John Minkins, Company K

The soldier drowned in Texas before his service ended. His brother’s application for pension benefits includes inconsistent information about the birth dates and dates of death for parents and siblings. That same brother later resided at the National Soldiers’ Home in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, Virginia. The location was sometimes incorrectly reported in this application as “Elizabeth City, Virginia” or “Elizabeth County, Virginia.”

 

Invalid – 1,191,575 / —–
Brother – 326,938 / —–, Peter Minkins

 

Declaration of Pension for Dependent Brothers and Sisters, Peter Minkins, 18 May 1885
22 years old; residence, Soldiers Home, Elizabeth City County, Virginia;  post-office address, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, Va.
“That there was no legal guardian … John Minkins died by drowning while crossing the river near Galveston, State of Texas, while in the line of his duty, and properly detailed in carrying the mails … on the not known day of not known about A.D. 1865 … his mother lived until about the year 1875 and drawed [sic] about one hundred dollars on a/c of death of aforesaid John Minkins … [surviving siblings who were 16 years old at the time of the soldier’s death] were Nelson Minkins died about the year 1878 and Amie Minkins died in 1869; that said brothers and sisters were the issue of the parents of said soldier…
“Ned Minkins, child of Malinda and William Minkins, born not known
Frank Minkins, Dec[eased], child of Malinda and William Minkins, born not known
Nelson Minkins, Dec[eased], child of Malinda and William Minkins, born not known
Junius Minkins, child of Malinda and William Minkins, born not known
“That the parents were married under the names William Minkins (Malinda’s name not known) at West Point, State of Virginia

 

Declaration for an Original Pension for a Brother, Julius Minkins, 16 April 1890
37 years old; post-office address, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, Va.
“He is the brother of John Minkins … who died in the service in Texas … he was partly dependent on said brother for support … Julius Minkins was born February 12th,1853 … Also personally appeared Warren Minkins … and Henry Rone …”

 

General Affidavit, Alfred Blow, 12 January 1891
50 years old; residence, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, Virginia; post-office address, Hampton, Va.
“That Julias Minkins was dependent on his brother John Minkins for his support when he was a boy. Johnie Minkins used to give Julias Minkins money for his support and lived near them.”

 

General Affidavit, Henry Roane, 12 January 1891
60 years old; residence, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, Va.; post-office address, Hampton, Va.
“That Julias Minkins was dependent on his brother Johnie Minkins for support since he was a boy. Johnie Minkins used to give Julias Minkins money for his support. I lived as near neighbour [sic].”

 

General Affidavit, John Miller, 27 January 1891
77 years old; residence, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, Va.; post-office address, Hampton, Va.
“That he knew about when Julias Minkins was born, that he is now about 38 years of age, that he knew that the father of Julias Minkins died in the year 1878  — I dug the grave for both his father and mother. There was about one and a half years difference in the deaths of his father and mother. His father died first.”

 

General Affidavit, Jacob Thornton, 6 November 1897
45 years old; residence, Hampton, Elizabeth County, Va.; post-office address, Hampton, Va.
“I know that Billey and Melinda Minkins, the father and mother of Julian Minkins died as follows: Billey Minkins died in the year 1873 and Melinda Minkins died about 18 months after …. I know this because I was at their house when they died and saw them laid out for burial. I recognized them when they were in the coffin.”

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Dexter Janson, Company E

Dexter Janson died in service. His sister Arena Janson applied for pension benefits and was denied. According to her application, their parents were deceased. At the time of her application, Arena lived in or near the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland.

 

Sister – 252,037 / —, Arena Janson

Declaration for Pension of Dependent Brothers and Sisters, 19 September 1879
“Arena Janson, a resident of Baltimore City, in the State of Maryland, aged 27 years … she is the sister of Dexter Janson who enlisted  under the name of Dexter Janson … 1864 … war of Secession who died in Galveston, Texas … that she cannot of her knowledge testify to the manner of his death … his mother died one year ago, left no father surviving him, that the above-named are the only legitimate brothers and sisters, including those of the half-blood, of the said deceased … no children surviving, who were under sixteen years of age …

“That the parents were married under the names of John Janson and Lettice Custis … that she hereby appoints Charles Galamison her attorney … that her residence is at No. 222, in Durham street, in the City of Baltimore … State of Maryland and that her post-office address is the same as above …
“Also personally appeared Joshua Hatton, residing at No. 207, in N. Durham street in Balt City, and Elizabeth Horsey, residing at No. 218, in Durham street, in Baltimore … say that they were present and saw Arena Janson, the claimant sign her name (make her mark) to the foregoing declaration.”

 

War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, DC, A.H. Nickerson, [to file],14 August 1880 
“It appears from the Rolls of U.S. Colored Troops on file in this Office that Dexter Janson was enrolled on the 12th day of Decm [sic] 1863, at Fort Monroe, Va. in Co. “E”, 1st Regiment of U.S. Colored Cavalry, to serve 3 years, or during the war, and mustered into service as a Private on the 22nd of Decm [sic] 1863, at Camp Hamilton, Va. in Co. “E”, 1st Regiment of U.S. Colored Cavalry, serve 3 years, or during the war. On the Muster Rolls of “E”, of that Regiment, from Organ: to June 30th 1865, he is reported present for duty. July and August “Died in Post Hospital Brazos Santiago Texas July 24th 1865.” (of Inflammation of the Lungs, as shown by report from Surgeon Gen’l U.S.A.).

“The name Dexter Janson is not found on the Muster Rolls of Co. “E”, 1st U.S. Colored Troops, on file in this office.”

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