William Spencer, Company K

The soldier’s mother escaped slavery in 1863. While her son was in the service, he sent money to her. He died in a camp hospital days before he was to be discharged.

Mother – 165,874 / 194,210, Binah Smith

Sworn Statement, Mary Jane Moore & Martha Reddick, 3 October 18[illegible]
“for twelve years they have been personally acquainted with Binah Smith .. and about the first of Jany 1863 she Binah Smith escaped from her owners in slavery and came to Portsmouth, Va, and while her son was in the US service he sent her money on several occasions: at one time he sent her ten dollars, at another eight dollars and at another time forty dollars … [affiants] have seen the money handed to her — once the eight dollars by John Moore, husband of Mary Jane Moore, who was a member of Co K 1USCC and was home on a furlough and brought the money from Wm Smith and the forty dollars was handed claimant by Stephen Reddick also Co K 1 USCC and was sent to her by her son .. and the ten dollars was sent in a letter : deponents lived in the same house with claimant on King St in Portsmouth, Va when the money was paid to her”

Sworn Statement, James Bellfield & Alonzo Hodges, 28 October 1868
“They were both well acquainted with William Smith …. on or about the 10th day of February 1866 the said William Smith died in camp hospital at New Orleans La of consumption. He died the same day that their regiment arrived at New Orleans from Texas. That they were both present when [Smith] died and saw his remains after he was dead”

Sworn Statement, Richard Colding, 6 July 1872
“Well acquainted, and present at the time of his death which occurred on the way from Brazos Santiago, Texas to City Point, Va. to be mustered out … [Smith] was quite unwell some days before he was discharged”

Sworn Statement, Binah Smith, 10 December 1872
“Deposes that her husband’s name was James Griffin, being named after his master Miles Griffin of Nansemond Co., Va., now dead, and this affiant and her son William belonged to Robert Smith of Gates Co, NC and were so were named Smith after her master according the custom among slaves”
“Affiant [unable to provide medical testimony] as to her husband’s health on account of the death of Dr. Webb of Suffolk, who was their one family physician & she offers the testimony of her neighbor George Allen … William worked for Scott Reddick, a colored cooper”

Sworn Statement, George Allen, 10 December 1872
60 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Va.
“Acquainted with [James Griffin] for over forty years & with her & her son for twenty-five years, and from having worked with him several months for Scott Reddick at coopering”

Sworn Statement, Stephen Reddick, 11 December 1872
[no age given], occupation, cooper; residence, Portsmoth, Va.
“In the year 1863 early in the spring William Smith, son of Binah Smith, both of whom had been set free by the Emancipation Proclamation, came to work for me at Suffolk, Va. at the coopering business and hauling of wood. He worked for me there and at Norfolk for about a year, when he enlisted … During the time he was working for me I paid him five dollars per week, most of the time by his direction to his mother Binah Smith. A few times I paid him … [he] took the money to his said mother or expended it almost entirely it almost entirely for her benefit.
“I knew his father & mother for fifteen years previous to the late war. She, his mother, was called Smith after her master & his father Griffin after his master, as was the custom among slaves, and the son carried his mother’s name, Smith.
“[He knew this] having lived in the same neighborhood before the war, belonging to the same family in Nansemond Co, for over fifteen years, and from having the said William Smith in his employ”

Sworn Statement, Scott Reddick & Cornelia Brooks, 9 May 1873
[Reddick] residence, Portsmouth, Va.
[Brooks] residence, Norfolk, Va.
“They have each been intimately acquainted with the family of Binah Smith for more than twenty years last past, & well acquainted with James Griffin and Binah Smith who were the parents of William Smith”
“James Griffin was almost entirely disabled from a rupture which for about fifteen years previous to his death which prevents him from performing manual labor… Affiant states that the father may at times have done some little job of light work, earning maybe a dollar or two once a month …. [affiant lived with them] or near the said Smith family in Nansemond Co, Va for fifteen years before the late war.”

Sworn Statement, Cornelia Brooks,16 January 1875
about 23 years old; residence, 28 Dodd’s Lane, Norfolk, Va
“She is a niece of James Griffin … and has lifelong acquaintance with them both. James Griffin some eight years before the war was ruptured by an accident or heavy lifting in the swamp where he was working … affiant lived in Suffolk, Nansemond Co, Va. all her life up to the war and until Suffolk was evacuated”

Sworn Statement, Chery Smith, 16 January 1875
53 years old; residence, “Portsmouth, on Chestnut St, between Crabbe & South sts, but for fifteen years before the war & until its evacuation, she lived in Suffolk, Va. and was a near neighbor of James Griffin”

Sworn statement, Albert Jones, 24 March 1875
residence, High St bet Chestnut & Effingham Sts, Portsmouth, Va.
“knew William Smith … during all his service up to his death, knew him a year or more before his enlistment, at which time he lived in Portsmouth, Va. He was a mere boy then and unmarried. Affiant saw him constantly from then until his death … Affiant also swears the mother has been very poor since 1863 having had no property whatsoever but earned her living in a poor way, by working out. He has lived within ten minutes walk of Binah Smith’s rented place in Portsmouth, Va since the war”

Sworn Statement, Scott Reddick, 24 March 1875
residence, “just west of Portsmouth & within five minutes walk of Binah Smith’s rented place”
“Has known her and her son … for many years having first know them about twenty years ago … Binah Smith has had no property, real or personal, except wearing apparel & perhaps $5 worth of furniture of most ordinary character. She has had a hard struggle to get bread to eat, since the war. Affiant [has known Binah and William until his death] during last twenty years, seeing them once a week or oftener”
“

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Calvin Jackson alias Henry Tripp, Company A

There’s virtually no personal detail in this pension application. When that happens, the researcher has to seek out other sources.

Mother – 259,960 / —– , Caroline Jackson

Letter from John A. Vann, Belvidere, North Carolina to Chas W. Dey, Herndon, Virginia, 13 August 1885
“Will you please give me the name of the man who was killed at Chicakhominy Swamp at the time you had ordered your men to lie down & this man having raised himself up on his knees was shot through the head? One of your men ‘Gilbert Felton‘ by name, tells me that he was near the man when he was shot & saw him fall.
“I want the name of the party who was killed at that time & you will greatly oblige me by referring to your papers & giving me proof of his identity. Gilbert Felton thinks the man enlisted under the name of Henry Tripp. It seems there was one man killed at the time so you can easily identify him.”

Letter from Charles W. Dey, Herndon, Fairfax County, Virginia to General Black, 27 August 1885
“Henry Tripp of my company was from North Carolina but I am of the impression that he told me that he only had a sister as nearest relative and as he was only twenty years of age I fail to see how his sister could be the ‘poor old decrepit colored woman’ Rev. Faun describes. Of course twenty two years will somewhat dim the distinctions of memory. And I may be mistaken. And it might have been a mother instead of a sister. In which case Rev. Faun’s adjectives would all prove correct.
“Will you make a special case of this and thereby protect the Govt from fraud? And also do justice to the relative of any of a brave soldier?
“Will you be kind enough to indicate what course in your opinion I should pursue in regard to the matter and greatly oblige
“Yours very, truly,
Charles W. Dey
Late Capt Co A 1st USC Cav”

Letter from RW Browne, Attorney at Law, Room 18 Wiggins Block, Take Elevator, Cincinnati, Ohio to Commissionr of Pensions, 3 June 1893
“I was present as 2d Lt of Co A 1st USCC at the fight at Jones Ford on the Chicahominy, May 5, 1864. We had one man shot dead and I believe one or two wounded. I remember the names Laster & Tripp perectly well, but do not remember whether that was the name of either the man killed or of the one of ones wounded. The officer in command of the company on that day wass Capt. Chas. W. Dey now residing at Herndon, Fairfax Co., Va.”

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Henderson Hodges, Company C

One document said the soldier was killed in battle in July 1864. Another reported he died of injuries sustained when he was thrown from a horse during a drill at Camp Hamilton, Virginia. If conflicting evidence went unresolved an application for benefit would be rejected .

Mother – 365,533 / —–, Chloe Hodges

Declaration for an Originial Pension for a Mother, Chloe Hodges, 15 December 1887
61 years old; residence, Belleville, Nansemond County, Virginia; post-office address, Belleville, Nansemond County, Virginia
“she is the widow of Allen Hodges, and mother of Henderson Hodges .. who was killed in battle at Deep Bottom, Va, on the 21st day of July AD 1864; that said son left neither widow nor children under sixteen years of age surviving; that she was partly dependent upon said son for support; that her husband … Allen Hodges aged 79 years died on the [blank] day of September 1871 that there were surviving the date of said son’s death his brothers and sisters, who were under sixteen of age as follow:
Martha (now Martha Rountree having married Thomas Rountree), born October 12, 1848
Harriet (now the wife of George Haile), born 1852
Adaline (now the wife of John Wright), born 1857
Anna (now the widow of John Tynes), born 1860
“Also personally appeared Norman B. Hayden residing in Suffolk, Nansemond Co., Va. and CH Causey, Jr residing in Suffolk, Nansemond Co., Va. “

Declaration for an Original Pension of a Mother, Chloe Hodges, 8 April 1891
70 years old; residence, Suffolk, Va.; post-office address, 709 County St., Portsmouth, Va. care of Henry Clay
“[the soldier] died in Hospital at Hampton, Virginia of injuries received by being thrown from his horse while on drill at Camp Hamilton, Virginia … 1st day of March, AD 1865 … [the claimant was] married to the father of said son at Nansemond Co., Va … 1871 … his brothers and sisters who were under sixteen years of age …
“Martha Hodges now Rountree
Harriet Hodges now Haile
Adaline Hodges now Wright
Isaiah Hodges
Anna Hodges now Tynes
Margaret Ann Hodges
“Also personally appered Elizabeth Clay, residing at 709 County Street, Ports, Va. … and Adaline Wright residing at 716 Queen Street in Ports, Va.”

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Jasper Deans, Company F

A widow whose child died in service was at increased risk of suffering destitution. During his lifetime, this young man raised produce on rented land and worked as an oysterman to support his entire family. The family lived in Norfolk County near Craney Island.

Mother — 165,978 / 207,170, Lydia Deans

Father, Mother, or Orphan Brother’s Application for Army Pension, Lydia Deans, 26 September 1868
55 years old; residence, Norfolk County, Virginia
“his father is dead … my domicile or place of abode is on the place of William Dean“
“Also personally appeared John Pitt and George Elliott residents of the County of Norfolk in the State of Va “

Sworn Statement, Lydia Deans, 16 May 1869
“That her son the said Jasper Deans died at Brazos Santiago Texas the 9th of August 1865: that he left no widow, child, or children. That her husband Jasper Deans died in April 1868, but that for at least seven years before his death he was hardly able to work … That during the lifetime of her son, he rented about ten acres of land with the proceeds of which and his earnings as an oysterman he supported the entire family. That she rents the same land now but she can barely make a living.”
“At the same time also appeared Dempsey Elliott and William Elliott … That they saw him buy and take home to his mother articles of food about every Saturday enough to last for a week…. They know this for having a lived all their lives within a hundred yards of Lydia Deans and family.”

Sworn Statement, Lydia Dean, 20 April 1872
“She received twelve dolls [sic] from her son while the regiment was encamped at Norfolk and two letters from her son one containing ten dolls [sic] and the other seventeen dolls: that before the regiment was sent to Texas while it was at Norfolk her son not having any money gave her a silver watch telling her to dispose of it and use the money for herself and husband: that she and her husband Jasper Dean (sometimes called Jasper Hopper) rented a piece of land from Wm. Dean of Norfolk County, Va. and paying from $40 to $100 per year rent for it: that Wm. Dean is dead and the best evidence she can furnish is that of the receipts given her for said payments: that when her son Jasper was in the army she had to hire labor to work for her, her husband being unable to perform much work: that she is unable to secure any evidence more than the affidavits of Dempsey Elliott and Daniel Wright as to the earnings of her son as he worked on the farm a considerable portion of the time and the produce raised was appropriated for rent and in support of the family: no separate account being kept of her son’s earnings [illegible] and her husband (what he was able to do) all worked together: that she desires her Pension Certificate and all other communications sent to her at Freedmen’s Bank, Norfolk, Va.”

Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, Branch Office of Claim Division, No. 14 Main Street — in Freedmen’s Bank, Norfolk, Va. 20 April 1872
“I hereby certify to a careful examination this day in the pension claim [of Lydia Deans] the claimant and her identifying witnesses appearing before me & being examined separately & apart from each other.
“From the examination, & from the appearance of the parties, and from having already paid the claimant the bounty & back pay one by reason of the service of Jasper Deans … I am satisfied of her identity as the mother of the said soldier on whom she seems to have been dependent for her support.”
[Note: The letter is on government stationery and the agent’s signature is illegible — Leslie]

Claimant’s Testimony, Lydia Deans, 8 January 1883
Post-office address, Churchland, Norfolk County, Virginia
“In the year 1865 she lived in Western Branch Township near Craney Island, Norfolk Co., Va. and her P.O. address was Portsmouth, Va. and she since that date continuously resided in Western Branch District, Norfolk Co., Va. but a new P.O. has been established 2 1/2 miles from her called Churchland: her children in the year 1865 were John Deans, Elizabeth Copeland, Sandy Deans, and Lucy Ann Deans, aged then 30, 28, 22 and 17 years, respectively and these were the only members of her family living at that date except Jasper Deans her husband who died shortly after her son did.”

Claimant’s Testimony, Lydia Deans, 27 January 1883
“That after the death of her said son she has been supported by her own labor and assistance from her other children John Deans, Sandy Deans, Elizabeth Copeland, and Lucy Ann Wright.
“This assistance was given from time to time as I needed it and I now live and for ten years have resided with one of my children viz Elizabeth Copeland.”

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William Smith, Company K

Before enlistment, this man worked as a cooper and his income supported his widowed mother. He died of consumption in a camp hospital the same day his regiment arrived in New Orleans from Texas.

Mother –165,874 / 194,210, Binah Smith

Letterhead, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, DC, October 12, 1868
“He died Feby 15, 1866 on the way from Camp to Corps d’Afrique Gen’l Hospital, New Orleans, La. … cause of death unknown”

Notarized Statement, George Allen, 3 June 1872
“of Portsmouth, Va. … Wm Smith worked as a cooper for Scott Reddick in Portsmouth, Va. receiving about $1.25 per day and that he worked for said Scott Reddick about three months to deponent’s knowledge when he deponent left the shop of Reddick in which he and Smith had been working leaving Smith still at work for Reddick: that this employment of Smith and deponent was in the winter and spring of 1863: that out of the wages which said Smith received he paid his mother five dollars per week on every Saturday night: deponent further swears that Jas. Griffin the husband of claimant died about the first of May 1872: [Allen having been] overseer of the plantation on which Jas. Griffin worked prior to the war and knew his condition and the amount of labor which he performed having reported to Jas B. Norfleet the person who employed the hands the amount of his Jas. Griffin labor and that he has no interest in this claim.”

Notarized Statement, Scott Riddick, 5 June 1872
“for twenty years he has personally known Binah Smith … that in the latter part of 1862 and part of the year 1863, he hired Wm Smith and paid him five dollars per week paying him every week his wages …: that Binah came over to his shop and Wm paid her some of the money in his presence on two or three occasions.”

Notarized Statement, James Bellfield and Alonzo Hodges, Norfolk, Va., 6 July 1872
“well acquainted with William Smith … that on or about the 10th day of February 1866, the soldier William Smith died in camp hospital at New Orleans, La. of consumption. He died the same day that their regiment arrived at New Orleans from Texas. That they were present when the said William Smith died and saw his remains after he was dead, that they were well acquainted with said William Smith two years before he died.”

Notarized Statement, Richard Colding, Norfolk, Va. 6 July 1872
“well acquainted with William Smith…was present at his death…”

Notarized Statement, Binah Smith, 10 December 1872
“her husband’s name was James Griffin, being named after his master Miles Griffin of Nansemond Co, Va., now dead, and this affiant & her son William, belonged to Robert Smith, of Gates Co., N.C. and so were named Smith after her master according to the custom among slaves”

Notarized Statement, Binah Smith, 10 December 1872
“Mary Jane Moore and Martha Reddick of Portsmouth, Va… say for twelve years they have been personally acquainted with Binah Smith…[who] escaped from her owners in slavery and came to Portsmouth, Va. and while her son was in the U.S. service he sent her money on several occasions: at one time he sent her ten dollars, another eight dollars and at another time forty dollars….deponents’ knowledge of these facts is derived from having  been at claimant’s (Smith’s) house and seen the money handed to her once the eight dollars by John Moore, husband of Mary Jane Moore who was a member of Co K 1st USCC and was home on a furlough and brought they money from Wm Smith and the forty dollars was handed claimant by Stephen Reddick also Co K 1st USC.C. and was sent to her by her son Wm Smith; and the ten dollars was sent in a letter; deponents lived in the same house with claimant on King St. in Portsmouth, Va. when the money was paid to her and their husbands were in the same Co and Regiment with Claimant’s son”

Notarized Statement, Scott Reddick, Portsmouth, Va., and Cornelia Brooks, Norfolk, Va., 9 May 1873
“they each have been intimately acquainted with the family of Binah Smith for more than twenty years last past & well acquainted with James Griffin and Binah Smith who were the parents of William
Smith.
“James Griffin was almost entirely disabled from a rupture, which for about fifteen years previous to his death prevented him from performing manual labor though he was able to walk about at times. He did nothing for support of his family for all that time. The family being supported by William & his mother”
“Henry Hopkins … resides in Norfolk County, Va. and is 40 years of age … Wm Smith was never able to go out on duty after his first attack but grew worse until he died en route to N. Orleans.”
.“Albert Jones…5 June 1872…says he resides at Portsmouth, Va. in London St.”

Notarized Statement, Cornelia Brooks, 16 January 1875
about 23 years old; residence, 28 Dodd’s Lane, Norfolk
“She is a niece of James Griffin, the late husband of Binah Smith … James Griffin some eight years before the war was ruptured by an accident of heavy lifting the swamp where he was working and often that up to his death, nearly three years ago was almost wholly disabled, being often for months at a time, entirely confined to his bed in a helpless condition and during the whole of the last fifteen years of his life, he was not able for any consecutive three months at a time to earn his own support … Affiant lived in Suffolk, Nansemond Co., all of her life up to the war and until Suffolk was evacuated and so had most intimate acquaintance with the facts in the case”
“Chery Smith who being sworn says she’s about 53 years of age and now lives in Portsmouth on Chestnut St. between Crabbe & South streets, but for fifteen years before the war & until its evacuation she lived in Suffolk, Va. and was a near neighbor of James Griffin the late husband of Binah Smith.”

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