Nathaniel Moseley alias Nathan Mosby, Company I

The soldier moved to Providence, Rhode Island once his military service ended. Not long after enlistment, his horse kicked him during a drill and the young man sustained a crippling injury. Born into slavery in Norfolk County, Virginia, he later married twice and had nine children. The spelling variants for his surname are numerous!

Invalid — 1,156,081 / 1,136,643

Claimant’s Affidavit, Nathan Moseby, 28 February 1898
“In 1864 while a corporal … I was kicked by a horse and was then laid up for four months. Since that time.I have not been able to work … only a small part of the time on account of the injury received to my right knee. Last September and October was unable to do an hours work.”

Questionnaire (Form 3-173), Nathaniel Mosby, 15 June 1899
“I was married but once. My wife died Aug 20-92 … I had nine children but three is dead. The living ones:
“Alleen Mosby born in Norfolk Sept 1st, 1871
Rosella ” ” ” Sept 17-1873
Edward ” ” ” Feb 22nd 1875
Russell ” ” ” March 14th 1877
Mattie born in Prov, RI Oct 6th 1880
Walter Mosby born in Prov RI Jan 23rd 1883″

Questionnaire (Form 3-493), Nathan Mosby, 15 June 1899
[residence,nearest post office] 5 Gilman Street, South Prov; Prov Post OFfice, cor Weyhasset and Custom-house streets. There is only one post office here.”
[residence after discharge] “The first place I lvied in Providence was No 16 Cole St. The next was No 8 Cowell St. Then I moved in No 5 Gilman Jan 7-1866 been here ever since.”
[nearest post office] Prov Postoffice, cor Weyhasset and Custmerhosue [sic] sts
[occupation] farming since Norfolk

General Affidavit, Pembroke Powell, 20 December 1900
83 South Main st, Providence, RI
“”I have known [Moseley] for 15 years … during all my acquaintance with him he has been a sober industrious man of good moral character and habits”

General Affidavit, Willard H. Hall, 22 December 1900
53 years old; address, [illegible], East Providence, RI
“I have known Nathan Mosby since 1881 and since that time we have been associated together almost daily, having worked with him more or less, and have seen him almost daily when he has been able to be about or at work … he has always been a man of good moral habits and he bears a good character”

General Affidavit, Hercules B .Judge, 9 February 1901
52 years old; 157 Olive St., Providence, RI
“I have been personally well acquainted … since 1881 when he first came to Providence from Virginia … he is a man of good moral character and habits”

Questionnaire (Form 3-474), Nathan Mosby, 6 August 1902
[born] Norfolk County, Virginia
[enlisted] Norfolk, Va.
[before enlistment] Norfolk, Va.
[occupation] farmer
[enslaved] “yes … owner .. Philip Biddle“
[discharged] City Point, Va
[since discharge] “Sewaells [sic] Point, Va until 1881. In Providence, RI from 1881 until present time”
[present occupation] longshoreman
[height / complexion / scars] 5′ 5″ / dark / “scars on one knee from a kick by horse while in service”
[different name while in service] no
[known by any other name] “My name is Nathaniel instead of Nathan & Moseley instead of Mosby. Mistake by Captain when enlisted.”
[known by] Nathaniel Moseley
[residence and post-office] 42 Horne St, Providence, RI
Note: The date stamp indicates the Pension Bureau received this document on 6 August 1902 — Leslie

Sworn Statement, Nathan Mosby, 6 August 1902
“When I enlisted there was a mistake in writing my name.
“It should have been Nathaniel Moseley instead of Nathan Mosby.
“The Captain made the mistake in writing my name, when I enlisted.
“I have always used my correct name which is Nathaniel Moseley.”
Note: The date stamp indicates the Pension Bureau received this document on 6 August 1902 — Leslie

Sworn Statement, Nathan Mosby, 3 May 1905
residence, 42 Homer Street, Providence, RI
“I was born in Norfolk, Va., a slave … my mistress to whom I belonged (my master being in the Confederate army) told me I was twenty-one years old the July before. My brothers and sisters are all dead and I have no relatives or friends living who know anything about me or any family Bible.”
“Witnesses:
James W Carrington, 12 Perkins Street, Prov[idence], RI
Henry Jones, 42 Homer Street, Prov[idence], RI”

Declaration of Pension, Nathaniel Moseley, 25 February 1907
post-office address, 42 Homer St., Providence, RI
“enrolled under the name of Nathan Mosby on the 18th day of December 1863 … honorably discharged at City Point, Va on the 28th day of February 1866 … was born Sewell’s Point, Va, 15 July, 1842 … several places of residence since leaving the service have been as follows: Providence allways [sic] since I was discharged”
“Also personally appeared Jonathan N Pierce, residing in 42 Homer St Providence RI and William H Rickman residing 90 Stewart St, Providence RI … their aquaintance with him of 15 years and 2 years, respectively”

Application for Reimbursement, Allen P. Burch, 13 January 1919
47 years old; residence, Providence, Rhode Island; post-office address, 42 Homer St, Providence, RI
1 [deceased] – Nathaniel Moseley
2 [type of pension] – [blank]
3a [married] – yes
3b [# and to whom] – “twice Susan McWilliams and Sarah Ellen Luckson[?]”
3c [status] – divorced
3d [still living] yes
3e [full name] Susan M Moseley died Aug 20, 1892; Sarah Ellen Moseley – divorced – 1900
3f [was he divorced] yes
3g [divorced wife living] yes
4 [living children under 16] no
5 [living children] no
6 [insurance] yes
7 [ name of company] Metropolitan Life Insurance Co
8 [beneficiary] Allen P Burch (daughter)
9 [rlationship] daughter
10 [did pensioner pay premium?] no
11 [premium paid] ” .65 cents weekly by Allen P. Burch and received $157.50″
12 [was pensioner member of society? no
13 {executor or administrator] no
14 [money, real estate, pension] no
15 [describe property] [blank]
16 [value of real estate] [blank]
17 [disposal of property] [blank]
18 [unindorsed [sic] pension check] no
19 [relationship to deceased] daughter
20 [married] yes
21 [cause of death] heart trouble
22 [last sickness began] November 29, 1918
23 [illness required ongoing attendance] November 29
24 [name and address of attending physician] J.J. Robinson, MD, 247 CranstonSt., Providence, RI
25 [names of individual nurses] “His daughter Mrs. Burch“
26 [pensioner’s last address] 42 Homer St, Providece, RI
27 [place of death] 42 Homer St, Providence, RI
28 [date of death] December 3, 1918
29 [burial] North Burial Ground, Providence, RI
30 [payment to attending person] no
31 [expenses]
32 [complete list of expenses?] yes

Questionnaire (Form 3-389), Nathaniel Moseley, 22 March 1922
[date/place of birth] July 15, 1842, Norfolk, Va
[service organization] Co I, First US Colored Calvry [sic]
[post office at enlistment] City of Norfolk, Va
[wife’s full name and maiden name] Susan Mildred Williams [illegible]
[when, where, by whom] Feb 18, 1869, Norfolk, Va., Rev Richard Parker
[official record] M.E. Church, Norfolk, Va
[previously married] Ellen Laurence Tuxon [sp?] … divorced, Providence, RI … married Aug 31, 1899, Providence, RI
[wife’s previous husband, if applies] Robert Tuxon [sp?] … divorced, Washington, DC
[living wife but separated] separation
[names/dates birth of all children]
Julia Augustie Moseley, March 18, 1870
Alleen Moseley, September 1, 1871
Eliza Ella Moseley, September 17, 1873
William QE Moseley, Feb 22, 1875
James Henry Moseley, Feb 8, 1879
Martha Jane Moseley, Oct 6, 1880
John Walter Moseley, Jan 23, 1883
Earl Nathaniel Moseley, Feb 28, 1891

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Horace Hudson, Company I

The officer and his widow’s applications included near identical comments from many community members. Statements in the later years are more varied. He disappeared for a time but returned to their home shortly before his death. Of six children only their daughter’s identified by name.

Invalid — 946, 154 / 672,283
Widow — 808,440 / 593,054, Catharine Hudson

Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Horace Hudson, 4 May 1898
[married] Cathrine A. Hudson maiden name Siple applied for divorce and shall succeed
[when, where, by whom] Dec 7th 1867, Rev A. Reynolds at Oneonta
[record] no certificate; her mother and my brother were witness; brother, Sarel Hudson of Oneonta
[previously married] no
[living children] “have no children which I acknowledge”

Sworn Statement, Sarah M. Smith, 22 May 1899
residence, Rennselaer, Rennselaer County, New York
“She was present and witnessed the marriage of Catharine A Siple to Horace Hudson … Oneonta, Otsego Co, State of NY, Dec 3d 1867″

Sworn Statement, Ida Mandel, 24 May 1899
residence, Oneonta, Otsego County, New York
“She was present at and witnessed the marriage of Catharine A. Siple to Horace Hudson at Oneonta, Otsego Co, NY on the 3d day of Dec 1867”

Sworn Statement, William H. Siple, 25 May 1899
“Catharine A. Siple was not married previous to her marriage to Horace Hudson”

Sworn Statement, Samuel Mendel, 5 June 1899
residence, Oneonta, Otsego County, NY
“He was acquainted with Horace Hudson previous to his marriage to Catharine A Siple”

Sworn Statement, James Robert, 7 November 1899
residence, Oneonta, Otsego County, NY
“He was acquainted with Horace Hudson previous to his marriage to Catharine A Siple … Horace Hudson was never married prior to his marriage to Catharine A Siple”

Sworn Statement, Sylvester Ford, 8 November 1899
61 years old; residence, Oneonta, Otsego County, NY
“He is acquainted with Catharine A. Hudson … the said Catharine A. Hudson was never married previous to her marriage to Horace Hudson”

Sworn Statement, Charles O. Hanford, 23 December 1899
49 years old; residence, East Meredith, Delaware County, New York
“He is acquainted with Catharine A. Hudson and her husband Horace Hudson, and that the said Horace Hudson deserted his wife Catharine Hudson about the First of January 1896 … and that the said Catharine A. Hudson is a person of good moral character and in necessitous circumstances”

Sworn Statement, Alva Emery, 20 December 1899
66 years old; residence, East Meredith, Delaware Co, NY
“Acquainted with Catharine A. Hudson and her husband Horace Hudson, and the said Horace Hudson deserted his wife Catharine A. Hudson about the First of January 1896”

Sworn Statement, William A. Black, 12 February 1901
35 years old; residence and post-office address, [illegible], Wayne County, Pennsylvania
“[Hudson] has boarded with him for the past 5 years and during that time he has not been a well man …. he could scarcely wait on himself and if he lives from now on he will have to be waited on as he is suffering from Bright’s Disease … no income other than his pension, and has no friends here”

Sworn Statement, Dr. Daniel E. Drake, 13 February 1901
residence and post-office address, [illegible], Wayne County, Pennsylvania
“I have been practicing medicine 11 years. I have known said soldier for the past 5 years or more. I hae treated him profesionally about 2 years.”

General Affidavit, E.S. Bisbee, 27 May 1904
33 years old; residence, Meredith, Delaware Co, NY; post-office address, Mendale, NY
“He is the town clerk of the town of Meredith, Delaware County, NY and as such town clerk is the custodian of the vital statistics of said town and of the records thereof, he further says that he has examined said records as to the death of Horace Hudson late of said town of Meredith deceased and that the following is a true transcript from said record of the same
Date of death: May 12, 1904
Age: 75 yrs 2 mos 3 days
Chief Cause of Death: Cerebral Hemorrhage
Contributing Cause: Chronic Bright’s Disease

General Affidavit, Ida Mendel, 4 July 1904
67 years old; residence, Oneonta, Otsego County, New York; post-office address, Oneonta, Otsego County, New York
“She was well acquainted with the claimant and her late husband Horace Hudson … she was present at the marriage of claimant and said Horace Hudson … at Oneonta, NY on the 3rd day of December 1867 by Rev. A. Reynolds, a minister of the gospel”

General Affidavit, Catharine A Hudson, 16 July 1904
58 years old; residence, Meredith, Delaware Co, NY; post-office address, Mendale, NY
“That she has no property real or personal or [illegible] except a little household furniture, that she has no bonds, stocks, or investments … and has no income from any source except her own manual labor, that her income from her manual labor amounts to about $15.00 per month, and that no person is legally bound to provide for her support. Also that there is no public or church record of claimant’s marriage to the soldier, and no public or church record of the birth or baptism of said minor child, Hilda Henderson.”

General Affidavit, Elizabeth McCully, 27 July 1904
53 years old; residence, Oneonta, Otsego Co, NY
“She was well acquainted with the above named claimant and her late husband Horace Hudson … She was present at the birth of said soldier’s daughter S. Hilda Hudson … born on the 18th day of July 1889 at Davenport Center, Delaware County, NY, that she was present at the said birth as a nurse of assistant. That the attending physician was Dr. G.A. Mahorg.”

General Affidavit, James Roberts and George Reynolds, 29 August 1904
[Roberts] 77 years old; residence, Oneonta, Otsego County, New York; post-office address, Oneonta, NY
[Reynolds] 74 years old; residence, Oneonta, Otsego County, New Yor; post-office address, Oneonta, NY
“well acquainted with Catharine A. Siple and Horace Hudson from the type they became of marriageable age until they were married to each other in December 1867 … We state the foregoing facts from personal knowledge and recollection.”

General Affidavit, William L. Low and Tracy L. Shaver, 12 November 1904
[Low] 52 years old; residence, Meredith, Delaware Co, NY; post-office address, Meredith, Delaware Co, NY
[Shaver] 33 years old; residence, Meredith, Delaware Co, NY; post-office address, Meredith, Delaware Co, NY
“known and lived neighbor to the said Horace Hudson and said Catharine A. Hudson for two years immediately prior to the death of said Horace Hudson on May 12th 1904 … daughter Hilda Hudson is still living and resides with her mother.”

Deposition, Mrs. Catharine A. Hudson, 23 May 1905
58 years old; post-office address, Merridale, Delaware County, New York
“I do not know the date of his enlistment or discharge. I have his commission as First Lieut … he was in the service about three years … married December 3, 1867 by Rev. A. Reynolds. The minister has since died. We were married at my home in Oneonta, Otsego Co., NY. There are two living witnesses to the marriage. Mrs. Ida Mendell and Saul Hudson, a brother of soldier. … His brother Saul knew me before my marriage … I had lived in Oneonta some 10 or 12 years before my marriage. Mrs. Mendell, Jas. Roberts, & Geo W. Reynolds knew me prior to my marriage … [my husband] was 15 years older than I. I had known himin the neighborhood of two years prior to my marriage. I became acquainted with him after he came from the army … Hudson, Geo W. Reynolds, and James Roberts knew him well prior to our marriage. Mr. Reynolds and he enlisted together I think … [After the war] we were running a boarding house then just as we do now … He died May 12, 1904. I have not remarried since his death. I own no property either real or personal and have no income except what I am able to come by my own labor. I had six children by soldier, three of whom are still living but only one was under 16 years old age when soldier died. Her name is S. Hilda Hudson and she was born July 18, 1889. She is still living and makes her home with me.”

Deposition, Henry G. Sheldon, 23 May 1905
68 years old; post-office address, Meridale, Delaware Co, NY
“I have known the claimant Mrs. Catharine A. Hudson for 15 or 20 years … I got acquainted with them when they lived at East Meredith. He left a hardwre store there. I used to trade with him some. Then I knew of him going off and leaving her at East Meredith. He was gone several years and she went and brought him back to her home her and he lived with her til his death, a period of a year or a year and a half.
“She took care of him during that time. I attended his funeral and know that he was buried from the hosue where she now lives. I was living in East Meredith when he left her but I don’t know why he went away … She has always been a woman of good character and I never heard a word against her character except what he said. After he went away she conducted a boarding house out in East Meredith and here, and I never heard a harmful word against her.”

Deposition, Marshall Ware, 23 Mary1905
24 years old; post-office address, Meridale, Delaware Co., NY
“I have known this claimant Mrs. Catharine A. Hudson about six years. I knew her when she lived at East Meredith before she moved here. I knew Horace Hudson in the neighborhood of a year before his death…. I used to see him frequently and talked with him often … She and her daughter run a boardinghouse”

Deposition, Sarel Hudson, 25 May 1905
80 years old; post-office address, Oneonta, Otsego Co, NY
“Horace Hudson was my brother … Her maiden name was Catharine A. Siple, or ‘Cassie’ Siple as she was generally known … They were married at her mother’s house by Rev. Reynolds. … They lived together from the time of their marriage til six or eight years ago when he left her and was gone some time in [illegible], Pa. He wrote us from [illegible] as to how poorly he was. We sent the letter to his married daughter or wrote her to his condition … There was no disagreement between them and he left. He was jealous of her but I think unduly so and without cause. She was an active energetic hardworking woman and he was not so energetic and I think she brought more for the house than he did. Then there was considerable difference in their ages.”

Deposition, Geo Reynolds, 26 May 1905
74 years old; post-office address, Oneonta, Otsego Co, NY
“we enlisted at the same time … I knew from before her marriage to soldier … I did not know her well … They moved out of the locality soon after their mrriage and I knew very little of them after that.”

Letter from Ethel L. Burns to Pension Bureau, 13 June 1921
“Gentlemen: You are hereby notified of the death of Catharine A. Hudson which occurred on June 8, 1921.”
Note: Beneath her name, Burns inserted “(Daughter of the deceased)” — Leslie

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Madison Knight, Company I**

The soldier and his wife did not know their ages but they knew their parents’ names. The soldier’s sister and descendants of the couple’s former enslavers provided statements in support of the widow’s pension application. Nearly destitute the widow bequeathed her few belongings to one of those descendants who later asked that she receive the final pension payment in order to help defray the costs of the burial. Per regulations, her request was denied. Today’s post includes research notes from documents July 1908-February 1912. Last week’s post included research notes from documents dated 1891-April 1908.

Invalid — 919, 113 / 691,745
Widow — 876,219 / 652,359, Sallie Knight

Deposition, Margaret Davis, 9 July 1908
about 65 years old; widow of John Davis; post-office address, 1418 King St, Portsmouth, Va.
“I have known Sallie Knight since we were both girls. She was then living with her owner Mr. Britton and I was with my owner John Talbert, in Portsmouth, Va. The claimant lived just outside the city. I have known her well ever since and lived with her ever since … She became the wife of Madison Knight before the Civil War while they were both slaves … I never heard Madison Knight called Madison Rodgers. I don’t know who his owner was.”

Deposition, Ann [illegible], 10 July 1908
over 50 years old age; widow of Sam [illegible]; occupation housework, post-office address, 1466 King St, Portsmouth, Va.
“Madison Knight was my brother, I don’t know his age nor do I know my own age. The Bible in which our ages were written down got torn up so our owner said. Our first owner was Capt Ned Riddick. Madison was given to Emeline, his daughter who married Phillip Rodgers of Suffolk, Va.”
“I first saw the claimant Sallie Knight out near Suffolk, Va. My brother brought her as his wife during Christmas holidays, before the Civil War, don’t know the year. I was small but I remember it well …My mother brought me down here just after the battle at Suffolk, and we stopped with the claimant, in same house, in same house for some time until after my brother came out of the army…. I don’t know the year my brother came back from the army … My right name is Anna but I am sometimes called Hannah.”
“There is no slave or other record that I know of showing my and my brother’s age. He was much older than I.”

Deposition, Eliza Holland, 10 July 1908
about 65 years old; post-office address, Columbia st near Blount, Portsmouth, Va.; widow of Chas. Holland; occupation housework
“I was about 9 years old when I got acquainted with the claimant Sallie Knight. She is about my age. We played together and we have lived near each other in this neighborhood ever since. She belonged to Mr. Jim Britton … I was hired out to Mr. Whitson, about a mile and a half out of town. He was there 3 or 4 years.”

Deposition, John T. Reddick, 10 July 1908
62 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, 1503 King St, Portsmouth, Va
“I knew the soldier Madison Knight about all my life. He first belonged to Ned Riddick and afterwards to Phillip Rodgers of Nansemond Co, Va. I lived near him and sometimes worked in the swamp with him before the war. He was hired out down here sometime before the war and when I came down here in 1863, I saw him occasionally till he enlisted, and then I did not see him again…
“I first met the claimant after he came out of the army in 1866. They lived next door to me on North St, Portsmouth, Va. … I cannot say what time in 1866 they moved next door to me. From that time to

Deposition, Harriett Ann Smith, 10 July 1908
71 years old; widow of Geo. Smith; post-office address, 712 County St, Portsmouth, Va.
“I have known the claimant Sallie Knight nearly all her life, we were play children together, and have lived in and near Portsmouth [illegible] all our lives. I was taken away from here after the yellow fever and came back in May or June the year Richmond fell. I mean the next year after Richmond fell. I then found the claimant living on Pine street. … I lived with them for 12 months.”

Deposition, Lelia F. Hodges, 11 July 1908
46 years old; occupation, housework; post-office address, 1122 Washington St, Portsmouth Va.
“The claimant Sallie Knight belonged to James Britton who was my grandfaather. I have known her from my earlierst recollection … I remember her from about the time I was about two years old, by her coming to my mother’s house and taking me in her arms to her home before I could walk any distance.
“I can also remember that he [Knight] was away, and she was in need and we used to feed her.”
“She belonged to my grandmother before she married Mr. Britton and when my grandmother died she really belonged to my mother, but my grandfather had charge of her.”

Deposition, Mrs. Virginia Parker, 11 July 1908
nearly 47 years old; post-office address, 1003 South St., Portsmouth, VA
“I have known Sallie Knight all my life. She belonged to my father, the late James Britton.
“My first recollection of her was when she lived in my father’s kitchen on Pine St, this city, with Madison Knight as his wife. I don’t recollect what year that was but I was a small child. I don’t know when she became the wife of Madison Knight but it must have had him before I was born because she had a son Lewis Knight now dead who was older than I was. There are no records relating to my father’s slaves in existence.”
“I am the oldest child of my father now living.”

Letter from Mrs. Lelia Hodges, 1114 Holliday St, to Commisioner of Pensions, Department of interior, Washington, DC, 2 February 1912
“Dear Sir,
Sallie Knight the widow of Madison Knight who has been receiving a pension … died Jan 10th 1912. At her death she left a will (a copy of which find enclosed) leaving to me all of which she was possessed which was very little indeed. the total amount realized on the same at sale being some seven dollars … together with an insurance of forty dollars … was insufficient for her burial which cost about eighty dollars or possibly ninety dollars. This deficit will have to be paid by myself. I understand there is now due her one month’s pension from Dec 4th 1911 to Jan 4th 1912 amounting to twelve dollars … I would like to inquire if as beneficiary under the will I could legally collect the same. While this twelve dollars would not cover the amount spent by me for her burial or pay other bills owing by her it would at least be some help.”

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Madison Knight, Company I*

The soldier and his wife did not know their ages but they knew their parents’ names. The soldier’s sister and the descendants of the couple’s former enslavers provided statements in support of the widow’s pension application. Nearly destitute the widow bequeathed her few belongings to one of those descendants who later asked that she receive the final pension payment in order to help defray the costs of the burial. Per regulations, her request was denied. Today’s post includes research notes from documents dated 1891-April 1908. Next week’s post will include research notes from documents dated July 1908-February 1912.

Invalid — 919, 113 / 691,745
Widow — 876,219 / 652,359

Neighbor’s Affidavit, George R Garner & Samuel Gordon, 19 January 1891
[Garner] 29 years old; residence, Norfolk Co., Va; post-office address, Portsmouth, Virginia
[Gordon] 39 years old, residence, Norfolk Co., Va; post-office address, Portsmouth, Virginia
“They were well and personally acquainted with Mattison Knight … for 13 years and 13 years, respectively, and that for the last three years have worked with the said Mattison Knight at Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Shops … would lose four or five days in the week, being unable to work — and sometimes he would be absent from work an entire week”

Deposition, Mattison Knight, 24 March 1902
“I do not know correct age but was 24 when I enlisted in the Union Army. I am a laborer and I live at 800 King St, Portsmouth, Va.
“I was born in Nansemond County, Va and was a slave; was owned by Philip Rogers. My father was Paul Knight and it was from him that I took my name.
“Before the war I was called Mattison Rogers, but since the war I have never gone under any name, except that of Mattison Knight. I remained in Va till June 1865 — that is after enlistment and then we went to Texas. We remained in Texas for eight months. We went on the steamer Dudley Buck to Texas.
“Jeptha Girrard was my first Colonel but he resigned and was succeeded by Seips, who was our Lt. Col.
“Brown was Major….. Huson was my Capt…. Gay was our 1st Lt. …. Randerbill [sp?] was 2d Lt.
“James Nixon was Ord Sgt. Daniel Hunter was a Duty Sgt. Both of the above reside in this city.”
“Isaac Reddick eat and slept with me in service.”
“Henry Clay and Chas. Pierce were my witnesses. They charged me nothing. I was a witness for Pierce but not for Clay … Mr. Reed executes my vouchers; charges fifty cents; he always swears me…. The only marriage I ever had was a slave marriage… I have no children”

Death Certificate, Madison Knight, August 1907
[place of death] 1418 King St, Portsmouth, Va
[sex, color, age, status ] male, colored, 61 years, married
[father’s name, birthplace] Paul Knight, Suffolk, Va.
[mother’s name, birthplace] Margaret Riddick, Suffolk, Va.
[occupation] laborer
[informant] Anna Farmer [?], 1406 King St
[date of death] August 23, 1907
[cause of death] “senile decay”
[burial] Mount Olive Cemetery, August 26, 1907
[undertaker] Jno H Robinson, Norfolk Co., Va.

Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Sallie Knight, 5 September 1907
about 70 years old; residence, 1418 King St, Portsmouth, Virginia
“That she was married under the name Sallie Britton to said Mattison Knight … Spring 1858 by consent of owners, at Portsmouth, Va … neither party had been previously married
“Also personally appeared, John T. Riddick, residing at Portsmouth, Va and Harriet A. Smith“

Claimant’s Affidavit, Sallie Knight, 10 September 1907
70 years old; 1418 King St., Portsmouth, Va.
“That her husband the soldier left at his death no estate real, or personal. He carried a small insurance policy from which claimant has received only $20 being the total amount which claimant from that source expects to receive”

General Affidavit, John T. Riddick, 10 Sepetember 1907
61 years old; post-office address, 1503 King St, Portsmouth, Va
“That he was well acquainted with Mattison Knight … having been reared with him in Nansemond Co, from childhood and then knew him quite intimately all his life since childhood … That he did not become acquainted with the claimant until some time after her marriage to said soldier … Claimant has no property except a few household goods, no income and no means of support and she is now too old and weak to earn sufficient support”

General Claimant’s Affidavit, Harriet Amy Smith, 10 Sepetember 1907
71 years old; post-office address, 712 County St, Portsmouth, Va
“That she has been intimately acquainted with the claimant … from childhood having been brought up with her in Portsmouth, Va … That during the period of the Civil War affiant was not in Portsmouth but when she returned at its close she became acquainted with the said Mattison Knight who was then married to claimant … That from that time 1865 she knew both intimately (lived in the same house with them about two years in 1865 to 1867)”
NOTE: The word “General” was crossed out and replaced by the word “Claimant’s.”

General Affidavit, Margaret Davis, 12 October 1907
65 years old; post-office address, King St near Goodwin St., Portsmouth, Va
“That she has been intimately acquainted with the claimant … since her childhood up to the present time, that she also knew the said soldier … befoe he was old enough to marry, he having been sent down to Portsmouth from Nansemond County and having hired out here by his owner before the war and before he was fully grown. In fact the said Mattison Knight wanted to marry the affiant before he married the said Sallie.”

General Affidavit, Lelia F Hodges, 12 October 1907
45 years old; post-office address, 1122 Washington St., Portsmouth, Va
“That Sallie Knight, the claimant, was owned by my mother. From my earliest remembrance Sallie Knight was the wife of Mattison Knight and conitnued to live with him until his death.”

General Affidavit, Eliza Holland, 18 October 1907
about 65 years old; post-office address, Columbia St., Portsmouth, Va
“That she has known Sallie Knight … since she the affiant was nine years, intimately … That she was also well acquainted with said Mattison Knight, who lived on Benson’s Farm with a man named Whitson where I also lived from my sixth year. … Knight was hired by Mr. Whitson several years befoe he married Sallie Britton, now Knight … I was not present at the marriage but was living in the neighborhood when the marriage took place … at the home of Mr. Britton on Pine Street near Portsmouth, in Norfolk County, Va. about three years before the Civil War … [they were only apart] while he was in the army. She went away from Portsmouth with him but returned.”

Claimant’s Affidavit, Sallie Knight, 5 December 1907
post-office address, 1418 King St, Portsmouth, Va.
“That the correct date of the death of Mattison Knight … is Friday, August 23, 1907 … If a different date appears in my declaration in this case, it is due to my bad memory and the trouble I was having at the time of making the declaration”

Questionnaire (Form 3-422), 2 April 1908
Names and post-office addresses of officers and comrades

Name	Rank	Present Post-Office Address
Henry Copeland		716 Queen St, Portmsouth, Va.
George Haley		Collins, Drew Co, Arkansas
Charles Jones		313 Queen St, Norfolk, Va.
Howell Jones		Worrell, Southampton Co, Va
Nathan Mosely	Corpl	42 Homer St, Providence, RI
Peter Rickman		RFD Box 1, Norfolk, Va.
Wm Reed	Corpl	Sol Home, Elizabeth City Co, Va
Henry Smith		Link, Norfolk Co, Va.
Jacob Sugars		Franklin, Southampton Co., Va.
Thomas Williams		Wilcox Wharf, Chas City Co, Va.*

* Wilcox Wharf, Charles City County, Virginia is on the James River and west of Wilson’s Wharf, Charles City County, Virginia.

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Israel Sutton, Company I

This is a very thin pension application based on Invalid status. That said, there are details about his life viz time and place.

Invalid — 729,714 / 736,496

Service Affidavit, Israel Sutton, 6 June 1891
“his post-office address is Hertford, County of Perquimans, State of North Carolina … enlisted as a private … promoted to Sargent of my Company during said service

Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Israel Sutton, 4 August 1898
[married] wife is dead
[when, where, by room] “married before the late war & wife died August 1898”
[record of marriage] no
[previously married] no
[living children] “Jacob Sutton born in 1853. Sally Drew born in 1855. Agnes Riddick born 1860. Clara Sutton born in 1861. Lavinia Sutton born July 12, 1867.”

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