Thomas Paines, Company K**

This soldier died in service in June 1864. His widow received benefits but was later dropped from the rolls because authorities believed she had re-married. Upon appeal, her benefits were re-instated. Documents written in pencil were extremely difficult to read; several individuals’ names could not be captured.

Today’s post includes research notes from documents dated February 1881-November 1887. Last week’s post included research notes from those dated September 1865-February 1879 and next week’s will include research notes from those dated November 1887-December 1887.

Widow — 105,242 / 102,602, Judy Paines

General Affidavit, Rev. Scott Redick and Phylis Carlan, 9 February 1881
[Redick] 35 years old;
[Carlan] 48 years old;
“That they know Judy Paine and her said husband Thomas Paine before the War of 1861. They know the said Judy Paine has never remarried since the death of her said husband … [Redick and Carlan have resided] in Portsmouth, Va. for 15 years … very near to the said Judy Paine”



Sworn Statement, Persilia Moore, 11 June 1887
40 years old; residence, Crab st., Portsmouth, Virginia
“That she has been a resident of Portsmouth city for 25 years, that she has been well acquainted with Mrs. Judy Paine … at least 20 years or more … she did not know Mrs. Judy Paine’s husband … she has been residing next door to Mrs. Judy Paine 7 years … blong [sic] to the same church Zion Baptist, City of Portsmouth, and Mrs. Paine name is recorded on the church record as Mrs. Judy Paine and that she is a good standing member”



Sworn Statement, Samuel Fisher, 11 June 1887
37 years old; residence and post-office address, 312 Fenham St.
“That he is a citizen of the City of Portsmouth … for 25 years and his occupation is hackman, and a member of the City Council of Portsmouth … well acquainted with Mrs. Judy Paine 22 years … and that he lived in the house with Mrs. Judy Paine, 7 or 8 years … Blonging [sic] to the same church.”

General Affidavit, B.F. Jourdan and Martha Darden, undated
[Jordon] 34 years old;
[Darden] 41 years old; both “citizens of Portsmouth City
“That they know Judy Paines for 20 years and lived next for 10 years … Bolonging [sic] to the same church”

Deposition, Judy Pains, 22 November 1887
about 65 years old; occupation, housekeeper; residence and post-office address, cor Crabb and Effingham St., Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va. ….my name was droped [sic] from the pension roles because it was alleged that I was cohabiting with one Jack Johnson
“Q. Where were you living when your husband enlisted?
A. I was living in the basement of a house on the cor King & Middle st., Portsmouth, Va. The house was owned by Mr. Geo. Oast (dec’d) . Mr. Oast and family lived in the upper part of the house.
Q. How long did you live in that house after your late husband enlisted.
A. I think about two years. I think I lived there about a year after he died…. My brother Wilson Darden (now decd) lived with me. I did not keep an eating house while I lived in Mr. Oast’s house. I left their house because they wanted to use their basement for a kitchen. From there I moved on King St. near Washington St., Portsmouth and rented from a colored man by the name of Charles Walk. I think I rented from him about a year. My brother Wilson Darden lived with me while in the King St house.
Q. Where did you go from the King st house
A. I moved to a house on Middle st near County and I lived there by myself for a year or two. I rented from a Mr. Buruss and my brother Wilson Darden lived there with me. While I lived in Mr. Burruss’s house I was employed opening oysters and it was while I worked at this that I first met Jack Johnson. He saw me and asked if I would open a cook shop for him and I agreed to do so for three dollars a month and boarded me but did not buy my clothes.
“The place I went to work at was in the basement of a house on Crawford st near the market. Jack Johnson rented the basement from a Mr. Robert Noel, now dead. When I first went to work from him I did not sleep in the basement where I cooked but went back and forward to where I rented from Mr. Burruss until the weather got so cold that I could not stand it, then I moved my bed into the basement where I cooked.
Q. How many rooms were in that basement?
A. There were four rooms in it. I used the front rooms for cooking and eating in and a room back was used as a kind of storeroom. and my room was in the side room back, and Jack Johnson occupied the room joining mind…. Jack Johnson paid me my monthly wages until I got my husband’s bounty & back pay. I saved it. I had left Jack Johnson’s cook shop and was living on Dinwiddie St when I got my money, my pension I think it was, and I was going out to work in the truck fields and I was afraid to leave my money in my room so I went to Jack Johnson and asked him to keep it for me until I came back, and when I returned from work, I asked him for my money, and he said he had put it in the bank, and as I worked and earned money I gave it to him to keep for me and he kept putting it in the bank, and the first I knew what he was doing he bought the lot where we now live. When I found it out I went to the atty who had procured my money (Mr. S.C.P. Cooper), now dead, and he made Jack Johnson deed part of the ground to me and then Jack put up the house in which we now live. He had my money and I believe used a part of it in building our house. He also used a part of his own money to help build the house.”
Q. Did Jack Johnson live with you or in the same house where you lived on Dinwiddie st.
A. No, sir. He lived on Water st.
Q. From whom did you rent on Dinwiddie st
A. I rented from a Mr. Hidgers [sp?]. He is dead…. I have sometimes done [Jack Johnson’s] washing & mending and he paid me for it. … I have lived in the same house with him because I believed the property rightfully belonged to me and that I had a right to it. The whole thing was a plan between Jack Johnson and & my attorney Mr. Cooper to beat me out of my money.”
“Q. Who pays the taxes on the house.
A. Jack Johnson”
“Q. To what church do you belong
A. Zion Baptist Church.
Q. How long have you been a member of that church
A. I think I joined that church about seventeen years ago My name is recorded on the church book as Judy Pains.”