Primus Banks, Company A

The soldier born enslaved in Pasquotank County, North Carolina was 88 years old when he died in Norfolk County, Virginia in 1915. His death certificate includes his parents’ names. Married twice, an 1898 document in his pension application gave the names and birth dates of ten living children.

Invalid — 819,209 / 612,683

Sworn Statement, James Randall and John McCoy, 21 October 1893
[Randall] 49 years old; residence, Berkley Sta., Va.
[McCoy] 68 years old; residence, Berkley Sta., Va.
“each of them are intimately acquainted with this claimant … now more than two thirds of his time prevented from performing manual labor”
“Randall says that he has known claimant for the past thirty years and reside in the same neighborhood and see each other daily.”
“Coy [sic] says that he has known claimant for the past thirty years in fact from the time of their enlistment in the U.S. Army together and that they reside in the same neighborhood and see each other daily”

Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Primus Banks, 4 June 1898
[married] Harriet Banks, Harriet Prichett
[when, where, by whom] 1861; Norfolk Co., Va.
[record] none
[previous marriage] yes, Clarsey Banks (Clarsey Harvey) [sp?]
[living children] Jerry Banks, 1857; M. Banks, 1860; Geo. W. Banks,1866; Cora Banks, 1868; Primus C. Banks, 1872; Luke K. Banks, 1876; Ary Banks, 1880; Harriett Banks, 1883; Millie Banks, 1886; Maria Banks, 1888.

Deposition, Primus Banks, 14 May 1902
about 70, 75 years old; post-office address, Berkley, Virginia
“I was born in Pasquotank Co., NC and I was a slave, was owned by Wm T. Banks. My father was Harry Johnson was a farm hand before enlistment.”
“I was a Sgt in Co A … I enlisted in Norfolk, Va.
“The only fight I was ever in was Chickahominy. Henry Tripp of my company was shot through the head. and killed in that fight.
“I was never on detached duty. I was never in the hospital.”
“Jeptha Girrard was my Col.
We had no Lt. Col.
Brown was 1st Major and Seip was 2nd.
Dey was my Capt.
Ricker was 1st Lt.
Brown was 2d Lt.
Joe Fuller was Ord. Sgt.
Reix [sp?] was 3rd Sgt.
I was a 2nd Sgt.
“George Merle eat and slept with me in service.
Mr. Asbury was my atty. I paid him nothing.
Jim Randall and John McCoy were my witnesses. They charged nothing.
“I was a witness for Randall but not for McCoy. I testified that he suffered with his eyes and rheumatism for ten years or more.”
“Mr. Page executes my vouchers; not Mr. Page himself but his clerk…. I have never pawned my pension papers.”

“I have been married twice; my first wife Claris Harley died near Berkley, Va., thirty odd years ago; she died very soon after the close of the War.
“I next married Harriet Pritchard. She was never married before I married her. I married her in Norfolk Co., Va. near Berkley. My last wife died last Feb near Providence Church, Norfolk Co., Va. I have one child under 16 years of age viz Maria. She is going on 14 years of age. I do not know the month of her birth.”

Questionnaire, Primus Banks, 26 March 1915
[birth date and place] July 28, 1827; Pasquotank Co., NC
[organization] Co A, 1st Regt. U.S.C.V. Cav.
[post-office at enlistment] Norfolk Co., Va.
[wife’ maiden name] Harriet Scott
[when, where, by whom] 1862, Norfolk Co., Va. by consent of owners
[record] no
[previously married] no
[wife’s previous husbands] no
[living with your wife] died Feby 1903
[names and dates of birth of children, living or dead]
George Banks born 1867
Cora Banks ” 1868
Luke Banks ” 1875
Harriett Banks ” 1885
Millie Banks ” 1887

Death Certificate, Primus Banks, 26 November 1915
“Widowed … [born] 1827 … [age] 88 years old … [occupation] farmer … [birthplace] North Carolina … [father] Harry Banks, born in North Carolina … [mother] Venus, born in North Carolina … [informant] Harriett Bray (daughter), Providence RFD, Norfolk, Va. … [physician] F.D. Wilson, MD 13 Chesapeake Dr., South Norfolk, Va. … [burial] Mount Olive Cemetery, Norfolk Co., Va.”

Application for Reimbursement, Cora Cuffey, 14 December 1915
46 years old; residence, Norfolk Co., Va. ; post-office address, Box 793, Norfolk, Virginia
[life, accident, or health insurance] no
[relationship to deceased] daughter
“Also personally appeared, Harriet Gray and Louise Bray, both of Berkley, Norfolk, Virginia”