Adam Washington, Company E***

The widow’s acreage came to her through her brother not her husband. This application is rich with witness testimony: names of parents and siblings, details about the enslaved and enslavers. birth dates, marriage dates, spouses’ names, and death dates.

Today’s post includes research notes from documents 28 July 1905 to 27 June 1909. Earlier posts included research notes from documents dated 1904 to 1905 and research notes from documents dated 25 July 1905 to 27 July 1905.

Invalid — 656,778 / —–
Widow — 805,346 / ——, Ada Washington

Deposition, Maria Howard, 28 July 1905
69 years old; occupation, cooking; post-office address, Hampton, Va.
“Adam Washington was my husband in slavery times. I was married to him by consent of owners and my old master Mr. Gettings. Nathl Getting was a preacher and he married us by ceremony, but we had no license. That was in York Co. about 6 years before the Civil War. Adam was then known as Adam Howard. His master was William Howard.“
“[Adam’s] home was near Ship Point [?], York Co., Va. His white people first carried him to Yorktown, and after the Northern soldiers took Yorktown he wandered down here. He came up, directly after Yorktown was taken, and wanted me to run away down here with him. I was afraid to go, had two small children. He never thereafter lived with me, never saw him again till after he remarried, don’t know the woman’s name.”

Deposition, Lucy Ann Pryor, 28 July 1905
65 years old; widow of Anthony Pryor; post-office address, Phoebus, Va.
“I knew Ada Bright well, her mother was Kessey Fitchett. They lived near me during the Civil War, not far from here. She had a husband named Bright, cannot think of his given name.”
“When I heard of his death I went to the house and saw his body. I don’t know the date of his death or year.”

Deposition, Geo. Taylor, 28 July 1905
76 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, Phoebus, Va.
“I have lived near Mill Creek all my life, was raised where Buckroe Beach is now.
“I remember Charley Bright, knew him well. He was killed by a piece of scantling [sic].”

Deposition, Susan Thornton, 28 July 1905
50 years old; occupation, housework; post-office address, Phoebus, Va.
“My brothers Willie and John Thornton were working with Bright at the time … Willie, my brother, is dead and John is in Boston, 28 Westminster Street, will reach him.”
“Rev. Wm. Thornton is my father, he is very old, his memory is weak.”

Sworn Statement, George Snow and Rosa Beckett, 27 June 1909
[Snow] 28 years old; post-office address, Cheriton, Virginia
[Beckett] 68 years old; post-office address, Cheriton, Virginia
“We are intimately acquainted with the claimant Ada Washington, & know that she is a very delicate woman being unable to perform scarcely any work of any kind …. She only has a small lot & a hut on same where she resides & does not get any revenue from same as she only raises a few vegetables only — none to sell”

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Adam Washington, Company E**

The widow’s acreage came to her through her brother not her husband. This application is rich with witness testimony: names of parents and siblings, details about the enslaved and enslavers. birth dates, marriage dates, spouses’ names, and death dates.

Today’s post includes research notes from documents dated 25 July 1905 to 27 July 1905. Last week’s post included research notes from documents dated 1904 to 1905. Next week’s post will include research notes from documents dated 28 July 1905 to 27 June 1909.

Invalid — 656,778 / —–
Widow — 805,346 / ——, Ada Washington

Deposition, Virginia Johnson, 25 July 1905
34 years old; occupation, washing and ironing; post-office address, Cheriton, Va.
“I have known Ada Washington from my childhood … I have a daughter Brazolia born March 25, 1875. She was born almost a year after Mollie. I have a record of her birth … I have no record of Mollie’s birth but when she was born I marked the day on an almanac and my sister Sarah Andrews had it.”

Deposition, Sarah Andrews, 25 July 1905
42 years old; wife of Bennett Andrews; post-office address, Cheriton, Virginia
“I have known Ada Washington for a long time and have lived near her for the past 20 years. I saw her daughter Mollie Washington the next day after she was born”

Deposition, Sarah Beckett, 25 July 1905
35 years old; wife of Cornelius Beckett; post-office address, Cheriton, Virginia
“I have known Ada Washington … since I was a little girl … I saw her daughter Mollie Washington the next day day after she was born.”

Deposition, Wm. A. Weeks, 25 July 1905
56 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Sea View, Va.
“I have known Ada Washington for the past 35 years at least. I first met her soon after her marriage to Adam Washington. I got acquainted with both about the same time. I did not know him at all till after he moved over here from Hampton or Old Point. … I was present when he died; last year, helped to shroud him.”

Deposition, John Moses, 25 July 1905
28 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, Cheriton, Va.
“I have known Ada Washington the past 12 or 14 years. I married her daughter in 1900.”

Deposition, James Kemma Washington, 27 July 1905
about 60 years old; occupation, foreman, crab factory; post-office address, Hampton, Va.
“The soldier was my brother. He died in Northampton Co., Va. last year. I was over there a week before his death.
“[The soldier was married twice] His first wife Maria Bright, he married according to slave custom in York Co., Va. They separated the first part of the war. He went to the Yonkers [?] and they never thereafter lived together … Maria is still living near Hampton, near Gatewoods’ Corner [?], calls herself Maria Howard. My brother belonged to William Howard and she [illegible] after his master. My brother’s right name was Adam Washington. His father was Adam Washington.
“My brother next and only other wife is the claimant Ada Washington. I don’t know what her name was before he married her. Her mother’s name was “Kessy.”
“[My brother and Ada] were married by license so he told me. Maria he did not marry ‘by law.’ … I never heard that she had a husband named Chas. Bright. I was here much, was sailing then.”

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Adam Washington, Company E*

The widow’s acreage came to her through her brother not her husband. This application is rich with witness testimony: names of parents and siblings; details about the enslaved and enslavers; and birth dates, marriage dates, spouses’ names, and death dates.
Today’s research notes are from documents dated 1904 to 1905. Future posts will include research notes from documents dated July 1905 to 27 July 1905 and research notes from documents dated 28 July 1905 to 27 June 1909.

Invalid — 656,778 / —–
Widow — 805,346 / ——, Ada Washington

Sworn Statement, Ada Washington, 15 September 1904
“[My husband] died at Fortress Monroe, Va. Feb 20th 1866”

Deposition, Ada Washington, 25 July 1905
58 years old; occupation, housework; residence, near Oyster, Northampton County, Va; post-office address, Cheriton, Virginia
“Adam Washington died on this land April 2, 1904 … I was married to [Washington] near Eastville, Va. by Rev. Caleb Burriss on May 17 last 37 years ago. I was married under the name Ada Bright. I was put near here. My father was Ceasar Smith and my mother was Kissy Fitchett. I was known as Fitchett while a girl. I went to Old Point, Va. in 1863. My mother took me there. In 1865 June 22 I was married to Charles Bright, by a white minister Stone — James Stone, at Mill Creek near Old Point, in Rev Thornton’s church, who was not at home then. I lived with Charles Bright until he died — he got killed seven months lacking two days after we were married. It was on Jan’y 20, 1866, not Feb 20th I believe. He died right there at Mill Creek. He was working at the ‘Graninger Place’ a place where they had hay stored. A whirlwind came up. A board was blown off and struck him on the side of the head, and died in 20 minutes they said. They brought his dead body to our home at Mill Creek and he was buried near ‘Slabtown’ where they buried the colored people at that time. A society he belonged to named the Rising Sons buried him. I don’t know who made his coffin.”
“He had a brother named Peter Washington but I don’t know where he is. He did not know where he lived before he died. He had one brother in Hampton named Kemar Washington. I don’t know what his business is. He has no sisters living to my knowledge. I never heard him nor his mother say that he had more than one wife before he married me. The soldier left but one child by me under the age of 16 yeas, Mollie Washington, born on this land on April 10th, don’t know the year but she was 11 years old this April gone. I have no record of her birth. Mahala Savage attended me when she was born. She is dead. I can prove by James Johnson and Sarah Andrews when she was born. … Very few colored people take notice of such things. My husband left me no property. This property was mine, got it through my brother. There are four acres. It is assessed for $100. The house was so bad that I had to build a new house. I borrowed $285 on the place, and still owe that to the lawyer Brodenborough … my children help me when I am in need.
“H.D. Philips, Washn, DC is my att’y.”
“I don’t know of any one now living who knew me before I left here during the war. All my playmates that I know are dead or moved away. When I went to Old Point I lived on Savage Neck [?} . I was young, was not allowed to go anywhere, and knew but few people. Neither John Mores nor Wm A Wash knew my first husband nor Washington’s first wife.”

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Harrison Spratley, Company E

The claimant’s witnesses were from the City of Norfolk and Isle of Wight, Princess Anne, and Surry Counties. He owned a small farm of 15 acres but became feeble and destitute in his later years. He was responsible for the care of his disabled granddaughter. His daughter-in-law appealed to the American Red Cross, Norfolk, Virginia Chapter for assistance in paying for the burial.

Invalid –115,596 / 998,986

General Affidavit, George W. Porris and Thos W Milton, 10 October 1892
[Porris] 40 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co, Va; post-office address, 68 Nicholson St, Norfolk, Va.
[Milton] 38 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co, Va; post-office address, 79 Liberty St, Norfolk, Va
“That each of them are well and [illegible] acquainted with the claimant and the claimant is now in destitute condition and feeble health and that he is now unable to earn support by manual labor and that the claimant has dependent upon him for support, an invalid wife and two children and that the claimant neither owns or controls any property, real or personal or mixed from which any revenue is derived and is therefore dependent upon a charitable community for support to a very large extent … they see claimant every day and live within a radius of four or five blocks from the claimant.”

Sworn Statement, Isabelle Robinson and Emma Robinson, 17 June 1893
[I Robinson] 49 years old; residence, Bacon’s Castle, Surry Co, Va.
[E Robinson] 28 years old; residence, Fergesson’s Wharf, Isle of Wight Co, Va.
“That each of them are [illegible] intimately acquainted and thoroughly acquainted with the claimant … affiant Isabelle Robinson states that she has known claimant from his boyhood … affiant Emma Robinson states that she has known the claimant twelve (12) years”

General Affidavit, Charles White and Lawrence Williams, 11 December 1893
[White] 52 years old; residence, Princess Anne Co., Va.; post-office address, cor of Chapel & Princess Anne Av, Norfolk, Va.
[Lawrence] 48 years old; residence, Princess Anne Co., Va.; post-office address, cor of Chapel & Princess Anne Av, Norfolk, Va.
“that they are well acquainted with the claimant … affiant White has known him since boyhood and affiant Lawrence has known him for at least twenty-five (25) years”

General Affidavit, Chas White and William Lawrence, 29 July 1895
[White] 53 years old; residence, Little Creek, Princess Anne Co, Virginia; post-office address, 82 Princess Ann Ave, Norfolk, Va
[Lawrence] 57 years old; residence, same as above; post-office address, 82 Princess Ann Ave, Norfolk, Va.
“We live with Harrison Spratley, work alongside with him … he is not able to work one half of the time”

General Affidavit, Joseph Miller and William Lawrence, 10 February 1898
[Miller] 67 years old; residence, Barboursville, Norfolk Co, Va; post-office address, 33 Gordon Ave, Norfolk, Va.
[Lawrence] 42 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co, Va; post-office address, 37 Hall St, Norfolk, Va.
“Affiants during the period of their acquaintance with the soldier have seen him on an average of at least twice a month”

Questionnaire (Form 3-173), Harrison Spratley, 10 January 1900
[married] Maria Nicholson formerly Maria Blizzard
[where, when, by whom] Surry Co, Va,, June 9, 1881, Elder JH Pool
[recorder] Recorder in Clerk’s Office, Surry County Court Marriage Register
[previously married] Eliza Green (formerly), died in June 1880
[living children] William Henry Enness [sp?] now Spratley, a son by first wife, born August 9, 1877. No children by second wife.

General Affidavit, William Haywood and Richard Banks, 3 March 1900
[Haywood] 45 years old; residence, Bacon’s Castle, Surry Co, Va; post-office address, Bacon’s Castle, Surry Co, Va.residence, Bacon’s Castle, Surry Co, Va; post-office address, Bacon’s Castle, Surry Co, Va.
[Banks] 42 years old; residence, Bacon’s Castle, Surry Co, Va; post-office address, Bacon’s Castle, Surry Co, Va.
“That they have been intimaately acquainted with the claimant … for the last year and are able to testify as neighbors”

Questionnaire (Form 3-389), Harrison Spratley, 6 April 1915
[birth date and place] Surry Co, Va, Aug 6, 1847
[post office at enlistment ] [blank]
[wife’s maiden name] Lizzie Green
[when, where, by whom] “Feb 13, 1873 at Ned Thomas‘ house near Chipokes Creek by Rev RW Berryman“
[official or church record] [blank]
[previously married] Lizza Green, Feb 13, 1873 died, Bacon’s Castle precinct; May 1880, Urania Nichols, widow of Junius Nichols
[present wife, previous marriage] Junious Nichols married November 9, 1876 by Rev NL Allen died in Surry County, Dec 29, 1878
[living with wife] yes
[names and birthdates of all children] Roxie Spratley born April 1875 in Surry County, Virginia; Emmerson Spratley born in Surry County, Virginia, August 7, 1879; Steven Spratley born in Surry County, Virginia, September 1881

Letter from Commissioner of Pensions to Harrison Spratley, 25 August 1919
“You are advised that there is no provision of the law under which your pension can be increased by reason of the fact that you have a disabled granddaughter dependent upon you, or under which she can be graned a pension by reason of your service.”

Affidavit Supporting Burial Claim, Mrs. Virginia Spratley, 15 December 1926
[relationship to the deceased] daughtr-in-law
[cash money owned by deceased] none
[real property owned by deceased] “He owned a small farm, about fifteen acres”
[assessed value] $500.00
[deceased’s age] 80?
[deceased’s residence] Bacon’s Castle
[death date and place of death] 838 Cumberland St, Norfok, Va., Nov 29, 1926
[name and address of last physician] Dr. FR Trigg, Queen St., Norfolk, Va
[name and address of undertaker] John Howard Hale, 922 Wide Street, Norfolk, Va.
[date and place of burial] December 2, 1926, Surry County, Va.
[signed by] Virginia Spratley, of 838 Cumberland Street, Norfolk, Va.

Letter from American Red Cross, Norfolk, Virginia Chapter to Mrs. Virginia Spratley, 6 January 1927
“the opinon is held that there is no amount payable on this claim”

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Ransom Sutton, Co E

The soldier from Perquimans County, North Carolina lost his eye during a battle in Virginia. Although he owned land at the time of his death, his widow was destitute. Their suriving children could offer little financial support. The witnesses for pension benefits had been neighbors, wedding guests, midwives, and funeral attendees.

Invalid – 234,525 / 184,068
Widow — 580,253 / 458,497, Emily Sutton

Claim for Invalid Pension, Ransom Sutton, 7 April 1877
“in the line of duty at Chicahominy in the State of Virginia on or about the 15th of Apl 1864 … was shot in the left eye — and the ball completely destroyed … treated in hospitals in Williamsburg, Va at Yorktown and at Point Lookout … occupation had been that of farmer”

General Affidavit, Emily Sutton, 27 July 1893
50 years old; residence and post-office address, Hertford, Perquimans Co, NC
“She was never married prior to her marriage to said soldier and that she has not remarried since the death of soldier and that said soldier had never been married prior to his marriage to herself.”

General Affidavit, Emily Sutton, 27 July 1893
“She has no children who contribute anything to her suport, except those who can barely do enough work to support themselves. That she owns no land and that her husband … owned only a small tract on which she has the right of dower and that tract is encumbered by mortgage amounting to more than the same would sell for and that all the personal property she now owns is not worth one hundred dollars. Her personal property consists of some chickens, a small quantity of household & kitchen furniture, an old house and a few farming implements.”

General Affidavit, James Dail & Townsend Sutton, 27 July 1893
58 years old [both]; residence, Bethel Township, Perquimans Co, NC [both]
“Ransom Sutton and Emily Gallins were married at Bethel Colored Church… by Elder LW Boone, the Elder of that church at that time in June 1866. That they were present and eyewitnesses to the marriage ceremony, that said Boone is dead and that the secretary of said church had his dwelling destroyed by fire about the year 1870 when all of said church records”

General Affidavit, Dr. David Cox, 29 July 1893
64 years old; residence, Hertford, Perquimans Co, NC
“I was Ransom Sutton’s physician when he died. He died of Bright’s Diseaase of the kidneys. He died on the 16th of May 1893.”

General Affidavit, Emily Sutton, 5 August 1893
50 years; residence, Bethel Township, Perquimans Co, North Carolina; post-office address, Hertford, NC
“That there is no record of children kept in the county in which she lives or by the church to which she belongs and that the dates of birth of her children as given in her former affidavit are in the handwriting of her husband Ransom Sutton in the family Bible now in her possession.”

General Affidavit, Henrietta Ming, 7 August 1893
40 years old; residence, Bethel Township, Perquimans Co, NC; post-office, Hertford, NC
“”That she has been serving as nurse and midwife in caes of childbirth continuously since 1878 … That Napoleon B Sutton waa born April 30, 1879, Florence Sutton was born Nov 19, 1880, and Essie G Sutton was born on the [blank] day of April 1884
“That she did not make an entry of the abovementioned children in a book but that she saw Ransom Sutton … note the names & ages of the children shortly after the birth of ah on a piece of paper

General Ledger, Geo H. Newby, 24 August 1893
28 years old; residence, Hertford, Perquimans Co, NC; post-office address, Hertford, Perquimans Co, NC
“That Emily Sutton has this day exhibited to him the family Bible of Ransom Sutton, published in New York in the year 1882 by the American Bible Society in which the following entries are made:
“Emily Sutton July 20th, 1844; Easter Sutton born April 11, 1867; Gilbert Sutton born Dec 14, 1868; Luke Sutton born May 11, 1871; Adline Sutton born Oct 17, 1872; Alice Sutton born Nov 9th 1874; Emily C Sutton born March 30, 1876; Napoleon Sutton born April 30, 1879; Florence Sutton Nov 19, 1880; Ransom Sutton born Jan 11, 1883; Essy Sutton born April 7, 1884.
“That said entries have every appearance of being geuine, and in the handwriring of said Ransom Sutton.

General Affidavit, WW Speight, 28 August 1893
57 years old; residence, Hertford, Perquimans Co, NC; post-office address,
“That he is Register of Deeds and Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Perquimans County, NC & custodian of tax lists for said County for the year 1893. That the chattel property of Emily Sutton … is valued on the said tax list at one hundred dollars which is the cah value of said property. That Emily Sutton owns no land in Perquimans County.”

General Affidavit, James Dail & Kell Dail, 28 August 1893
[James Dail] 60 years old; residence, Hertford, Perquiman Co, NC; post-office address, Hertford, NC
[Kelly Dail] 27 years old; residence, Hertford, Perquiman Co, NC; post-office address, Hertford, NC
“That they known Emily Sutton & her children see them nearly every day. That her children Napoleon B Sutton, Florence Sutton, and Essy G Sutton are still living but they know this because they have seen these children today.”

General Affidavit, Richard Bembrey [?], 16 Februay 1894
48 years old; residence, Perquimans Co, NC; post-office address, Hertford, NC
“[Emily Sutton] is well known to him and that she has no property and no income except her daily wages which do not amount to more that $50.00 per year, that he resides in her neighborhood and knows her condition”

General Affidavit, James Dail & James Bembrey, 16 February 1894
[Dail] 60 years old; residence, Perquimans Co, NC; post-office address, Hertford, NC
[Bembrey] 48 years old; residence, Perquimans Co, NC: post-office address, Hertford, NC
“That Ransom Sutton died May 16th, 1893. That they saw him dead and helped bury him … this affidavit is prepared and written by TG Skinner in his office at Hertford, NC this Feby 16th in our presence from oral statements made by us only”

General Affidavit, James Dail, 16 February 1894
60 years old; residence, Perquimans Co, NC; post-office, Hertford, NC
“Ransom Sutton and Emily Sutton … were united in marriage in the residence of affiant — at the Bethel Colored Church — by Rev WL Boone who is now dead — in year 1866. I wa present at the marriage but but I do not remember the exact day.”

General Affidavit, Henrietta Ming, 17 February 1894
40 years old; residence, Perquimans Co, NC:
“That she knows Emily Sutton & resides in the same neighborhood and was present when she gave birth to her children and attended her during her several confinements, That on the 30th of April 1879 she gave birth to a boy child who is now living and is named Napoleon Sutton and on the 19th of November 1880 she gave birth to a girl child who is now living named Florence Sutton — and on the 7th of April 1884 she gave birth to a girl child who is now living and is named Essie Sutton“

General Affidavit, James Dail & Towsend Sutton, 18 May 1894
[Dail] 61 years old; residence, Bethel Township, Perquimans Co, NC; post-office address, Hertford, NC
[Sutton] 58 years old; residence, Bethel Township, Perquimans Co, NC; post-office address, Hertford, NC
“They were well acquainted with [the couple] and were near neighbors to them continuously since 1868 to the death of … Ransom Sutton, that she and Ransom Sutton had a child born on 11th day of Jany 1883 whom they named Ransom what child died on the last day of March 1883. That they saw said child after he was dead and assisted in burying him. Said Townsend Sutton swears that he made the coffin … & acted as undertaker at the burial. They further stated that they cannot write … the above statement was written in their presence & at their request by JZA Wood at his office at Hertford, NC on the 18th day of May 1894.”

General Affidavit, Emily Sutton, 16 November 1897
54 years old; residence and post-office, Hertford, Perquimans Co, NC
“My husband … left at his death a piece of land with a mortgage on it of one hundred dollars. This was all he left me. I have to support my children by working. I wash for 2 families who pay 25 cents per week each: 3 children workng out bring me in about 3 dollars per week or one dollar each. Outside of that I have no support. No one legally bound to support me.
“I am renting a house at 3 dollars per month. I haven’t a chicken or pig or fowl of any kind. I have not been able to pay my husband’s funeral expenses, owing for his coffin yet and his doctor bill”

Statement from Perquimans County, North Carolina, 20 December 1897 (date stamped by Pension Bureau)
“The estate of Ransom Sutton is assessed with taxation valuations amounting to $225.00 … The name of Emily Sutton … does not appear upon the tax books above recited.
“Upon the records of Perquimans County, NC in Mortgage Book VV, No. 431 is regiatered a mortgage givn by Ransom Sutton on Oct 8th 1886 to secure a note of $100.00 due in installments, the lasst being payable on Oct 8th 1890 — the security — conveyed is a tract of land containing 50 acres more or less, and said mortgage still appears as unpaid & not cancelled.”

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