Not all veterans (or survivors) applied for pensions. However, many of them were witnesses and provided personal information about themselves in the process. Sometimes that information isn’t available elsewhere.
Invalid– 652,403 / 552,192
General Affidavit, Andrew Nimmo, 25 January 1893
57 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Virginia; post-office address, 387 Church St., Norfolk, Va
“That in the Spring of 1865 while charging on in line of duty at New Kent, Va. the claimant’s horse fell on him which affected the said Isaac Mosely’s head and eyes … he has to stop work and lie down … he is at least 2/3 disabled. That I was present when his horse fell on him”
General Affidavit, Lewis Dawley. 26 January 1893
57 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Virginia; post-office address, Church St., Norfolk, Va.
“That in the Spring of 1865 while skirmishing at New Kent, Va. the above named comrade’s horse stumbled and fell upon him … he can hardly do any manual labor”
[Note: Signed “Louis Dawley” — Leslie]
General Affidavit, Gideon Christian, MD, 3 February 1893
residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va
“I did not know this man until some eight or ten years after the war when I attended him for an attack of rheumatism associated with malaria twice.”
General Affidavit, Isaac Kellum and Gilbert Wright, 27 Februrary 1893
[Kellum] 66 years old; residence; Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
[Wright] 55 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
“Affiants have known Isaac Mosely the past six or seven years”
Deposition, Mark Sanford, 10 May 1893
about 51 years old; “occupation, boss of hands picking berrys, no regular occupation”; residence, 26 Owen St, Norfolk, Va
Deposition, Isaac Mosely, 13 May 1893
48 years old; occupation, laborer; residence, 33 Wise St., Norfolk, Va.
“Q. What witnesses did you have?
A. Isaac Kellam and Gilbert Wright”
Deposition, John Whitehurst, 15 May 1893
69 yeas old; occupation, driver; residence, 208 Goff St., Norfolk, Va.
Affidavit for General Purposes, Andrew Nimmo, 16 August 1893
56 years old; residence, 411 Church St., Norfolk, Va.
“Claimant and I have been neighbors and see one another as often a three times a week”
Affidavit for General Purposes, John Lynnier, 16 August 1893
42 years old
“That on or about March 1866 I met Isaac Mosely claimant who had then just returned from the army of the US … we are intimate neighbors”
Affidavit for General Purposes, Joseph White, 5 September 1893
46 years old; residence, 40 National St., Norfolk, Va.
“That I have known claimant five years before the late War of Rebellion and we lived together and frequently worked together up to 1890”
Affidavit for General Purposes, D.E. Ferebee, 6 September 1893
“I have been acquainted with claimant about thirty years and was in the same company and regiment also have seen him his discharge at least once a week. Often [sic] and on for about thirteen years”
General Affidavit, Dempsey E. Ferebee and Martin Corprew, 16 December 1893
[Ferebee] 60 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfol Co., Va; post-office address, 15 Kent St., Norfolk, Va
[Corprew] 58 years old, residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va; post-office address, 90 Calvary St., Norfolk, Va.
“That they are both well acquainted with the claimant … and knew him well in the service … inflamed eyes from exposure and smoke and explosion of shells and powder … They have seen claimant at least once or twice a year during each and every year from 1866 to the present time. For the first thirteen years or thereabout from 1866 they saw claimant at least once a week”
Deposition, Isaac Mosely, 14 April 1894
49 years old; occupation, laborer; residence and post-office address, 30 Wise St., Norfolk, Va.
Deposition, Dempsey E. Ferebee, 16 April 1894
60 years old; occupation, minister of the gospel; residence and post-office address, 22 Lincoln St., Norfolk, Va.
“I have known the claimant Isaac Mosely since 1864. He and I were members of Co B, 1 USCC, during the late war”
Sworn Statement, Martin Corprew, 6 June 1894
“I enlisted with Isaac Mosely … we serve [sic] together during the war and were discharged at the same time … battle in front of Petersburg, Va about the fall of 1864 … I have lived near Isaac Mosely ever since our discharge in Norfolk, Va. and have seen him about once a week during that time”
General Affidavit, L. B. Montague, MD, 14 October 1895
57 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
“Isaac Mosley came to me for examination on this 11th day Oct 1895”
Sworn Statement, Dempsey E. Ferebee, 27 June 1898
60 years old; occupation, minister of the gospel; post-office address, 15 Kent St., Norfolk, Va.
“I served in Co B, 1st USC Cav … I am well acquainted with the clmt … and have known continuously since except from 1875 to 1891 when I was away from Norfolk, I saw him occasionally even during said time … [injured by] explosion of a shell near Petersburg on the turnpike, this was sometime before Richmond fell in 1865”
Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Isaac Mosely, 15 March 1898
[married] Louisa Mosely — Louisa Whitehurst
[where, when, by whom] “about 4 yrs ago — Norfolk, Va. — Rev. Brickhouse“
[record] “marriage register = Norfolk City Clerk’s Office”
[previously married] Margaret (Eyre) Mosely — Died Mar 15, 1882
[living children] three by first wife, all over 20; none living by 2d wife
Letter from Isaac Mosely, Norfolk, Va. to H.C. Evans, Commisioner of Pensions, 23 March, 1898
“I was married to my present wife February 23, 1891. I married her under the name of Louisa Cuffy. In my reply to circular I gave her name as Louise Whitehurst. That was her maiden name, but she was a widow when I married her, the name of her former husband being Cuffy.”
Questionnaire (Form 3-173), Isaac Mosely, 22 June 1898
[married] Louisa Mosely — Louisa Cuffey
[where, when, by whom] “six years ago last fall – Norfolk, Va. — Elder John Brickhouse“
[record] “marriage register – clerk’s office – Norfolk City”
[previously married] Margaret Mosely died Mch 5, 1882, Norfolk, Va
[living children] Isaac Mosely, 34 years old; Ann Mosely, 26 years; Edward Mosely, 22 years old
Deposition, Isaac Mosely, 9 January 1902
56 years old [60 was pencilled in above this item]; “inmate of the S.S. home though till a year ago I lived at 10 O’Keefe St., and my eyesight is so bad that I have no occupation”
“I was born in Norfolk County, Va., and was a slave; was owned by John Griddle. My father was Charles Mosely … prior to enlistment was a farmer.”
“For fifteen years my eyesight has been so poor that I could do very little work. I now do no work. I have lived in Norfolk ever since I came from the army. Have worked principally on truck farms.
“When in the army I served in Va., until Richmond fell and then we went to Texas. We went to Texas by boat. We went on the McClelland.
“I have been married twice; my first wife was Margaret Ayers; she died 19 years ago in this town. My second wife was Louisa Whitehurst. We have been married 13 years. We were married in this city. We were married by Rev. Brickhouse.
“Q. How long have your eyes been bothering you?
A. Ever since 1864. I got powder in them in front of Petersburg. A shell bursted in front of me and filled my eyes full of sand and powder and my eyes aint been no count since. I was never treated for my eyes in service.
“Isaac Kellum, Humphrey McCoy, Darling [sic] were my witnesses.
“I was a witness for Kellum and McCoy.”
Death Certificate, Isaac Mosely, 3 March 1911
[place of death] 27 Hampton St., 9th Ward, Norfolk, Virginia
[length of reisdence in Norfolk] 65 years old
[sex / color / condition] male / colored / single
[birth date] [blank]
[age] 65 years old
[occupation] [blank]
[birthplace] Virginia
[father’s name and birthplace] Charles Mosely, Virginia
[mother’s name and birthplace] not known, Virginia
[informant] Isaac Mosely, Jr., 26 Hunter St., Norfolk, Va.
[death date] March 3, 1911
[cause of death / contributory] apoplexy / cerebral / senility
[signed] Dr. Lyman Page [?], MD, 765 Church St
[burial, date] Calvary, March 1911
[undertaker, address] Jones & Co., 197 Wise St.
Application for Re-imbursement, Annie Spratley, 1911
[member of society paying sick or death benefits] no
[executor or administrator] no
[money, real estate, or personal property]
[unendorsed pension check] no
[relationship to pensioner] daughter
[married] yes
[cause of death] apoplexy
[date last sickness began’ February 28, 1911
[name and post-office address of physician attending the pensioner during last sickness] A. Lyman Paey, 765 Church St., Norfolk, Va
[person who nursed pensioner] Annie Spratley
[pensioner’s address during last sickness] 27 Hunter St., Norfolk, Va.
[death date] March 3, 1911
[burial] Calvary Cemetery, Norfolk, Va.
| Name | Nature of Expense | State Whether Paid or Unpaid | Amount |
| A. Lyman Paey | Physician | Paid | 3.00 |
| Medicine | |||
| Nursing and caare | |||
| D.W. Jones & Co | Undertaker | Unpaid | 90.50 |
| Livery | |||
| Cemetery | |||
| Other expenses: | |||
| Annie Spratley | Board, lodging & nursing & laundry for 1 month | ||
| Annie Spratley | |||
| Annie Spratley | Unpaid | 24.00 | |
| TOTAL | $117.50 |
(Soldier was blind for thirteen years).
Post-office address, 27 Hunter St., Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia
“The pensioner, Isaac Mosely, was decrepit, old, and blind and evidently needed everything that was done for him.”
A. Lyman Paey, MD
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 
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