Upon enlistment in New York this soldier was “unassigned” i.e. not assigned to an existing company. A number of witnesses knew him from the time of his marriage in New York City. He died in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His widow lived in that city when she applied for a pension.
Widow — 504,431 / 391,270, Mariah Booth
Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Mariah Booth, 12 June 1891
residence, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pa.; post-office address, 305 Chestnut, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pa.
“… widow of Robert Booth, who enlisted under [that name] at Harris Island, NY, on the 26 day of January A.D. 1865″
“That she was married under the name of Mariah Chester … on the 5 day of December 1868 by Rev. Willard Scott, at New York”
“Also personally appeared, J.M. Auter, Jr. residing at Greensburg, Pa. and E.C. Zedricks residing at Harrisburg, Pa. … their acquaintance with him for 7 years and 30 years, respectively”
General Affidavit, Eliza Zedricks, 23 February 1892
post-office address, 305 Chartiers St., Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pa.
“Well and personally acquainted with Robert & Mariah Booth for 20 years, and that I was present at the time the said Robert Booth died, which was on the 22nd day of April 1887”
General Affidavit, Evelin Wright and James A. Morris, 16 March 1892
[Wright] 35 years old; post-office address, 248 W. 17th Street, New York, NY
[Morris] 47 years old; post-office address, 248 W. 17th Street, New York, NY
“That they have been well and personally acquainted with Robert Booth and Mariah his widow for 30 years”
General Affidavit, Charles A. May and William A. Havens, 5 August 1892
[May] 42 years old; post-office address, 309 W. 125th St., New York City
[Havens] 44 years old; 72 W. 45th St., New York City
“We have been well and personally acquainted with Robert Booth & Mariah his wife for 27 years … [May worked for Booth] during the years 1882 and 1883 longer and Havens worked with him and for him during the same period and more, during which time said Robert Booth was employed as janitor and superintendent of several houses in 93 Street, New York City; that said Havens lived on the same block, that said Robert Booth for three years and more and that said May and Havens saw him several times daily for three or four years and were very intimate with him … and account of [Booth’s] illness he had to leave off work and lie down several times daily”
General Affidavit, Willard Scott, 6 September 1892
post-office address, 216 Forty-Second Place, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
“While located at No. 345 West 34th street, New York City, I united the said Robert and Maria Booth, in marriage. The ceremony was performed at my residence on the 5th day of December A.D. 1878. The maiden name of the bride was Maria Chester. I am a regularly ordained minister of the gospel and the marriage was performed in accordance with the rules of my church and the laws of the State of New York.”
General Affidavit, William A. Havens and Daniel E. Acker, 19 July 1893
[Havens] 45 years old; residence, New York, NY; post-office address, 72 West 45th Street, New York NY
[Acker] 65 years old; residence, Harrison, Westchester Co., NY; post-office address, Harrison, Westchester Co., NY
“Maria Booth is well known to both affiants and that said affiants are well acquainted with her means of support, the character and value of all property possessed by her, and the amount of her income from all sources; that knowledge of the facts herein sworn to was gained from our personal acquaintance with said Maria Booth and her husband now deceased for over fifteen years last past. That said Maria Booth has no income from any source nor any means of support except that obtained by her employment as a domestic servant for Twelve Dollars per month. That she has no real estate nor interest in any real estate of any kind whatsoever. That she has no personal property whatever except her ordinary wearing apparel.”
General Affidavit, A. Raltes, M.D., 7 August 1893
“That I attended Robert Booth professionally from March 7th 1887 to April 23, 1887 … Booth died on the 23rd day of April 1887 in the city of Harrisburg, Pa. … I furnished the death certificate to the authorities in this city to permit his burial”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 
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