Osborne Taylor, Company K

The soldier died of consumption in 1877; his wife died three years later. The researcher would do well to see if the wife’s death appears in the 1880 Mortality Schedule.

Minor — 554,851 / —–, Marthy Taylor

Application of Guardian of Minor Children, Marthy Taylor, 30 June 1892
20 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia
“child of Osborne Taylor … Osborne Taylor died at Warrick [sic] County, Virginia … May in the year A.D. 1877, that his death was caused by consumption and heart disease and affliction of lungs; [the child’s mother died 1880], and that the date of birth claimant was, as follows: March 1872.
“She further declares that the parents of said child were married at Isle of Wight Co., Va by slave laws … by masters consent.
“She also declares that she empowers [illegible] Rothert & Co of Washington, DC
“Also personally appeared Joseph Carey and Jacob Crocker, residents of Norfolk County … knew the family well for many years before the death of Osborne Taylor and knew they lived and cohabited as husband and wife and that claimant aforesaid is their child.”

Deposition, Joseph Carey, 12 June 1893
29 years old; occupation, oyster opener; residence, 41 Howard Street, Norfolk, Virginia
“I never heard of Osborne Taylor. I know W.R. Drury, pension agent, when I see him here in jail. I never appeared before W.R. Drury for any purpose and was never sworn to him to anything.”

Deposition, William R. Drury, 15 August 1893
55 years old; occupation, lawyer; residence, London Turnpike, Norfolk, Virginia
“All the recollection I have of the case is the name of Martha and Osborn Taylor.
“Yes I have recollection of the fact that Martha Taylor appeared before me for the execution of that application. I cannot remember how she looked. I know she appeared before me because I would never have sent in the application if she had not.
“I remember Joseph Carey. He is about 5 ft six inches and is a yellow man. I do not remember Jacob Crocker…. I am certain that Joseph Carey did live in Norfolk, Va. and that he staid [sic] here all that time.”
“I do not know where any of these three people now live. I have no record of the case as it was executed after I am disbarred from practice before the Department of Interior.”

Letter from Chas. W. Cannon, Special Examiner to Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, DC, 31 August 1893
“The Joseph Carey whose deposition I have taken is evidently not the Carey whose name appears as an identifying witness.
“W.R. Drury has no recollection of the case besides that his testimony would not be worth anything if he did although his deposition appears herewith.”
“P.S. This Joseph Carey I found in jail here.”