Robert Carter alias Watson Cooper, Company D

This widow’s application did not hold up under close review by the Pension Bureau’s Special Examiner. Rejections were issued when a Special Examiner determined that there was insufficient evidence of identity or relationship.

Widow — 680,095 / —–

Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Zilpha Carter, 4 June 1898
48 years old; residence, Windsor Township, Bertie County, North Carolina; post-office address, c/o Lewis Roulhac, Windsor, Bertie County, North Carolina
“died near Windsor, in the State of North Carolina, on or about the 14 day of Aug 1886. That she was married under the name of Zilpha Bond to said Robert Carter on the 9 day of September, 1871, by George W. Downing, at Windsor, NC”

“Also personally appeared Champ Pugh, residing at Windsor, County of Bertie, State of North Carolina, and Lewis Lathem, residing at Windsor, County of Bertie, State of North Carolina.”
[Note: “Lewis Lathem” appeared on the signature line as “Willis Lathem” who signed with his mark — Leslie]

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Lawson Singleton, Company D

The couple had a “slave marriage” in Portsmouth in September 1864. The soldier died at Brazos Santiago, Texas in August 1865. His comrades-in-arms attended his burial.

Widow — 129,839 / 115,387, Sally Singleton

Widow’s Claim for Pensions, Sallie Lawson, 10 July 1886
25 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia; post-office address, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.
“Her maiden name was Sallie Herbert and that she was married to Lawson Singleton on or about the 15 September, 1864, at Portsmouth in the County of Norfolk and State of Virginia by mutual consent and that she knows of no record evidence of said marriage except the consent of parties married under slave laws … she hereby appoints Mssrs. Wolf & Hart, Washington, DC as her lawful attorney … all the children of my deceased husband who where [sic] under sixteen years of age at the time of his death, Mary Clare Singleton born 15 Oct 1865, the p.o. address, Portsmouth, Va.”
“Also personally appeared before me, Dick Williams and Samuel Williams residents of Portsmouth … were present at the death of her husband & know the child Mary C. Singleton aforesaid as her child.”

Letter from Assistant Adjutant General to Commissioner of Pensioners, Washington, DC, 21 July 1866
“On the muster roll of Co. H of that Regiment, for the months of July and Augst 1865, he is reported died at Brazos Santiago, Texas, Augst 29th 1865”
[Note: “On the muster roll of Co. H”? Other records indicate he served in Company D — Leslie]

Letter from Brevet Major and Assistant Surgeon, USA J.J. Woodward to Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, DC, 25 October 1866
“Reported to this Office by Surgeon B.S. Manly as having died Aug 30th, 1865 at Brazos Santiago, Texas”

Sworn Statement, Sally Singleton, 5 July 1867
“That she was married to the said Lawson Singleton, at Portsmouth, Virginia in October 1864, without a license so the services of a minister of the gospel, but by mutual consent and subsequent cohabitation … she had of the said Lawson Singleton, one child, Mary Clarissa Singleton born on 1st Feby 1865, which said child is now alive and living with the said affiant.”
“At the same time personally appeared Samuel Marshall, Andrew Joiner, Hannah Marshall, and Emma Williams … that they are well acquainted with Lawson Singleton … and have known her for ten years. That they were also well-acquainted with Lawson Singleton … and knew him for the same period of time … were married at Portsmouth, Virginia in the month of October 1864 … that the affiants Samuel Marshall and Andrew Joiner, were present at their marriage.”

Sworn Statement, Sally Singleton, 29 July 1867
residence, Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia
“Declares that she is the widow of Lawson Singleton … Also personally appeared William Hawkins and Solomon Jones, residents of Norfolk County”

Sworn Statement, Samuel Marshall and Ackwell Jones, 15 February 1868
“Samuel Marshall and Ackwell Jones … Samuel Marshall … was well acquainted with Lawson Singleton [who died in latter part of August 1865] … and after his death, followed his body to the grave, and assisted in its burial. And affiant further alleges he knew the said Lawson SIngleton before he entered the service of the U. States … and affiant believes the said Lawson Singleton died of disease contracted whilst in said service and whilst in the line of his duty”

“Ackwell Jones … was well acquainted with Lawson Singleton — and the affiant further alleges that in the month of August 1865 … Lawson Singleton died … the deponent visited the tent of the now deceased, during his sickness, viewed the body after death, and witnessed its burial … the deponent believes the said Lawson Singleton died of disease contracted whilst in said service and whilst in the line of his duty”

Letter from Sally Singleton to William W. Dudley, Commissioner of Pensions, 1 October 1881
“Dear Sir,
Please inform me the case of my child being dropped from the Pension Rolls, my daughter was Born, on the Last day of January 1866, and my daughter Mary case been droped [sic] know [sic] 9 months”
“Please Sir, address me
No. 276 1/2 Queen Street
Norfolk, Virginia”

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Isham Wright, Company D

Several acquaintances of more than 30 years testified that though the soldier had once been robust and healthy he was suffering with a number of ailments because of his military service. The medical details aren’t in these research notes. Instead the focus is on births, deaths, marriages, and residences and a brief reference to combat experience.

Invalid — 749,089 / 593,356

General Affidavit for Any Purpose, George H. Hanes, 3 June 1892
44 years old; residence, Virginia Beach, Va.
“He has been 35 years personally acquainted with Isham Wright … that they was rased [sic] together, and Claimant was older than himself …”

General Affidavit for Any Purpose, Peter Wright, 3 June 1892
44 years old; residence, Virginia Beach, Va.;
“He has been 35 years personally acquainted with Isham Wright”

General Affidavit, Henry Weldon and Julia Jackson, 24 October 1892
[Weldon] 72 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Norfolk, Va.
[Jackson] 65 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 14 Log St.
“that each of them are well & personally acquainted with Isham Wright … each of them has been knowing the said soldier at least 30 years”

Deposition, Isham Wright, 8 January 1902
55 or 56 years old; occupation, laborer; residence, 461 Cumberland St., Norfolk, Va.
“I was born in Norfolk County, Va., near Great Bridge; was a slave and was owned by David Wright. My father was Ishmael Butt.”
“The first part of my service was in Va., but the last part was in Texas. We were in Texas was some ten months. We went on a boat from Va. to Texas. We stopped for a little while at Key West, Fla. We took boat at Fortress Monroe and landed at Brazos Santiago. Part of us went to Corpus Christi, but I remained right at Brazos.

“I was in only one regular battle; Chicihominie [sic] and we had a skirmish at Wilsons Landing and at Weldon RR. We had no man killed or wounded out of my company but some were taken sick and died. Anderson Twine and Dean Rogers died of sickness while they were members of my company. Both of them died at Portsmouth and before we went to Texas. We lost no man in Texas. We had no battles in Texas. The war was over before we went there.
“Girrard was my first Colonel. He was Col., but was succeeded in Texas by Major Seipe. Garrard resigned before we went to Texas. Wamer was our Major. I do not recollect who was Lt. Col. Bowins was my Captain or was acting as Captain. Lt. Mack was shot by the Sutler at Bermuda Hundred and the Sutler was in turn killed by the soldiers. Stone was our regular captain.
“William Ward was our Ord. Sgt., but he was succeeded by Dempsey Elliott.
“William Hoffman, Weldon, Jones were Sgts.
“Tom Frost, James Olders were Corporals.
“Ben. Anderson, Jacob Moseley, Frank Wilson and Albert Foreman were friends of mine in service.”

“I was never in a regular hospital in service but in Texas I was treated by our Reg’t Dr. for my eyes. I do not recollect name of the doctor.”

Sworn Statement, Mary T. Wright, 28 March 1902
“the widow of Isham Wright, who died at Campostella, Norfolk, Va., on the 22nd day of February, 1916; that she and the said Wright had not been living together as man and wife for about three years and that she cannot establish her right to accrued pension due to said Wright and that she accordingly waives all claim to such accrued pension and requests that the same be paid to the undertaker who buried said Wright.”

Questionnaire (Form XX -XXXX) , Isham Wright, 27 March 1915
[date and place of birth] Feb 4th 1842, Norfolk Co., Va.
[wife’s name] Luvenia Powell Wright
[date] “I was married, Jan. 35 years, married by Rev. William Jarvous
[previous marriage] “I was previously married. Luvenia Wright, 35 years ago; death Norfolk County, 25 years old; I am married 10 years ago to Mary Saldon.”
[names/births of all children] Vandella Wright died, 7 years of age, Norfolk Co.; Isham Wright, Jr. died 12 years of age, Norfolk, Va.

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James Randall, Company D

A twenty-two year old undertaker. A built over cemetery. Witnesses from distant regiments. A sketchy attorney. “A man of sober temperament and good moral character.” A woman known as “Clotilda” and “Matilda” who “became accustomed to being known by either name.” Lives lived in Princess Anne County, Norfolk and Norfolk County, Virginia.

Invalid — 853,460 / 643,580
Widow — 1,075,249 / 818,917, Clotilda Randall

Marriage License [copy], James Randolph and Matilda Cuffee, 9 November 1891
Both born in Princess Anne County, Virginia. Both resided in Norfolk County, Virginia. The husband’s parents were Frank and Vina Randolph. The bride’s parents were Jesse and Clotilda Snowden. The license was issued November 5, 1891; the wedding took place on November 9, 1891. The officiant was Minster W.A. Butt.

General Affidavit, Emmerson Cuffee, 19 May 1893
about 69 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I have known [James Randolph] ever since the war. He was in the same regiment I was in but not the same company…. I was one of his identifying witnesses and Henry Sivils was the other. Henry Sivils wrote his name and I made my mark…..All three of us, Randall, Sivils any myself put our hands on a book and W.R. Drury administered the oath to us. There were no other white men present. “

General Affidavit, Henry Sivils, 20 May 1893
52 years old; occupation, gardener; post-office address, Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I have known [James Randolph] since he was a boy….W.R. Drury was his attorney. I went with him to witness …. I signed my name on his declaration … I was sworn by W.R. Drury.”

General Affidavit, Henry Boone & Lewis Warden, 8 November 1897
[Boone] 49 years old; residence, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Berkley, Va.
[Warden] 56 years old; residence, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Berkley, Va.
“That they are personally and intimately acquainted with the claimant and have been thus acquainted with him for 20 or 15 years, respectively, That they have known him personally much longer than 15 or 20 years respectively. That affiants have been near neighbors of said James Randall in Norfolk County, Va. for 15 or 20 years respectively … he is a man of sober temperament and of good moral character.”

Deposition, James Randall, 14 May 1902
occupation, farming
“I was born in Princess Anne Co., Va. … was born in 1842 a slave to James Bright of Princess Anne Co. My father’s name was Frank Randall and he was a slave to [illegible] Randall. My mother’s name was Vina Randall and she was a slave to my master. My full and correct name is James Randall.”
“I was honorably discharged in 1866 in March the fore part. Was mustered out at New Orleans, La. and Brazos Santiago, Texas and finally discharged and paid off at Point of Rocks, Va.
“Immediately after discharge I came back to this vicinity in Norfolk Co. and have resided here since.
“I lost my original discharge certificate as I had gave it to a man named Brown to get Bounty for me.”
“(Pensioner is now 6 ft tall … black eyes, hair and complexion. Has a bad scar from a cut across first three fingers of left hand done he states when a child three or four years old.)”

“I was detailed as one of ten men from Williamsburg, Va. to go to Grove Wharf to stand guard and was on such duty 15 or 20 days. This was in 1864 during the summer.
“Our Colonel was Jeffrey Gerard.
Lt. Colonel … didn’t have one.
Major ” Brown and Seipp also
Captain ” Bowen
1st Lt. ” Mack
2d Lt. ” Moss
Orderly Sgt. Ward
I tented with Geo. Floyd and John Keeling.
“I was in the engagement at Chickahominy but can’t give date. Monroe Tripp was killed out of the regiment there. Can’t give company.”
“My witnesses were Henry Boon and Primus Banks.
“I was last examined by a Bd of U.S. [Examining] Surgeons last October at Soldier’s Home, Va.
“I had lawyer Reed of Portsmouth, Va. ….M.V. Tierney, Wash, DC, was my regular attorney.”

“My pension voucher and certificate are in my possession and I never have pledged either for a debt, loan or liability. Have been married twice. My first wife Emma Jane Fuller died in 1888 at Norfolk Co., Va. beyond Berkley. Then I married Clotilda Cuffee at Norfolk Co., Va. 10 years ago last Nov 9, I think. She had been previously married to Lawson Cuffee who died in 1871 at Portsmouth, Va. I have no child under 16 years of age”

Declaration for Pension, James Randall, 20 May 1912
68 years old; residence, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Berkley Station, Norfolk, Va.
“born August 18th, 1843 at Princess Anne County, Va.

Death Certificate, James Randall, 14 July 1913
He died of malarial fever — Leslie

Sworn Statement, Matilda Randolph, 5 August 1913
“Also personally appeared Miles Freeman, residing at Providence, Va. and Samuel McCoy, residing in Norfolk, Va…. affiant Freeman is a son of claimant and affiant McCoy has known said parties intimately for about 25 years.

General Affidavit, Matilda Randolph, 2 May 1914
over 60 years old; residence, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, R.F.D. 2 Box 123, Norfolk, Va.
“I was never married but twice. First to Lawson Cuffee who died at Portsmouth, Va. in September about 40 years ago or more, as my son by Lawson Cuffee was born about three months after his father died, and this son is nearly 41 years old….I remained single after Lawson Cuffee’s death until my marriage to James W. Randolph and I lived with him until his death … James W. Randolph was buried in a private burial ground near Providence, Norfolk Co., Va.
“That James W. Randolph was once married prior to his marriage to me… That I am unable to furnish death certificates of death [sic] of ) Emma Randolph, soldier’s first wife) or Lawson Cuffee, my first husband) as no county records were kept here when they died.”

General Affidavit, William H. Fuller, 2 May 1914
about 60 years old; residence, Princess Anne Co., Va.; post-office address, Rt. w Bonney’s Store, Princess Anne Co., Va.
“That I knew Matilda Randolph before she was married, her maiden name was Snowden. That she was never married but twice. First to Lawson Cuffee who died in suburbs of Portsmouth, Va. about 40 years ago I saw his body after death but did not attend his funeral, but knew about his burial in Portsmouth where it is now built over. That Matilda Randolph was next married to James W. Randolph … She is a woman of good moral character That James W. Randolph was was never married but twice, first to my sister Emma Fuller Randolph who died three weeks before Christmas 35 years ago at Norfolk Co., Va. on the ‘Sharpe Farm,’ and was buried in Drury Branch Church burial ground in Princess Anne Co., Va. I attended her funeral and burial. James W. Randolph was next married to Matilda Cuffee.”

General Affidavit, James W. Fuller, 2 May 1914
55 years old; residence, Princess Anne Co., Va.; post-office address, RFD 4, Box 59, Norfolk, Va.
“James Randolph’s first wife Emma Fuller was my sister”

General Affidavit, Willis Goodman, 4 May 1914
22 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, RFD 4, c/o J.T. Forelard, Norfolk, Va.
“That I was the undertaker [associated as a part owner of the firm of H. Norfleet and W. Goodman] who buried James W. Randolph in July 1913. I can’t remember exact day of the month. I had his body embalmed and I accompanied his body to grove near Providence, Norfolk Co., Va. where I buried him. The above undertaking firm was located at West Murden near Norfolk & in Norfolk Co., Va. Said firm partnership was dissolved in September 1913 since which time I am doing undertaking business at same place under firm name of [W. Goodman and C. Perkins, Undertakers]. That I had personally known James W. Randolph for about 12 years.

General Affidavit, James Cuffee, 7 July 1914
70 years old; residence, Providence, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Berkeley Sta. Norfolk, Va.
“[We] were play children together … I served in Co. L 5th Massachusetts Cavalry, and as 1st U.S. Col. Cav. and 5th Mass. Cavy were brigaded together in Texas I saw this soldier often. In fact, our tents ran backs together … I have lived near neighbor to this soldier ever since the Civil War, and I helped shroud him when he died last summer.”

General Affidavit, Primus Banks, 8 July 1914
87 years old; residence, near Providence, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Berkeley Sta. Norfolk, Va.
“Since the Civil War we have never lived over one mile apart … I attended his burial about one year ago and viewed his body after death.”.

General Affidavit, Clotilda Randolph, 1 September 1914
about 60 years old; residence, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, R.F.D. 2, Box 123, Norfolk, Va.
“That my correct name is Clotilda but I have been known as “Clotilda” or “Matilda” for years. I don’t know just why unless because of so many colored people being unable to read and write and names sound similar, and I became accustomed to being known by either name.”

General Affidavit, Sarah J. Baines & James Cuffey, 9 January 1915
[Bains] 60 years old; residence, Providence, RFD c/o Joe Bains, Norfolk Co., Va.
[Cuffey] 71 years old; residence, Providence, Berkley PO, Va. Norfolk Co., Va.
“That we were both well acquainted with the soldier James W. Randolph from childhood”

General Affidavit, Clotilda Fuller, 11 January 1915
about 59 years old; residence Princess Anne Co., Va.; post-office address, Rt. 4, Box 59, Berkley, Norfolk, Va.
“That Clotilda Randolph and I were children & grew up together. “

General Affidavit, Clotilda Randolph, 15 March 1915
about 60 years old; residence, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Rte. 2, Box 123, Norfolk, Va.
“My first husband Lawson Cuffee never served in the military or naval service of the United States.”

General Affidavit, Matilda Randolph, 23 June 1915
about 60 years old; residence, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, R.R. 2. Box 123, Norfolk, Va.
“My husband James W. Randall died July 14, 1913. That if I stated otherwise at any time in my claim it was a mistake and not intentional.
“That to best of my knowledge my husband’s correct name was James W. Randolph. His name as James Randall in above service was no doubt a clerical mistake in pronunciation and spelling. This is the only way I can account for differences in names.
“I never knew soldier until after the war.”

General Affidavit, Jane T. Bain & Georgia Tatem, 26 October 1916
[Bain] about 59 years old; residence, Munden Town, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, RFD 3, Box 14
[Tatem] 41 years old; residence West Munden Town, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, RFD 2, Box 10
“That they have been well and personally acquainted with Clothilda Randall … for 30 years and 31 years, respectively, and that they knew James Randall, the soldier above named for 50 years and 25 years, respectively”

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Lambert Faulk alias Lamb Folk, Company D

The labor of freeborn and enslaved men could be requisitioned by the Confederacy to build fortifications and other structures. That was nearly the fate of this soldier. There was a lot of testimony on behalf of three claimants — the legal widow, a “contingent” widow (a woman who claimed she was married to the soldier), and a minor child. The many unrelated witnesses who shared a surname gave a lot of detail about kinship, residence, landownership and the community’s social and local history.

Widow — 146,274 / —–, Edy Faulk
Cont. Widow — 171,894 / —–, Maria Folk
Minor — 795,520 / 577,383, Andrew J. Faulk

Deposition, Edie Faulk, 2 April 1894
60 years old; housekeeper; residence, Deep Creek, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I saw him [the soldier] a few weeks before he died and then he had a bad cough.
“I was married to the soldier about 10 years before the war in Nansemond Co., Va near Holy Neck Chapel by Rev. Robert Rawls, a white minister, had license and were regularly married.

“Henry Jordan, at Copeland, Va. and Jesse Copeland about 5 miles from Suffolk, Va. were present … I was distantly related to my husband.. At the time we were married the soldier was living with Mr. James Griffin and I was working for Mr. Wm. Hare. Mr. Hare was present at our wedding supper. After our marriage we lived on Mr. Hare’s land and Miles Copeland’s land in Nansemond Co., Va. During the early part of the war we moved to Portsmouth … Elijah Copeland and Lucinda Hurst know that we were living together at said time..

“At the time of the soldier’s death, I had one child living which I had by him, a boy named Andrew Jackson, do not know when he was born but he was about 10 years when the soldier died … he is now living in Portsmouth, Va… I lived near Portsmouth in an old house on the Seaboard Road, lived there about 3 years. After that I moved in this neighohood and have lived hee ever since. Lived with my son up to five years ago and also lived on Dr. Shmooy’s [?] place, he lived in Phila at that time.

“I have given birth to two children since the soldier’s death … Hattie was born in 1870 and died 3 years ago and the other name Ella Frank born in November 1876 and died in 1889.
“I never lived with Exum Rawls … He was the father of the two children born to me since the soldier’s death … My husband took up with [Maria Gardner] during the war or before the war … The soldier always recognized the child Andrew J. as his own … I do not know positively but think my first name is Edie and not Edith. Letitia Briggs attended me when Andrew J was born … “

__________, Elijah Copeland, 2 April 1894
54 years old; occupation, farmer; residence, Gilmerton, Norfolk Co., Va.
“My mother went to their wedding supper on Mr. Hare’s land. I was a small boy at that time … their son Andrew was born on Mr. Porter‘s land about 1854 or 55 … I came to Portsmouth about 1863 … [Faulk] had been taken away by the Southern soldiers but he came to Portsmouth soon afterwards … soon enlisted in the US army …
“… one named Hattie and one name Ella. Do not know when the youngest one was over but she was about 11 or 12 years old when she died about 4 years ago … Exum Rawls had a wife named Louisa during the time or soon after he came to claimant’s … Louisa was a cousin of my wife …”

Deposition, William H. Hare, 22 June 1894
78 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Boxelder, Va.
“I have lived on this farm since 1844 … we hired her [Edie] part of the time while she was a girl … I hired him [Faulk] before he was grown and after he was grown … They were afraid to remain. At least he was afraid that he would be carried away to help build forts or somthing that kind … I loaned them a team and they went off and came back …. to my best recollection they were married on my place … I think about 1852”

Deposition, Jesse Copeland, 22 June 1894
66 years old; occupation, farmer; residence, Copeland, Nansemond Co., Va.
“Lived in this county all my life, except about 5 years when I lived in Norfolk Co., Va … knew her from childhood … knew [him] from boyhood …

__________, Elisha Copeland, 22 June 1894
62 years old; occupation, mail carrier; post-office address, Savage’s Crossing, Va.
“I have lived in Nansemond, Va. all my life except about 2 or 3 years and even during that time I was back at Christmas … I was present when she was married in 1850, ’51 or ’52 to Lamb Faulk near Holy Neck Chapel in Nansemond Co.”

__________, Henry Jordan, 22 June 1894
65 years old; occupation, farmer; residence, Hollands, Va.
“I have lived in this neighborhood all my life except about 2 years which I was away with Gen’l Butler’s army … knew her from childhood. I was present when she was married to Lamb … I knew Lamb Faulk before he was grown … After their marriage they lived on old man Billy Hare‘s land, on Zachary Porter‘s land, and on Miles Copeland’s land … I have been married 40 years and they were married 4 or 5 years before I was … I have the free papers which I show you not over 12 months when the clt and soldier were married and they had not been married over 12 months when he was born …

Affidavit, Edie Faulk, 25 June 1894
“Charley & Ida are not my children . I was living on the Seaboard road near Portsmouth when they were left with me … not more than a year or two after the war closed …

“Exum Rawls lived in Nansemond Co. and used to visit down here … I stayed in the house of Stephen Watkins while his wife was living and helped her wash & cook. She died while the war was going on from small pox … I lived in the same house after his wife died … He slept in one room and I in the other … He commenced to work for the fibre company and I came out to cook for him and moved the household goods which were mine out to the fibre company place [which was also called the Shoats Place] … When Charley and Ida were left with me I was living in the same house in which I lived with Stephen and his wife. [She] was dead about a year or better when they were left with me … [Charlie] was about 3 years old and she was about 1 year old .”

General Affidavit, Joseph Cassell and Jno Cuffee, 30 January 1896
[Cassell] 40 years old;
[Cuffee] 35 years old; Deep Creek, Norfolk County, Virginia
“Edith Faulk can hardly walk”

General Affidavit, Lucinda Hurst, 6 April 1903
59 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Va.; post-office address, cor South & Godwin Streets
“That she is well-acquainted with Andew Jackson Faulk, the claimant. That affiant knew his father Lambert Faulk who died a soldier at a place called ‘Oak Grove’ in 1864. That affiant knows his mother Edith Faulk.
“That Andrew Jackson Faulk … was born in affiant’s mother’s house in the spring of 1853. Affiant fixes the date of his birth as follows: The ‘great snow’ was in the year 1857 in February and he was at that time four (4) years old. Affiant was in the same house at the time of his birth and she has nursed him many a day. that she was his nurse a long time. That after his birth he lived in the same house with affiant a long time and affiant has seen Edith Faulk, his mother, nurse him from her breast many a time, Andrew Jackson Faulk is now 50 years old. That ‘Oak Grove’ was a suburb of the city of Portsmouth and affiant’s house now stands on a part of it. That Andrew J. Faulk’s birthplace is Nansemond County, Va. several miles from Suffolk, Va.”

General Affidavit, Elijah Copeland, 24 September 1903
63 years old; residence, Gilmerton, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Gilmerton, Norfolk Co., Virginia
“That he has been personally acqauinted with A.J. Faulks … ever since his birth … but cannot give the exact date … A.J. Faulk’s mother and father were free people of color, were illiterate and there is no record of A.J. Faulk’s birth …”

General Affidavit, Lucinda Hurst, 5 October 1903
61 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.
“personally acquainted with A.J. Faulk all of his life … she and Lambert Faulk lived in one and the same neighborhood for many years before the Civil War. That affiant came down to Portsmouth, a. before the time Lambert Faulk enlisted in the US Army and was near spot when he did so enlist.”

__________, Elijah Copeland, 22 January 1904
“I was 63 years old the 15th of last Nov”; occupation, stevedore; post-office address, Gilmerton, Va. “have known the claimant all his life … His mother is my aunt … I was small [when his parents married] … Anderew Jackson Faulk is the only child of Lamb Faulk … Edie Faulk had one or two other children by the soldier but they died in infancy … I believe that their other children were born before Andrew J. was born … I think he is about 50 years old … I was born in 1840 and I think I was about 14 years old when he was born … the claimant had two daughters Alice and Mary Lizzie born before the soldier died. Alice is dead. No, sir, neither of them was the soldier’s child, they looked like white man’s children … Edie lived in same house with Stephen Matthews for several years after Lamb’s death.”

Deposition, Phoebe Copeland, 15 April 1904
about 61 years old; widow of Thompson Copeland; post-office address, 1316 Columbia St., Portsmouth, Va… “knows the claimant Andrew J. Faulk since he was a baby. We lived in the same neighborhood in Nansemond Co., Va. His father was Lamb Faulk and his mother Edie Faulk. They were both freeborn. I remember when they were married. My mother and father went to see them married. I was a smalll girl then … Andrew must be about 53 to 55 years old….My mother used to take care of him when his mother would be away working. She herself stayed over at our house all the time. And now is the only child of Lamb Faulk. I heard that Edie had one or two more by him, but I did not know them. Yes, Edie, had two daughters Alice and Mary Lizzie, but neither is Lamb Faulk’s child. Alice is dead. I could not tell whether Andrew was Lamb’s oldest child or not.
“Yes, Lamb and Edie were separated but not divorced. He had to go away, don’t know why, never went back that I know of. He stayed down here before the war, don’t know how long. I don’t know that he lived with another woman after he left the neighborhood.”

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