Isam Portlock, Company F*

*Today’s post includes research notes from documents dated 1868-1888. Next week’s post will include research notes from documents dated 1891-1892.

The widow’s former enslaver offered testimony about the widow’s age, her children’s ages, the year of purchase, and the year he moved “his people” from Hampton, Virginia to Dinwiddie County, Virginia. Pension benefit applications from the widow and the guardian dragged on for more than 20 years and were eventually denied.

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Widow — 425,390 / —–, Margaret Washington
Minor — 162,426 / —–, Albert Portlock (Gdn.)



Application of Guardian of Minor Children in order to Obtain Army Pension, Act July 14, 1862, Albert Portlock, 18 May 1868
42 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va. “Declaration as Guardian of the minor children of Isom Portlock… guardian of Georgiana Portlock & Cyrus Portlock …[Isom Portlock] died in Norfolk City, Virginia … [August 1897] ; that his death was caused by phthisis pulmonalis … dates of birth are Georgiana Portlock born July 1856, Cyrus Portlock born October 1859 … parents of said wards were married in Norfolk City, Virginia on the 2d day of October [1855] by Rev. Richard Parker … Chas. C. Brown, Claim Agent, Norfolk, Va.
“Also personally appeared Rev. Pete Shepperd and Jacob Reddick, residents of Norfolk City, County of Norfolk, State of Virginia”



Handwritten letter from Cyrus Portlock, Norfolk, Virginia to Hon. John C. Black, Pension Bureau, 9 January 1888
“Dear Sir — Having put in my claim some time ago I write for information concerning it. I am the son of the late Isom Portlock, Co. F, U.S. Infantry. I wish you would let me know something concerning it whether pro or con in my favor.
Cyrus Portlock
Knitting Mills
Norfolk, Va.
c/o Eda Cowper [sp?]
[Note: The soldier’s son incorrectly reported that his father served in the infantry — Leslie]
[Note: There were several knitting mills in Norfolk. More research to determine which one this one is.– Leslie]

Sworn Statement, James Brooks, 27 December 1888
45 years old; residence, 255 Queen St. “That he was a corporal of Co. F…. he was well acquainted with Sergt. Isom Portlock … contracted a heavy cold at Fort Monroe about the months of Jan and February … layed [sic] for at least four weeks without tents on the cold ground in the snow, frost, and rain … great many soldiers caught their death of cold and Portlock was one of the victims. He lingered all through the army up to his discharge on the 4th of Feby 1866. … he died the immediate cause of his death was consumption he contracted in the service … he died on the 8th Dec 1867 … he had but little acquaintance with his family”

Sworn Statement, Cyrus Young and Frank Young, 27 December 1888
[C. Young] 58 years old; residence [illegible] Queen St., [Norfolk, Va.]
[F. Young] 55 years old; residence, [illegible] Queen St., [Norfolk, Va.]
“Each of them well acquainted with the claimant Margaret Portlock … now the wife of Cornelius Washington that they knew Isom Portlock before the war … they resided near neighbor to the claimant and claimant’s husband at that time … [Cyrus Young] says they served together up to discharge … each of them were present in the City of Norfolk when the soldier died. They cannot say whether the soldier had any doctor to treat him after being home. They heard from his wife Margaret one Doctor Crowder treated the soldier but … they are sure is deceased and the soldier lived but a short while”



Sworn Statement, Margaret Portlock, 27 December 1888
about 50 years old; residence, Norfolk Co., Va.;
“Ida born 15 day of July 1857 and she died Sept 1862 at Hampton, Va. and Georgeana born 1 day of Nov. 1859 still surviving and Cyrus born on 15 day of Sept 1861 … the soldier her husband died Dec 8th 1867 at Norfolk, Va. … she was married with the said Cornelius Washington on the 22 day of Jan 1870 at Dinwiddy [sic] County, Va., that the ceremony was read to her and Cornelius Washington but had no license, her marriage to the said Washington was witnessed by the white people known as the Wishburns of said county, she further states that her said first husband Portlock never were previous married till the marriage to her … the guardian known as Albert Portlock of said minors he is deceased some five years now … She has been informed by good authorities both of the surgeons of his regiment are deceased Dr. Samuel S. Manily died at Portsmouth, NY seven years ago. Dr. William B. Grey died at N. Orleans June 1873. … treated by one doctor name Crowder who are deceased now three years”


Sworn Statement, Barbara Vann, 28 December 1888
60 years old; “That she was well acquainted with the claimant Margaret Portlock now Margaret Washington before the war of 1861, that the claimant was married to Isom Portlock the year of 1856 in the City of Norfolk, Va. by the consent of her former owner, the claimant is the mother of three children by her said husband … Ida born 15 day of July 1857 and died Sept 1862 at Hampton, Va. Georgana born 1 day of Nov 1859 and Cyrus born 15 day of Sept 1861, she further states the soldier died Dec. 8th 1867 at Norfolk, Va. … after the death of the soldier the claimant married one Cornelius Washington on the 22 day of Jan 1870 at Dinwiddy [sic] … she was to both marriages of the claimant and births of the children and also present at the death of the soldier”