The soldier and his wife were married in Princess Anne County, Virginia with consent of their enslavers. An agent of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands (BRFAL) certified their marriage when she applied for widow’s pension. For a time the Bureau’s office and the Freedman’s Bank were in the same building in downtown Norfolk.
Widow — 174,223 / 154,377, Mary Munden
Widow’s Claim for Pension, Mary Mundane, 18 April 1869
post-office address, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Virginia
“That she is the widow of Daniel Mundain … that her maiden mane was Mary Mackie [married] on or about the Nov 1854 in the county of Prince Ann, and State of Virginia by mutual consent … married by consent of master Moses Fentress to Daniel Mundin with the consent of his master Nathan Mundin all of Prince Ann County, Va….. her husband died in the service of the United States as aforesaid at Brazos Santiago, in the state of Texas … of disease contracted in the service & in line of duty … all the children of my deceased husband who were under sixteen years of age at the time of his death George Mundane born Aug 1855, William born 1857, (Luellen born Oct 1859, died in July 1865), Frances born Nov 1861, (Daniel born July 1864 – died Aug 1867)”
“Also personally appeared before me Isaac Kellam and Owen Woodhouse, residents of Norfolk County, and State of Virginia”
Statement from H.C. Percy, Agent, Bur RFAL[illegible], 26 October 1871
“I certify that I have examined the case of Mary Mundeen, widow of Daniel Munden … the claimant and her witnesses appearing before me and from said examination and from several years personal acquaintance with the claimant who has been a frequent visitor at my office & is vouched for by unimpeachable witnesses, and from having two years ago paid to same claimant the bounty & arrears of pay due by reason of said soldier’s service. I am fully satisfied of her identity as the widow of the said soldier, and so is justly entitled to receive a pension from the United States”
[Note: Written on letterhead belonging to the “Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, Branch Office of Claim Division, No. 14 Main Street, — in Freedmen Bank, Norfolk, Va.” — Leslie]
Deposition, Mary Mundin, 3 October 1901
about 75 years old; occupation, housekeeping; residence, Berkley, Va. “but my mail is received in Noarfolk, Va.”
“My husband was born a slave and belonged to the Mundins. The Mundins lived in Princess Anne Co. Randall Ives was name of my husband’s father but he took his name from his owners. I was owned by Mrs. Fentress in Princess Anne Co., Va. My husband and I lived about 12 or 15 miles apart but he came to see me every two or three weeks. We were married several years before the War and I had five children by him when the War commenced. All are dead except my oldest son George who is now totally blind and I support him … [before my husband joined the army] he worked on a farm.”
“My husband joined the army. I think about Norfolk. He ran away and joined before I knew it. My husband’s reg’t was camped awhile after he joined it in Norfolk and I often visited him there. Finally his Reg was ordered to Texas and he went with it and died there. He died very soon after the Regt reached Texas but I do not know what he died of. I have lived right here in this town ever since my husband died…. I have done all kinds of work for a living such as washing and ironing.
“Chas. C. Brown was my atty. … My vouchers are executed by Mr. Page.”
Letter from Mary Munder, 22-17th St., Berkley, Norfolk, Va., to Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, DC, 18 September 1916
“I am 92 years of age, having been born September, 1924, in Princess Anne County, Va.”
[Note: The letter was written on letterhead of Hubard & Hubard, Attorneys at Law, Offices 145 Bank St., Norfolk, Va. — Leslie]
Declaration of Widow’s Pension, Mary Mundin, 30 September 1916 [date-stamped by Pension Office]
residence, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, care of Freedman’s Bank, Norfolk, Va.
“July 25, 1865, the date of soldier’s death … his children
| George | Born, Aug 15, 1855 Sixteen, Aug 14, 1871 |
| William | Born, Sep 15, 1857 Sixteen, Sept 14, 1873 |
| Frances | Born, Nov 15, 1861 Sixteen, Nov 14, 1877 |
| David | Born, July 1, 1864 Died, Aug 1, 1867 |
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 
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