Paldo Wilson, Company E*

*This is one of the longest pension applications I’ve examined. Today’s post includes research notes for documents dated 1866-1885. Next week’s post will include research notes from a document dated February 4, 1886.

This soldier was killed in a skirmish in Fort Powhatan, Virginia on January 25, 1865. Action on his mother’s pension application continued for more than 30 years. Her application was complicated by conflicting information about a second marriage which was further complicated by the fact that two men shared the same name. Witnesses in support of the mother’s application included childhood friends, neighbors, and former enslavers. They reported names of those enslaved with her as well as the names of enslavers and their relatives. They described the mother’s efforts to remain independent and details about her church membership. Dates for specific events were framed within the 1855 Yellow Fever Epidemic and President Lincoln’s assassination.

Mother — 119, 679 / 94,739, Fannie Wilson

Letter from [illegible] Taggard, Assistant Adjutant General, to Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, DC, 19 July 1866
“‘He is reported killed in a skirmish with the enemy, January 25, 1865.’ The name of Paldo Wright is not borne on the rolls of Co. E. 1st U.S. Cold. Cavalry on file in this office.”

Sworn Statement, Fannie Wilson, 26 October 1866
43 years old; residence, Henry St., Newtown, near Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.
“Her said son was killed by a gunshot in the head in action in line of duty at Fort Powhatan, Va. on the 25th Jany 1865 … her said husband died Oct 1/55 (the same year of the ‘yellow fever’) at Norfolk Co., Va. … [Fannie’s personal property] consists of
personal estate (furniture) about enough to furnish one good room … That prior to her son’s enlistment & death, she was ‘keeping house’ and dependent wholly on him for support”
“Also personally appeared E.G. Corprew and Albert Robinson, residents of Portsmouth, Va. who on oath declare that they have been for more than 15 years acquainted with the claimant Mrs. Fannie Wilson”

Sworn Statement, Fannie Wilson, 21 August 1873
“Declares that after her first husband America Wilson was sold and carried away from her as has been set forth … she was married again by consent of their masters to one Lamb Wilson, that this event took place about one year after her first husband was sold from her. That she continued to live with her second husband until the fall after President Lincoln was killed. That she then separated from him and they have not lived together since. That he is still living or was a short time ago.”

Declaration for Restoration to the Pension Rolls of a Person Whose Name Has Been Dropped Under the Act of February 4, 1862, Fanny Wilson, 18/19 April 1882
residence, corner of Pine & Griffin streets, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va; post-office, Portsmouth, Va.,
“Her means of subsistence have been proceeds from washing, cooking, etc “
“Also personally appeared Thos. Peeden, residing at…. South street, Portsmouth and Moses Barrington, residing at … Clifford st., Portsmouth, Va,”

Sworn Statement, Moses Barrington, 11 March 1882
“Says that he has known the said claimant Fannie Wilson … 21 years … I know that her son left his employment and went over to Norfolk and enlisted in the service of the United States.
“I know that he was his mother’s support before he went in the Army in 1863. After her son Paldo Wilson went in the Army his mother Fanny Wilson keep a cook shop for a long time for a living. After that she went and hired out in service to learn a living. After that she taken in washington [sic] for a living.”

General Affidavit, Alexander Wilson and Laister Brown, 13 March 1884
[Wilson] 40 years old;
[Brown] 49 years old;
citizens of Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
“We were well acquainted with Pauldo Wilson, son of Mrs. Fannie Wilson … the last owner or owners of the said soldier are all dead.”

Sworn Statement, Sarah Barrington, 28 February 1885
residence, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.
“She has known Fanny Wilson for the past twenty seven years … lived only two doors apart”

Sworn Statement, Eliza Fisher and Polly McPherson, 28 February 1885
“Paldo Wilson worked as laborer for one Daniel Green, owner, (since dead)”

General Affidavit, Cary Brown, 11 April 1885
“I have known her all of my life. I and her and her son Paldo use [sic] to belong to the same owners before the late Rebellion. I and the said Paldo Wilson being children together on the same plantation, he being about three months older than I.”
[Note — This statement isn’t on a form. It’s handwritten and notarized — Leslie]

General Affidavit, A.A. Corprew, 15 April 1885
“I use [sic] to haul wood in a lighter and unload it within sixty feet of Mrs. Fanny Wilson door. I lightered then for a living…. [Paldo Wilson] was employed by one David Owens now dead.”
[Note — This statement isn’t on a form. It’s handwritten and notarized — Leslie]

General Affidavit, John Wright, 15 April 1885
“We were young lads together here in the city of Portsmouth … I left and went the U.S. Service in the latter part of (1863) and left Paldo Wilson here with his mother on the wood dock ”
[Note — This statement isn’t on a form. It’s handwritten and notarized — Leslie]

Sworn Statement, Edward Overman, 29 April 1885
“I have known the old woman since my early boyhood somewhere near 20 years and as she frequently came to the home of my parents I have had ample opportunities for observing her deportment which at all times has been excellent and worthy of imitation by all classes of her race … her home for near or quite 20 years has been near mine except at intervals when I was away.”
[Note — This statement isn’t on a form. It’s handwritten and notarized — Leslie]

Sworn Statement, James Copeland, 1 May 1885
“As one of the deacons of the church to which she belongs, namely the Zion Baptist of this city … she has never been remarried, nor cohabited with any man since I have known her which have been ever since (1868) … [Copeland has been on the] deacon boards of Baptist churches, hold monthly meetings to look into matters of that kind in conjunction with other matters pertaining to the welfare of the church, she living in the limits of the city ever since the close of the war. Would certainly have been reported to her church, and espelled [sic] … [she is] a member of my church, in good and regular standing.”
“I having been living here in this city since 1867, been a member of this church to which she belongs nearly (14) fourteen years, during which time I served as church clerk six (6) years and now I am one of the deacons of my church, and have been for years, certainly I am in a position to know.”

General Affidavit, William Smith, 8 May 1885 [date stamped by Pension Office]
“has known Mrs. Fanny Wilson since (1864). I use [sic] to live next door to her 8 years previous to (1878). … I have known her to take in washing and work in the truck field to earn a living”
[Note — This statement isn’t on a form. It’s handwritten and notarized — Leslie]