William Nimmer, 2nd U.S. Colored Troops

This infantryman and his brother Andrew Nimmer, Company B, 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry both survived the war. The death certificate said that William is buried in West Point Cemetery, a cemetery for African American military in Norfolk, Virginia. Many of the witnesses — neighbors and comrades-in arms — had known the couple since childhood, attended their wedding, and their funerals. They knew their three children and commented on their birth dates and so on.

Invalid — 829,253 / 634,457
Widow — 544,554 / —–, Susan Nimmer
Minor — 594,683 / 441,730, Andrew Nimmer, Gdn.

Marriage License [copy], William Nimmer and Susan Brock, 18 January 1871
Norfolk, Virginia. Marriage took place on 19 January 1871. Groom, 29 years old; bride, twenty-one years old. Both were single and resided in Norfolk, Virginia. Husband was born in Kempsville, Princess Anne Co., Va. to William Nimmo and Hannah Nimmo. Bride was born in Princess Anne Co., Va. to Sam. Brock and Penny Brock. Groom’s occupation was lighterman. Officiated by Rev. Wm. Lewis.

Declaration for Invalid Pension, William Nimmer, 23 July 1890
49 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia; post-office address, 92 Smith St., Norfolk Co., Virginia
“was honorably discharged in Key West, Fla. on the 5 day of January, 1866. That he is now unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of effect of eyesight and rheumatism in the back.”
“He hereby appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, Josephine Miller & Co. [?] of Norfolk, state of Virginia.”
“Also personally appeared Joseph D. Miller, residing at Norfolk and D.B. Robinson, residing at Norfolk … their acquaintance with him for 6 years and 3 years, respectively.”

Transcript from the record of death, William Nimmer, 18 March 1892
Date of death: March 12, 1892; Age: 51 years; Color, sex, social condition, occupation: Colored, male, married, marketman; Birthplace: Virginia; Length of residence: All his life; Cause of death: Pneumonia phthisis and general debility; Place of death: 92 Smith St., Norfolk, Va.; Duration of last sickness: Several months; Place of burial, West Point Cemetery, Norfolk, Va.; Medical Attendant: Hy Smith, M.D. ; Undertaker: Jas. N. Jones“
[Note — William Nimmer isn’t included in the database of burials for West Point Cemetery — Leslie]

Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Susan Nimmer, 19 March 1892 [date stamped by Pension Office]
43 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.;
Three children born to Susan and William Nimmer were:
Samuel Nimmer, born 2d day of October 1878
Mary Louisa Nimmer, born 30th day of July 1882
Martha Ann Nimmer, born 30th day of September 1886

General Affidavit, Isaac White, 26 March 1892
51 years old; post-office address, 19 St. Paul St., Norfolk, Va.
“That on 19 day of Jany 1871 he waited on William Nimmer as groomsman when he married claimant (Susan Brook was her maiden name. The ceremony was performed by Rev. William Lewis who is now dead on or about the above date. The reason the affiant is certain as to date of marriage is for the reason he has a private record of the same event … and further stated that this event occurred in the city of Norfolk.”

General Affidavit, Mrs. Ella Holoday and Hester A. Cross, 2 April 1892
[Holoday] 40 years old; post-office address, Norfolk, Va.
[Cross] 56 years old; post-office address, 86 Smith St., Norfolk, Va.
“That claimant is the widow of the late soldier who died on the 12th of March 1893, left the said widow in destitute circumstances with three small children, Samuel, Mary Louisa, and Martha Ann. The said widow’s physical condition disables her so much that she is greatly dependent upon charity as she has no means of support except manual labor…we [ae] intimate neighbors and see one another almost daily”

General Affidavit, Elizabeth Hunter, 2 April 1892
80 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Hull Street, Norfolk, Va.
“That she was the midwife employed by claimant when she gave birth to Samuel Oct 2nd 1878, to Mary Louisa on July 30th 1882, and to Martha Ann, Sept 30th 1886. The reason date is remembered is become the same is taken from family record and she attended claimant as doctor during the above event. Further states that claimant needs immediate assistance as she is left without any income or means of support except what she can earn by working when physically able.”

General Affidavit, Daniel Langley, 8 April 1892
46 years old;
“That [the soldier became ill] from exposure at Fort Taylor and Ships Island, Fla. about Feby, Mch, and April 1864. as well as by drinking bad water … was prostrated with the bone fever … saw him daily while in service and was in same organization therefore often on duty together and since his discharge saw almost daily and lived in proximity to each other”
“Dr. Hy Smith treated him since his discharge and know that often gotten drugs from different apothecaries for said disabilities.”

General Affidavit, Susan Nimmer, 28 October 1892 [date stamped by Pension Office]
“That I am physically disable to do any work about 2/3 of my time consequently cannot earn sufficient money to meet daily wants. That I have three small children to care for making my circumstances distressing. That I have no means of support other than manual labor. That I have to be dependent upon others who are not legally bound to support me or my family.”

Declaration for Children Under Sixteen Years of Age, Andrew Nimmer, 19 April 1894
57 years old; “Samuel Nimmer, born October 2d, 1878; Mary Louise Nimmer, born July 30th, 1882; Martha Ann Nimmer, born Sept. 30th, 1886”
[Note: The word “dead” is written in pencil next to Samuel’s name — Leslie]

General Affidavit, Richard Williams, 16 June 1894
67 years old; Lee Avenue, Barbourville, Norfolk, Va.
“I knew the mother of the children … from when she was a little child and saw her often up to the day of her death. That I also was present at her marriage….I visited the family at least once week and was very intimate with them.”

Affidavits for Neighbors and General Purpose, Daniel Langley, 27 June 1894
49 years old; post-office address, 204 Queen St., Norfolk, Va. “That I was well acquainted with the late soldier William Nimmer and his wife. I know when he died with the disease commonly called consumption on Smith No. 92”

General Affidavit, Edmund Dozier, 3 July 1894
56 years old; residence, 138 Chapel St., Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
“That I was well acquainted with [the soldier and his wife] for many years and knew them prior their marriage to each other … that I was present at the funeral of the late soldier and often time I visited him during his last sickness which seemed to be a heavy cold and he suffered very much”

General Affidavit, Andrew Nimmer, 5 July 1894
“That the children for whom pension is claimed are Samuel, Mary L. and Martha and are now living with me …all of these children were under sixteen at the filing of the claim … Samuel is now over sixteen.”

Affidavit of Claimant, Elizabeth Hunter, 13 July 1894
post-office address, 31 Hull St., Norfolk, Va.
“I was midwife for each one of the children … I attended Susan Nimmer …during her confinement and at the time she gave birth”

General Affidavit, Daniel Langley and Edward M. Gould, 18 November 1895
[Langley] 50 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 143 Charlotte St., Norfolk, Va.
[Gould] 36 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 94 Smith Str., Norfolk, Va.
“Our acquaintance with the soldier and the mother of the minor children … has been many years previous to their deaths. Lived within a short distance to them both during their life-time. The mother … died Sept 19th 1893 on Smith St., Norfolk, Va. … surviving children are still living with their uncle Andrew Nimmo, without any means of support, whatever. As to the spelling of of the name ‘Nimmer’ it must have been done by the persons who prepared the papers in this claim. The name is spelled in this section ‘Nimmo’ by all who are familiar with the name.”

General Affidavit, Charles A. Proctor, 30 March 1896
50 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 118 Water St., Norfolk, Va.; “The affiant was well acquainted with both the soldier and his wife upwards of 40 years. Was present at their marriage which took place on Church St. near Queen St. in the city of Norfolk, Va. … [their son Samuel] has since died Feb’y 26th 1895 [the date the claim was filed]”

Letter from Geo. R. Gornto, Norfolk, Va. to Hon. D.C. Murphy, 31 July 1896
“Charles A. Proctor, Daniel Langley and Edward Gould they are all close friends of the family”

General Affidavit, Andrew Nimmo, 1 August 1896
60 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, corner Goff and Chapel Sts. Norfolk, Va.
“As guardian of the minor children of the late Wm. Nimmo. The affiant testifies that Samuel died on the 26th day of February 1895 at my house in the County of Norfolk, Va…. The children now living are Mary Louisa and Martha… As to the correct spelling of the soldier’s name I can only say that it is always spelt ‘Nimmo’ by all the old residents of this section. By the name being spelled in different ways must be due to the writers who prepare the affidavits.”

General Affidavit, Geo. R. Gornto, 1 March 1897
53 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 415 Church St., Norfolk, Va.
“The children she left by his wife whose name was Susan were Mary Louisa & Martha and Samuel. The last named died since the filing claim April 23rd 1894. Mary Louisa & Martha are still living with their Uncle Andrew Nimmo in Norfolk Co., Va. The affiants were well-acquainted with the soldier & wife many years.”