Five men — including the soldier and his two brothers Harrison Sykes alias Harrison Williams and Henry Sykes alias Henry Williams — liberated themselves from a Southampton County, Virginia plantation and “joined the Union Army at the same time and place.”
Today’s post includes research notes for documents dated 1898-1900. Last week’s post included research notes for those dated 1891-1898 and next week’s will include research notes for those dated 1900-1928.
Widow — 681,670 / 513,343, Margaret Sykes
General Affidavit, Margaret Williams, 12 December 1898
40 years old; residence, Courtland, Southampton County, Virginia; post-office address, Box 85, Southampton Co., Va.
“I neither own, nor have the use of, or recurring interest in, any property of any kind: real, personal, or mixed, except a small amount of personal property which is not a source of income, and real estate worth about two hundred & fifty ($250). Since the death of my husband no person has been legally bound for my support and I obtain a living solely by my own exertions at farming. My income never exceeds (from all sources four ($4) dollars per month.
“In conformity with the custom of those days my husband was generally known by his master’s name; so when he entered the U.S. Service he enlisted under the name Joseph Williams. After the war he was free & then took his own (father’s name) of Sykes — was married to me under that name. He was however just as well known by the name of Williams as by the name of Sykes & answered to either name. I further testify that there were 3 children left by my late husband … The children are aged as follows:
“Virginia Williams or (Sykes) born on 30th of March 1879
Lue Nettie ” ” ” ” 8th April 1883
Cora Bell ” ” ” ” 8th June 1886″
General Affidavit, F.E. Williams, 20 December 1898 [date stamped by Pension Office]
37 [or 57?] years old; “physician or farmer”; residence, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Pope, Va.
“That I have been acquainted with said Jos. Sykes or Williams all of my life and his widow Margaret Sykes since 1874, that Jos. Sykes was a slave of my grandfather Jacob Williams and as was the custom he was known by the name of Jos. Williams, but after the slaves were freed he assumed the name of his father
which was Solomon Sykes.
“He married Margaret Whitehead in 1876 and lived with her until his death in Dec 1897.”
General Affidavit, Abb Barnes and Robbert Harris, 5 March 1900
[Barnes] 48 years old; residence, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Courtland, Southampton Co., Va.
“I was at Joseph Williams house when he died on the 6th of December 1897.”
[Harris] 42 years old; residence, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Courtland, Southampton Co., Va.
“I was at the marriage of Joseph Williams to Margret Whitehead in the year 1876 … she Margret Williams now lives at the place that Joseph Williams died at on the 6th of December 1897.”
General Affidavit, Jane Bynum, 22 May 1900
52 years old; residence, Courtland, Southampton County, Virginia; post-office address, Courtland, Southampton County, Virginia
“That I was present at the marriage of Margaret Williams (who was Margaret Whitehead) on the 14th day of December 1876 to Joseph Williams … they were duly married in Southampton County.”
General Affidavit, James Cloud and Joseph Gregory, 30 May 1900
[Cloud] 43 years old; residence, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Courtland, Southampton Co., Va.
“I know Margaret June Williams and know that she was the lawful widow of Joseph Williams. I have known them as man and wife for 30 years and live in one-half mile of where they lived and know that neither of them had ever been married prior to the time that Joseph and Margaret was married on December the 14th 1876.”
[Gregory] 61 years old; residence, Franklin, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Franklin, Southampton Co., Va.
“I have known Margaret Williams for 30 years. I married Joseph Williams to his wife Margaret Jane on December the 14th 1876. They were both members of the church in my charge at that time and I am satisfied that neither of them had been married prior to that time and am satisfied that they lived together until the death of Joseph Williams.”
Great info in this pension file. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike