David Anderson, Company F & Company G

Sometimes companies reorganized because of attrition caused by death, debilitating injuries, and illness and a person served in more than one company or regiment.

Invalid – 169, 775 / 121,789

Sworn Statement, James Holland and William Alpheus, 18 July 1871
residence, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.
“That they are well acquainted with David Anderson … they served respectively in Co ‘H’ & Co ‘I’ … with him from 1863 to February 1866; and that they were present at the time of his receiving his wound which caused the loss of his third finger, and the breaking of the second finger and bones of his left hand which was on or about the 19th day of July 1864 and that this was during an engagement with the enemy of Smithfield, Isle of Wight, County in the State of Virginia, he having been struck by a minie ball fired by the enemy.”

Sworn Statement, William Bright, 30 September 1872
residence, Norfolk Co., Va.
“intimately acquainted with David Anderson since 1859”

Sworn Statement, William Teamor, 30 September 1872
residence, Norfolk Co., Va.
“intimately acquainted with David Anderson … present and participating in the engagement in which he received the wound aforesaid”

Claimant’s Affidavit, David Anderson, 27 May 1889
47 years old; residence, Bayview, Northampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Bayview, Northampton Co., Va.
“under treatment near Fort Monroe about 2 months & then sent to the Phila Summit House Hospital & remained about 3 months & then sent to my regiment … at Norfolk, Va. on Provost duty.”

Claimant’s Affidavit, David Anderson, 17 June 1889
47 years old; residence, Bayview, Northampton Co., Va; post-office address, Bayview, Va

Proof of Diability, John Portlock, 16 December 1889
46 years old; residence, Norfolk, Va;
“about the 10th day of June, 1864 .. that while in the detail service at Butler’s Front & working on the breastworks, he received a shell wound over the left eye at the time aforesaid, which injured his eyes … had to be sent to the rear and now has to resort to the use of spectacles for purposes of reading and such like. That he was sent to the Regimental Hospital at Point of Rocks and there treated but the name of the surgeon is not known to this affiant. Doctors Gray & Manley, the regimental surgeons being that time absent, & the attending physician being a Brigade Surgeon.”

Claimant’s Affidavit, David Anderson, 16 December 1889
47 years old; residence, Eastern Shore, Northampton Co., Va; post-office address, Bayview
“That there is not in his community or within his knowledge any commissioned officer of Company G, 1st Regt USC Cav nor first sergeant, nor does he know where either if any now be living, can be found and in the inability of this affiant to obtain their testimony or the testimony of either of them, he makes his affidavit of the foregoing facts in order to introduce as evidence in support of his claim, the testimony of two of his comrades.”

General Affidavit, David Anderson and Thomas Florid, 22 August 1892
[Florid] “I was with him the same day when he was struck the right wing of Butler’s bressworks [sic] … on detail … we both was discharged the same day and came home together.”

General Affidavit, John Henry, 1 October 1892
46 years old; residence, Cheapside, Northampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Cheapside, Va.
“I have been acquainted [with the soldier] on about 25 years or more and have worked with the said claimant some since his discharge”

General Affidavit, Thomas Floyd and Harrison Tucker, 18 May 1893
[Floyd] 52 years old; residence, Cape Charles, Northampton Co., Va; post-office address, Cape Charles City, Va.
[Tucker] 59 years old; residence Cape Charles, Northampton Co., Va; post-office address, Cape Charles City, Va.
“[Floyd] knowing him for 25 years since the war … he was all the time complaining of his eyes and head on the count of being struck with a shell. I was there when he was struck and I am now living in Cape Charles and sees [sic] him every day. He now drives the mail from Cape Charles to Brighton once a day”
“[Tucker] a mail carrier myself from the train to the post office at Cape Charles every day … I sees [sic] him every day … I have been that way since 1884″

Claimant’s Affidavit, David Anderson, 18 May 1893
49 years old; residence, Bayview, Northampton Co, Va.
“Doctor George Smith is our family doctor”

Questionnaire (Form 3-402), David Anderson, 13 June 1898
[married] no
[previous marriage] “Yes, to Jane Parsons. Married 1866″
{living children] “Married in Norfolk, Va. Parted at same place 1879. No children.”

Questionnaire (Form 3-173), David Anderson, Sr., 13 September 1899
[married] “I am not. I has ben [sic] married but she lef [sic] in 67 for another man and went to New York and I have not heard from her since. Andrew Tucker of Norfolk but he is dead.”
[record] “Norfolk, Va. I was not married but once and that was in 1866 … 25 years ago so I do not consider that I am a married man.”
[previously married] “I don’t know whether she is dead, living but she will never be my wife enemore [sic] in this world and the world to come”
[children] “I had one name David Anderson Jr born December 1870 …. he was not her son, it was another woman, as near as I can say. The date of month has slip [sic] my membranes”

General Affidavit, Jeffrey Taylor, 8 January 1906
65 years old; post-office address, Cape Charles, Va.
“I lived in the claimant’s home with him during the years of 1901 and 1902”

General Affidavit, Edward F. Jordan, 8 January 1906
48 years old; post-office address, Cape Charles, Va.
“I have personally known the claimant for the past four or five years”

Claimant’s Affidavit, David Anderson, 15 January 1906 [date stamped by Pension Office]
69 years old; post-office address, Bayview, Northampton Co., Va.
“That he contracted disease of heart at Northampton Co., Va., about four years ago under the following circcumstances: While mail carrier on Route No. 21477 from Bayview flat to Bayview PO Box Northampton Co., Virginia from rapid walking to make the trains. When I lie down at night I have to lie on my right side, as owing to my heart trouble, I cannot lie on my left side.”
“Said disability was no way due to vicious habits.”
[The word “General” was struck through and replaced with “Claimant’s” written by hand in red ink — LEA]

Declaration for Pension, David Anderson, 26 February 1907
70 years old; residence, Bayview, Northampton Co., Va; post-office address, Cape Charles, Northampton Co., Va.
“places of residence since leaving the service have been as follows: lived in Norfolk, Va about three months since then to date in Northampton County, Va.”
“Also personally appeared SB Travis, residing in Cape Charles, Va. and Arthur Hunt, residing in Dolby, Va. … their acquaintance with him of 10 years and 10 years, respectively”

Questionnaire (Form 3-389), David Anderson, 20 April 1915
[date and place of birth] 1837, St Mary’s Co, Maryland
[post office at enlistment] Norfolk, Va.
[wife’s name] Jane Parsons
[where, when, by whom] Dec 1866, Norfolk, Va, Rev. Wm. Tucker
[official record] yes, Norfolk, Va.
[previously married] no
[wife’s previous marriage] “was not married before she married me”
[with you, separated] dead
[names, birth dates, all children] David Anderson, living, 1869

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David Anderson, Company F & Company G

This veteran from the Eastern Shore was beset by difficulty. He suffered a head wound from a shell explosion and his condition worsened as he aged. His wife abandoned him shortly after the war ended and moved to New York with another man. But his son survived into adulthood and the injured soldier married a second time.

Invalid — 169,775 / 121,789

Claimant’s Affidavit, David Anderson, 16 December 1889
47 years old; residence, Eastern Shore, Northampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Bayview
“That there is not in his community or within his knowledge any commissioned office of Company G 1st Regt USC Cav nor first sergeant, nor does he know where either, if any now, be living can be found”

Claimant’s Affidavit, David Anderson, 8 August 1891
47 years old; residence, Cape Charles, Northampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Cape Charles, Northampton Co., Va.
“I was struck by the explosion of a shell from Fort Clifton about June or July … taken to the regiment hospital near Point of Rocks and was treated by the doctors there but I did not know their names”

General Affidavit, David Anderson and Thomas Floyd, 22 August 1892
[Anderson] 47 years old; residence, Cape Charles, Northampton, Va.; post-office address, Cape Charles City, Va.
[Floyd] 51 years old; residence, Cape Charles City, Northampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Cape Charles City, Va.
“both discharged at City Point, Va. and came home together … both working at Cape Charles City, Va, sees each other every day”

General Affidavit, John Henry, 1 October 1892
46 years old; residence, Cheapside, Northampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Cheapside, Va.
“I have been aquainted with the said claimant David Anderson on about 25 years or more”

Claimant’s Affidavit, David Anderson, 27 May 1893
49 years old; residence, Bayview, Northampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Cape Charles, Va.
“Says that he recd shell wound over left eye Jan 10/64 at engagement at Butler Breastwork front of Petersburg was sent to hospital Point of Rocks near Petersburg & transfer to Camp Hamilton … and remained there”

General Affidavit, Thomas Floyd and Harrison Tucker, 18 May 1893
[Floyd] 52 years old; residence, Cape Charles, Northampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Cape Charles City, Va.
[Tucker] 59 years old; residence, Cape Charles, Northampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Cape Charles City, Va.
“[Floyd] been knowing [claimant] for 25 years, since the war, and since he has been out of the war … I am now living in Cape Charles and see him every day. He now drives the mail from Cape Charles to Brighton once a day and sometimes”
“[Tucker] “a mail carrier myself from the train to the post office at Cape Charles every day and he have to meet the train every day”

Claimant’s Affidavit, David Anderson, 12 August 1894
47 years old; residence, Bayview, Northampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Bayview, Va.
“I have not been treated by any Doctor since I was discharged because I was not so bad off at first”

Questionnaire (Form 3-173), David Anderson, 13 September 1899
[wife’s name/maiden name] “I am not. I has ben [sic] married but she lef [sic] in 67 for another man and went to New York and have not heard from her since”
[where, when, by whom] 1866 December; Andrew Tucker of Norfolk but he is dead
[marriage record] “Norfolk, Va. I was not married but once and that was in 1866; 25 years ago so I do not consider that I am a married man”
[previoiusly married] “I don’t know whether she is dead or living but she will never be my wife enemore [sic] in this world and the world to come”
[living children] “I had one name David Anderson Jr but he was not her son but it was another mother. Born December 1870 as near as I can say. The date of month has slip [sic] my memories.”

General Affidavit, Jeffrey Taylor, 8 January 1906
65 years old; residence, Cape Charles, Va.
“I lived in the claimant’s home with him during the years of 1901 and 1902 … His disability was not due in any way to vicious habits.”

General Affidavit, Edward F. Jordan, 8 Januaary 1906
48 years old; residence, Cape Charles, Va.
“I have personally known the claimant David Anderson for the past four or five years”

Declaration for Pension, David Anderson, 19 February 1907
70 years old; residence, Bayview, Northampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Cape Charles, Northampton Co,, Va
“born January 1st 1837 at St Mray’s County, Md. (my discharge certificate is in Pension Office) … several places of residence since living leaving the service have been as follows: lived in Norfolk, Va. about three months, since then to date in Northampton County, Va.”
“Also personally appeared S.B. Travis, residing in Cape Charles, Va. and Arthur Hurt, residing in Dolby, Va. … their acquaintance with him of 10 years and 10 years, respectively”

Questionnaire (Form 3-389), David Anderson, 20 April 1915
[date and place of birth] 1837 — St Mary’s Co,, Maryland
[organization] Co G, 1st USCC
[post-office at enlistment] Norfolk, Virginia
[wife’s full name / maiden name] Jane Parsons
[when, where, by whom] Dec 1866, Norfolk, Va. Rev. Wm. Tucker
[official or church record, where] yes, Norfolk, Va
[previous marriage] no
[present wife’s previous marriage] “was not married before she met me”
[with wife] “she is dead”
[names and birth dates of all children] David Anderson, living,1869

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Oscar Fields, Company F

The soldier sustained serious injury to his right side while in battle at Harpers Ferry, Virginia.

Invalid — 894, 309 / 785,267

Sworn Statement, Oscar Fields, 26 October 1891
“That in the spring of the year Eighteen hundred and sixty-five at Harpers Ferry, Virginia in the line of his duty, and while engaged in close quarters fighting the enemy deponent fell and several of his comrades fell on top of him and he got crushed which caused said injury to said right side”

U.S. Pension Agency (Form 3-405), New York, New York, 2 May 1899
“I hereby report that the name of Oscar Fields … has been dropped because of reported death Feb 98”

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Beverly West, Company F

Well after the Civil War, this veteran’s right foot was amputated at the National Soldiers Home hospital. Until that time, he had worked as a brick mason, an occupation that requires advanced mathematical skills and knowledge of building and construction. Those who vouched for him included former employees, neighbors, comrades in arms, and fellow residents of the National Soldiers Home.

Invalid — 985,606 / 990,988

Declaration for Invalid Pension, Beverly West, 29 October 1890
64 years old; residence, Norfolk, Va.; post-office address, 22 Cleaveland St., Norfolk, Virginia
“Also personally appeared Charles Bell residing at Norfolk and Cornelius Gray residing at Norfolk, Va. … their acquaintance with him for 27 and 27 years respectively”

Claimant’s Affidavit, Beverly West, 8 July 1891
60 years old; post-office address, Norfolk, Va. General Delivery
“was honorably discharged as Orderly Sargt”

Deposition, Beverly West, 14 June 1893
61 years old; occupation, brick mason; residence, 9 Hampton Court, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
“Mr. W.R. Drury was the first man who ever did any writing for me in a pension claim. … I did know Charles Bell. He is dead. I do not know Columbus Grey. I never had either of those men as a witness according to my recollection no. I was a witness for Charles Bell. I do not know B.A. Richardson, Jr., Notary Public … I have also had Mrs. Lockwood as my attorney; I gave her a power of attorney after Drury dropped the case.”

Deposition, Cornelius Grey, 3 July 1893
about 51 years old; occupation, oyster opener; residence, 122 Princess Anne Ave., Norfolk, Va.
“I know Beverly West very well”

Declaration for Invalid Pension, Beverly West, 13 January 1898
65 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, No. 9 Hampton Court, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
“Also personally appeared Phillip Bagwell residing at No. 3 North Street, Huntersville, Norfolk County, Virginia and Frank Leary residing at 59 Scot St., Norfolk, Va. …. their acquaintance with him for 25 years and 35 years, respectively”

General Affidavit, Beverly West, 20 February 1902
69 years old; residence, National Soldiers Home, Va.; post-office address, National Soldiers Home, Va.
“I lost my right foot by amputation in February 1899. It was amputated in the Hospital National Soldiers Home, Va. … Do not know what caused the sores on the toes which resulted in amputation of the foot.”

General Affidavit, George Washington and Isaac Reddick, 20 February 1902
[Washington] 80 years; residence, National Soldiers Home, Virginia;
[Reddick] 58 years old; residence, National Soldiers Home, Virginia;
“We have each known the claimant, Beverly West, the past 30 years, and the past 25 years respectively. We all worked together at one time in Norfolk, Va. …. we have known him to be a sober, temperate, upright, & peaceable man … He was a brick mason for many years in Norfolk, Va. during which time we worked for him & he was always complaining about his right foot & often had to walk with a stick & had great trouble in getting on the scaffold”
“He was always known where he lived in Norfolk, Va. as an industrious, hard-working and sober, temperate man, as hundreds can well testify to.”

Declaration for Pension, Beverly West, 9 March 1907
“Height, 5 feet 10 inches; complexion, bacon color; color of eyes, black; color of hair, black; that his occupation was brick mason; that he was born Sept. 1832 at Norfolk, Va.
“That his several places of residence since leaving the service have been as follows: Norfolk, Va. and Nat. Sol. Home, Va.
“Also personally appeared G. Isay, residing in Nat. Sol. Home, Va. and Frank Burghardt, residing in Nat. Sol. Home, Va. … their acquaintance with him of 4 years and 4 years respectively”

Southern Branch, National Home for D.V.S., 8 May 1907
“[Beverly West] died at Southern Branch on the 8 day of May, 1907
Cause of death, Septicoemia
Social condition, Widower
[next of kin] Sister in law, Mrs. Adaline West, No. 11 Evaline St., Norfolk, 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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