The soldier enlisted under the enslaver’s surname but upon discharge reclaimed his father’s last name. After more than 20 years and despite support from more than a dozen witnesses, the invalid and widow’s applications were denied. Last week’s post included research notes from documents dated 1870-1892. This week’s post includes research notes from documents dated 1893-1895.
Invalid — 239,130 / —–
Widow — 263,191 / —–, Rebecca Birdsong
General Affidavit, A.P. Branch and Henry Ruffin, 28 March 1893
[Branch] 36 years old; post-office address, Lumberton, Sussex Co., Va.
[Ruffin] 58 years old; post-office address, Lumberton, Sussex Co., Va.
“That they have been knowing Rebecca Birdsong about 25 years and she possess [sic] no property … they see her two & three times a month and know that she has no income and she has no means of support other than her daily labor and is seldom able to do that”
General Affidavit, Henry Ruffin, 15 April 1893
59 years old; post-office address, Sussex C.H., Sussex Co., Va.
“That he was personally acquainted with Turner the former husband of Becky Birdsong but to his certain knowledge Benj Turner died before she married the soldier Joseph Birdsong. He further states that Joseph Birdsong was never married before his marriage to Rebecca Turner“
General Affidavit, John Pearce, 15 April 1893
46 years old; post-office address, Sussex CH, Sussex County, Virginia
“That he was personally acquainted with Turner the former husband of Becky Birdsong”
General Affidavit, Willis Hall and Henry Ruffin, 29 October 1894
[Hall] 48 years old; residence Sussex C.H., Sussex, Virginia; post-office address, Sussex Co., Virginia
[Ruffin] 62 years old; residence Sussex C.H., Sussex, Virginia; post-office address, Sussex Co., Virginia
“They have been knowing Joseph Birdsong and Rebecca Birdsong every [sic] since their marriage”
Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Rebecca Birdsong, 24 May 1895
35 years old; post-office address, Lumberton, Sussex Co., Virginia
“[Joseph Birdsong] died 1879. That she was married under the name Rebecca Turner to said Joseph Birdsong on the 25 day of April 1868 by Rev. Barr, at Sussex Co. … She was married before her marriage to Joseph Birdsong, dissolved by death”
“Also personally appeared Willis Hall, residing at Sussex C.H. and Henry Ruffin residing at Sussex C.H. [acquainted with her] 20 years and 25 years, respectively”
General Affidavit, Allen Barlow, 11 December 1895
48 years old
“I have known Rebecca Birdsong … for 25 years. I have been living within 3 miles of them from the time of their marriage to the death of the soldier … I am now living within 4 miles of Rebecca Birdsong”
General Affidavit, Jack Peters, 11 December 1895
31 years old; residence, Sussex CH, Sussex Co., Va.; post-office adddress, Sussex CH, Va.
“I have known Rebecca Birdsong … for 20 years. I have been living within 2 1/2 miles of them from the time of their marriage to the death of the soldier.”
General Affidavit, Willis Hall, 16 December 1895
“I was acquainted with Joseph Birdsong while in service at Brownsville and Brazos Texas. … He came from the same neighborhood that I did & he corresponded with me from home while I was still in Texas.”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 
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