. His home was also in Currituck Co. NC before the war. … I knew his father Decatur WIlliams. He was my uncle. He died some years before the soldier.

Deposition, James Norman, 9 July 1895
77 years old; occupation, laborer when able to work; post-office address, Hayes Post Office, Gloucester, Va.
“I served in Co. K … I remember John Williams … I did not know him prior to enlistment and have never seen him since discharge.”

Deposition, Jerry Wilkins, 13 July 1895
73 years old; occupation, none; post-office address, National Soldiers Home, Va.
“I was well acquainted with John Williams … I knew him from boyhood. He belonged to a Mr. Bray or Gray in Currituck Co., NC. I lived across the river from him, about 4 miles, and used to pass over there very often to go to the mill and to go to a store. His father was named Kater and I knew him right well. His mother I did not know so well. I think her name was Katie. I saw her only a few times. I think she lives in the Western Branch. … [He then replies to the Special Examiner that her name might have been Judy or Juda.] I am not certain that her name was Judy but since you mention it, I believe that was her name.
“He was a very young man when he enlisted.”

Deposition, Elizabeth Lee, 15 July 1895
about 57 years old; occupation, housekeeper; post-office address, 10 Calvert St., Norfolk, Va.
“I have known the clmt Judy Williams about 17 years. I lived near her on the Western Branch about 7 years. I also knew her son John Williams, met him soon after I got acquainted with his mother, the claimant. … The clmt’s husband died before I got acquainted with her… I have worked in the neighborhood where claimant lived every summer during the truck season since I moved into Norfolk 9 years ago.”

Deposition, Aaron Wright, 16 July 1895
54 years old; occupation, farming; post-office address, Box 49, Churchland, Va.
“I have known the clmt Judy Williams upwards of 25 years. She was then living about 3 miles from here with her husband Kater Williams. The said Kater Williams died every bit of 15 years ago. I can’t fix the date. I attended his burial. … She has no property but some household goods for $5 which would well pay for. … The claimant is now confined to her bed, had a stroke of paralysis about a month ago. I saw her son John quite often but never was much acquainted with him. He used to visit her.”

Deposition, Anthony Pinner, 3 October 1895
29 years old; occupation, letter carrier; residence and post-office address, Norfolk, Va.
“I do not know Judy Williams the claimant. …The name Anthony Pinner as it appears as an attesting witness to the signature by mark of said persons is not my signature. I did not write my name as it there appears nor did I authorize anyone to sign my name thereon.”
[Note: This document is signed by the deponent in longhand — Leslie]

Deposition, Emma Poole, 3 October 1895
52 years old; occupation, housekeeper; residence and post-office address, 83 Liberty St., Norfolk, Va.
“I became acquainted with the claimant when I moved into this house. Her son John Williams had a room in this house at that time and he retained it until he died three years ago last June.
“Two years ago last July I went with the claimant to the office of Luther C. Williams … and then about 3 months ago a pension examiner came here and got me to sign another paper.”

Deposition, Raphael Wright, 5 October 1895
54 years old; occupation, huckster; residence and post-office address, 80 A Avenue, Norfolk, Va.
“I have known the claimant Judy Williams since in 1866…got acquainted with her through her son … who served with me … He was in Company I and I was in Company H of said regiment. … went with her to Luther C. Williams office on Bute Street in this city where her application for pension was made out … when we got there Luther got D. Betts Robertson whom I know to write out said application … Luther Williams who was a notary public sworn both of us … I known Anthony Pinner the letter carrier but he was not present in [the office] … [the application] was executed the day before Christmas 1892.”

Deposition, John Hardy, 9 October 1895
about 50 years old; occupation, hack driver; residence and post-office address, 208 Cumberland Street, Norfolk, Va.
“known the claimant for a number of years. I also knew her son John Willliams … I have known [Luther C. Williams] who used to keep an office on Bute St. near Church St. of this City but I have never been in his office with the claimant.”
“Q. Can you write your name? A. No sir.
“There is no other man of my name in or in the vicinity of Norfolk.”

Deposition, Samuel B. Humphries, 9 October 1895
52 years old; occupation, drayman; residence and post-office address, 46 Mosley St., Norfolk, Va.
“I have known the claimant Judy Williams all my life. We were neighbors and fellow servants almost from my birth. … I went with her to Luther C. Williams office two years ago last July…Myself and a woman I did not know were with her at the time … I do not know the witness Emma Poole … I now remember that Emma Poole was the woman that was present and signed said papers with me.”

Deceased Pensioner [Certificate] Application, John Ash and Agnes Mitchell, 20 April 1896
“Before me personally appeared John Ash, residing at Churchland, Norfolk County, Va. and Agnes Mitchell, residing at Churchland, Norfolk County, Va. … they well and personally knew Juda WIlliams, who died on 9th of March 1896 and who was applicant for pension as the mother of John Williams … she left no property whatever kind … Witnesses: Geo. A. Melvin and Alvah H. Martin“
[Note: The word “Certificate” on the form is struck through and the word “Application” is written in — Leslie]