Robert Myrick, Company K

The couple married in Beaufort, South Carolina after the war and later re-located to Tallahassee, Florida. If an applicant’s claim wasn’t adequately supported by records or testimony, the Pension Bureau rejected it. But as in this case, information about another soldier and his family emerged.

Widow — 980, 240 / —–, Henrietta Myrick

Application for Widow’s Pension, Henrietta Myrick, 24 January 1911
53 years old; post-office address, Tallahassee, Florida
“That she was married under the name of Henrietta Winns to said solider in Bufort [sic] County, SC on the 10th day of February 1876 by John Roberts, Justice of the Peace … That the said soldier died October 2nd, 1899, at 6 mi. South Tallahassee, Fla.”
“Also personally appeared Florine Rivers, residing in Tallahassee, and Violet L. Gardiner, residing in Tallahassee … their acquaintance with her of 15 years and 15 years, respectively”

Letter from Henrietta Myrick, P.O. Box #17, Tallahassee, Florida to Bureau of Pensions, Washington, DC, July 30, 1912
“Dear sirs,
“I received a card from you on Feb 22 that my claim for pensions had been received and would be considered. But have not herd [sic] any more [sic] from it. Will you please let me no [sic] whether I am to receive a pensions [sic] or not.”

Letter from Hays Haymaker, Acting Commissioner to Mr. A. Winn, 557 Shawmut Ave, Boston, Mass., 20 September 1924
“Sir:
“Reference is made to your letter, without date, received July 28, 1924, in which you request to be advised concerning the claims of two sisters whose Christian names you do not give, one the widow of Robert Myrick, which is identified as the claim above described, and the other the widow of Joe Draper.
“The claim of Henrietta Myrick is marked as abandoned. The claimant was advised under date of August 12, 1912, by a letter addressed to her at Box 17, Tallahassee, Florida, that a report from the records of the War Department fails to show the soldier’s name on the roll of Company K, 1st U.S.C. Cavalry, his service alleged in her declaration, and she was requested to state the correct name under which the soldier served, the letter of his Company, the number of his regiment, and the arm of his service, if possible; and if not, the name of the officers under which he served. Nothing appears to have been received from the claimant since that date.
“The bureau records show the claim of a Lizzie Draper as widow of Joseph Draper, who served in Company K 24 U.S.C. Infantry, and died at Salem, New Jersey, December 23, 1896. An examination of the papers in said claim indicates that the said soldier is not the one to whom you have reference, as the widow-claimant’s maiden name was Lizzie Mayhew.”