This tattooed soldier‘s post-war marriage license reported a full name (first, middle, and last) and different from the name under which he enlisted (first and last). Identifiers such as birthplace, spouse, occupation were critical in distinguishing individuals. Another “Albert Jones” served in Company H of the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry.
Invalid — 927,467 / 1,106,951
Widow — 942,437 / 2,504,259, Mary Jones
Marriage License, Wm. Alfred Jones and Mrs. Mary McIntosh, 5 November 1885
Hampton, Virginia. Both were 36 years old; both were widowed. The husband was born in Hampton and the wife was born in Nansemond County. Both lived in Elizabeth City County, Virginia. The husband’s parents were William and Susan Jones. He worked as an oysterman. The wife’s mother was Milly White; her father wasn’t named. The marriage took place at “George Brown, Eliz City Co., Va.” and was officiated by Young Jackson.
Questionnaire, Albert Jones, 4 June 1902
“born in Hampton, Va … former occupation, boatman … former owner, George T Massanburg … present occupation, oysterman”
Surgeon’s Certificate, Albert Jones, 2 March 1904
56 years old; residence, 527 Wise St, Hampton, Va … “mulatto … ‘WA’ tattooed on left arm”
Declaration for Pension, Albert Jones, 8 May 1907
66 years old … born March 1841
Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Mary E. Jones, 18 March 1910
Residence, 527 Wise St, Elizabeth City Co, Virginia
“she was married under the name of Mary E. White by Rev. Y. Jackson, Hampton”
Affidavit, Dolly Rhone and Margaret Clark, 28 June 1910
[Rhone] 64 years old; residence, 509 Locust St., Hampton, Va.
[Clark] 503 Wise St., Hampton, Va.… were present at the marriage of Albert Jones and Mary Jones, the claimant on or about the 15th day of October, and certify that the Rev Young Jackson performed the ceremony in the presence of very many others”
Statement, W.D. Howe, M.D., 29 June 1910
“This is to certify that Albert Jones died March 16, 1910 of Heart Disease — a certificate to that effect being signed by Dr. C.[?]. Bassette being on file in this office.
“H.D. Howe, M.D., Acting Health Officer”
[Note: The doctor’s statement was written on his office stationery “H.D. Howe, M.D., Victoria Avenue, Hampton, Virginia.”
Affidavit, Fannie Pleasants, 15 April 1914
45 years old
“has been living in the city of Williamsburg for several years … lately moved to Hampton & that she was well acquainted with Emma Jones the wife of Albert Jones. She died a long time before the death of Albert Jones … and died at her house. That she made the arrangements for the burial. That she had deserted her husband at the time of her death. That after her death he married again and lived with his wife until his death. That she was acquainted with her before she was married to Albert Jones and that she died on or about the 20th of December 1863”
Affidavit, Grace Braxton, 15 April 1914
50 years old; Hampton, Va.
“she was once the wife of Albert Jones, who married her under the name of W.A. Jones. That she lived with him only a short time, after which, they separated and she obtained a divorce from him. That she knew the soldier a long while before she was married to him.”
Affidavit, Taylor Armstead, 12 June 1914
74 years old, 403 Wise St, Hampton, Va.
“he was the brother-in-law of Albert Jones, the husband of Mary Jones, the claimant; that he was three times married; that he was married to one, Grace Christian, with whom he lived a short while, when they separated, and she obtained a divorce from him. He then married again, which second wife died. That at the time of her death, he was not living with his wife, that she was living with one, Fannie Pleasant with whom she died…That his correct name was William Albert Jones, under which name, he was married to both Grace Christian and to Mary McIntosh, with whom he lived until his death.”
Affidavit, Georgianna Armstead, 12 June 1914
56 years old, 403 Wise St, Hampton, Va.
“she is the sister to Albert Jones and know that he was married at one time to one, Grace Christian, from whom he was divorced; that he then married one, Emma Kelley, with whom he lived a short while, when they separated and she moved to live with one, Fannie Pleasant, with whom she was living at the time of her death. After the death of the said Emma Jones, he married Mary McIntosh, with whom he lived until his death. That she was present when his wife, Emma Armstead died, and assisted Mrs. Fannie Pleasant to look after her in her last illness; that she died on the 30th of December 1883 (as well as she can recollect)”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 
Leslie, where did you obtain copies of your ancestors’s pension application for widows marriage and disposition questionnaire? Thanks
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Thanks for asking. I examined the pension applications at the National Archives in downtown Washington, DC. I scanned the contents at the Innovation Hub in that building. I was given a CD with the images on it. This was several years ago. The digitized pension applications were added to the Archives online catalog several weeks later after I scanned them.
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Thank you, Leslie. I accidentally accessed the digitized Archives online catalog, and failed to bookmark it. Do you know how I can check those completed and partial records online? Thank you so much, Jim
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Jim — I’m not sure I understand the question. Are you asking how to access Civil War pension applications via the National Archives online catalogue?
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Yes, Leslie. That’s exactly what I meant and would like to do. Your story about your ancestors gleaned from pension records is amazing. The continuing closure of NARA due Covid, leaves me no other options except online. Thank you
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Okay. Thanks for clarification. It’s a three-part answer:
(1) The research notes I post are taken from the pension applications that are stored at the National Archives in Washington, DC. I complete a “pull slip” and once the application folder is delivered to me in the Research Room on the second floor of the building, I review the contents page-bey-page and extract the material for my weekly posts.
(2) There are three pension applications in my blog that have been digitized. I scanned them myself at the Innovation Hub -which is a big room on the first floor of the National Archives. I scanned the complete pension applications for Edward R. Pitt, Company K; William Thomas Pitt, Company K; and John H. Culpepper, Company K.
(3) The National Archives online catalog has other pension applications that other “citizen contributors” have scanned. You’re right. It’s tricky to get to. This is how the National Archives has organized Civil War pension applications. Note: Each soldier’s pension application is considered a “File Unit”:
Record Group 15:
Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 – 2007
Series:
Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Dependents of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, 1861 – 1934
File Unit:
Approved Pension File for Fannie Culpepper, Mother of Private John H. Culpepper, Company K, 1st U.S. Colored Troops Cavalry Regiment (WC-261461)
If you want to browse a specific regiment –I’m using the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry as an example — this is what you want to do:
— Go to the Advanced Search option at https://catalog.archives.gov/advancedsearch
— In the “Search term” box enter the following (exactly as it appears here): 1st U.S. Colored Troops Cavalry Regiment
— In the “Record Group Number/Collection ID” box enter the following: 15
— You should get 234 results.
I hope this gets you where you want to go. If not, let me know and I’ll try again.
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Thank you, for your guidance, Leslie. I’m getting close, wasn’t able to pull one correct record of over 5,000 results. I typed unit exacted as you stated, and entered 15 in next square. I typed Company B 125th I.s. Colored troops infantry regiment, and it returned scanned in images belonging to many regiments other than mine. Am I missing something else?
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I think you’ve about covered it. It’s a clunky database but I’m glad it exists. Just had a thought: Had you checked for him (including spelling variants) in Google or Ancestry?
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