John Butt, Company H

A two-year-old and her mother were in their enslaver’s household when he moved to Norfolk County, Virginia. Former members of the household and neighborhood would present statements in affidavits and depositions. The soldier’s wife was visiting their children in New York when her husband died. In the confusion, misinformation was shared among friendsa and neighbors. Corroborating statements established proof of relationship.

Invalid — 838, 205 / 591,430
Widow — 683,709 / 479,593, Eliza Butt

Neighbor’s Affidavit, William Bray and Anna Banks, 22 November 1890
[Bray] 54 years old; Kemp Lane, Norfolk, Va;
[Banks] 50 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia; post-office address, 250 Charlotte St, Norfolk, Va.
“well and personally acquainted with John Butt for 20 years, and 21 years, respectively … we have worked together for the better part of these years … we are longshoremen … we live within six hundred yards of his house and have seen him daily for twelve or more years and are intimate with him … we testify that he is a man of good moral character and of good repute, and we have reason to believe that his disabilities are the result of any vicious habits.”

Neighbor’s Affidavit, Isaac Odum and Thomas Keeling, 18 December 1890
[Odum] 53 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia; post-office address, 66 Fourth St, Norfolk, Va.
[Keeling] residence, Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia; post-office address, 22 Johnson Ave
“well and personally acquainted with John Butt for 25 years, and 25 years, respectively … we are longshoremen and mainly laborers. We work with John Butt, knew him intimately, see him every day when he is able to work and live so near to his home that we call there when he does not make his appearance … He is not given to vicious habits or practices that we know of, and is respected, a good man in the community in which he lives.”

Transcript from the Record of Death in the City of Norfolk, John Butt, 25 October 1898
[Name] John Butt
[Date of death] 17 September 1898
[Age] 53 years
[Color / Sex / Condition / Occupation] colored – male – widower – laborer
[Birthplace] Virginia
[Years residence in city] “not given”
[Cause of death] Heart disease
[Place of death] Norfolk, Va.
[Duration of last illness] “not given”
[Place of burial] West Point Cemetery
[Medical attendant] E.V. Newton, MD
[Undertaker] Jas. N. Jones

General Affidavit, Nash Cowel, 26 October 1898
55? years old; residence, Norfolk, Virginia; post-office address, 8 Goff St, Norfolk, Va.
“acquainted with John Butt and with his widow, the claimant, before the said soldier enlisted in the army; that he was very intimately acquainted with them from the time said Butt enlisted; that they were married in April 1864 … that at time of soldier’s death, claimant was visiting a daughter in Philadelphia New York and was not present at time of said death which was very sudden, the soldier being found dead in his bed .. that claimant owns no property of any description and has no source of income; that there is no one legally bound to support her and she is supported entirely by her manual labor”

General Affidavit, Mary Tillet, 26 October 1898
49? years old; residence, Norfolk, Virginia; post-office address, 3 First Street (Springfield), Norfolk, Va
“well and intimately acquainted with John Butt and his widow, the claimant, for nearly all her life; that she was not present at the marriage of said parties, but was living in Norfolk at the time and was aware that such marriage had taken place … she remembers that it took place in the Spring of the year and that it was towards the end of the war … the record of death shows said John to have been a widower; that such record is incorrect … at the time of his death [the claimant] was visiting her daughter in New York and was not here to give proper information”

General Affidavit, Eliza Butt, 26 October 1898
52 years old; residence, Norfolk, Virginia; post-office address, 255 Queen St, Norfolk, Va
“that she was married to said John Butt on on Apr 24, 1864 that at that time no licenses were issued to colored people and there is no official record of said marriage; that she was married by Rev JN Mars and has in her possession the certificate given her by him, to which Randal Hodges is attesting witness; that she can find neither said Hodges nor Mars and supposes they are dead … that her name before marriage was Eliza Ferebee”

General Affidavit, Mary J. Wilson, 22 May 1899
70 years old; post-office address, 251 Queen St, Norfolk,Va
“I have lived a neighbor to the claimant, Eliza Butt, for the past fifteen years, and for the past six years, I have lived the second house from her … the claimant was not at home when her said husband died. She had left home about four weeks before his death to visit their children in NY and before leaving on said visit she employed me to take care of her house, and to look after her said husband during her absence … [her husband] remained well until within a few hours of his death and when he died Daniel Langley telegraphed for the claimant to return home and she did so at once and took charge of the burial”

Deposition, Mary Tillett, 22 May 1899
49 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co, Va; post-office address, 3 1st Street, Springfield, Norfolk, Va.
“I have known the claimant, Eliza Butt, all my life. I belonged to Dr. Wm. Wood, who owned the claimant and her mother, Rebecca Ferebee. In 1861 Dr. Wood moved all of us out near Hickory Ground, Norfolk Co, Va and when we moved out in said neighborhood I met and made the acquaintance of John Butt … he was not fully grown … I was not present at the marriage … I was living in Norfolk, just across the river when they married in Portsmouth, Va. … When I heard of his death I went to the house and so [sic] his body. This was the next morning after he died, and I was there the next day a few minutes after the claimant returned from NY. I also attended the funeral.”

Deposition, Charles Grandy, 22 May 1899
57 years old; post-office address, 20 Pollard St, Norfolk, Va.
“I have known the claimant, Eliza Butt, all her life. I belonged to Dr. William Wood who married a daughter of the late Ezekiel Troutman of Camden Co, NC, and this claimant, and her mother Rebecca Ferebee came to Dr. Wood through his wife.”

Deposition, Edward Troutman, 22 May 1899
80 years old; post-office address, 14 2nd St, Springfield, Norfolk, Va.
“I have known the claimant, Eliza Butt, all her life. … After claimant’s birth we came to Norfolk to live and I have lived here ever since. … I was not present at the marriage .. I did not attend [John Butt’s] funeral”

Deposition, Eliza Butt, 22 May 1899
“I was born in Camden Co., NC as I have been told but was reared in the City of Norfolk, Va having been brought here when less than two years old My parents were George and Rebecca Ferebee both dead … [my husband] was born and reared near Hickory Ground, Norfolk Co., Va. … When the Civil War broke out my owner Dr Wood, dead, left Norfolk moved his colored people, out near Hickory Ground, Va and I had lived there about two years before I married John Butt, who was owned by John Berryman, dead, then living near Hickory Ground. I had known my husband about two years prior to our marriage. … He died in the house where I now live, and where I have lived ever since his death.”

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George Butler, Company C

The soldier “ran away to enlist and changed his name so as to throw his ‘master’ off the track … when he enlisted he took his mother’s name.” This application is chockful of details about his family’s life on Maryland’s Western Shore e.g. enslavement, the Catholic Church, re-marriage, blended families.
Note: St. Mary’s County is on Maryland’s Western Shore — not the Eastern Shore as originally published — LEA

Invalid — 693,110 / 569,175
Widow — 618,085 / 467,221, Winnie Butler
Minor — 681,552 / 493,932

Deposition, Robert Milliard, 22, July 1898
60 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, St. Inigoes, St Mary’s Co, Maryland
“I served in Company C … We enlisted at the same time and served together. I knew him before enlistment. His true name was not Butler but Gantt. He ran away to enlist and changed his name so as to throw his ‘master’ off the track … after he came home, he was known as Gantt.”

Deposition, Ellis M. Magill, 20 July 1898
29 years old; occupation, justice of the peace; post-office address, Fishing Point, St. Mary’s Co., Maryland
“I have known the claimant for about 12 or 13 years. I also knew George Butler her husband who served in Co C 1st USC Cav. … The claimant remained his widow till last April when she was married to Benj Chase. She has three children by soldier all of whom are living … She was married to the soldier before I knew her consequently I have nothing relative to the fact.”

Deposition, Winnie Butler, 21 July 1898
about 54 years old; occupation, housekeeper; post-office address, Fishing Point, St. Mary’s Co., MD
“I was the widow of George Gant who served in Co C 1st USC Cav under the name of George Butler … when he enlisted he took his mother’s name which was Butler … Soldier died April 30, 1895 and I remained his widow until April 11, 1898 when I was married to Benjamin Chase at St Inyoes [sic] Manor by Rev Wm P Hamilton, SJ Pastor of St Nicholas Church … my three children by soldier whose names and dates of birth are as follows:
Mary C Gantt was born Dec 11, 1879
Annie M Gantt ” ” ” April 16, 1882
Mary Victoria ” ” ” Aug 2, 1886.
“I had the care and custody of these children from the time of soldier’s death up to my re-marriage.They are all living.
“I was married to George Gannt, February 2, 1890 by Father Dibitostio pastor of St. Nicholas Church. We both had had a prior marriage
“My maiden name was Winnie Hopewell and I was born a slave and raised on the Tuxon [?] River in this county and was married to John Dent Spink on Easter Sunday 1859. At least it was two years before the war broke out. We were both slaves but were married in St. Andrews PE church by ceremony.”
“This was my first marriage and my husband lived till along about the middle of the war when he died. I cannot give the exact date of his death … Butler had also been married before. His first wife’s name was Sarah Carroll, a slave girl, I never knew her. She died while he was in the army. … the records of St. Nicholas Church where we were married were destroyed by fire. … Wm. Campbell and S. Joseph T. Gough of St. Inyeos [sic], MD both knew him before, in and after service.
“Samuel Thomas, California, MD, is the only person living who was present at the marriage. I do not know whether the minister is living or not. I suppose him to be dead as he was an old man when he left his part of the country.
“Q. By whom can you show that your first husband was dead prior to your marriage to soldier?
A. Mrs. Mary Blake, California, Md
George N. Thomas
Sam’l Thomas
John Bean (Mr. Bean was too sick to testify).
“Q: By whom can you show the fact and date of death of soldier’s first wife?
A. Mrs. Sam’l Thomas
Saml Thomas and Mrs George Thomas
“Q. By whom can you show dependence?
A. Mr. EM Magill and Mr. John W. Jones“

Deposition, Mary Blake, 23 July 1898
occupation, housekeeper; post-office address, California, St. Mary’s Co., MD
“I have known the claimant ever since she was a baby. I knew her father and mother. Her name was Winnie Hopewell. Her first husband was John Dent Spinks. He belonged to Mrs. Frank Abel. Spinks died not far from here but I cannot fix the date but it was after the war but not very long. I was present when he died and attended his funeral. After Spinks died she married Gantt. He belonged to Mr. Henry Carroll (since dead). I never heard him called Butler but knew him as Gant’s. I was not present at her marriage to this man, but I was invited to the wedding but did not go … saw them right after marriage and lived close neighbor to them. …. She is a nice respectable woman. Gantt was also married once before he married Winnie. I cannot say just when his first wife died but it was a smart while before he married the claimant. Gantt and Winnie were lawfully married. Gantt was a Catholic and Winnie got to be one too after a while.
“The Catholics are very particular and will not marry people unless everything is all right”

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Benjamin Burr alias Benjamin Nash, Company E**

This veteran served in the Union Navy before he joined the Union Army. Prior to his military service, he’d been enslaved in North Carolina. When the war ended, he settled in Mississippi. This pension application includes information about his wife, parents, and children as well as harrowing descriptions of his battle injuries and details about the enslaved and their enslavers. Last week’s post included research notes from documents dated 1895-1898; this week’s post includes research notes from documents dated 1916-1921.

Invalid –707,728 / 898,171
Widow — 1,085,609 / 830,632, Martha Ann Burr

Widow’s Application for Pension, Martha Burr, 26 October 1916
post-office address, 327 Broadway St., Greenville, Mississippi
“She was married to the said Benj Burr on the 19th day of January 1868 at Issaquena Co in the state of Mississippi… her name before said marriage Martha Young.
“Also personally appeared J. Henry Bevins, residing at Greenville, Miss, and Patsy Smith, residing at Greenville, Miss… know her to be the lawful widow of Benjamin Burr who died on the 23 day of Oct 1916″

General Affidavit, Harry P. Pittman, 2 December 1916
“I have known Martha A. Burr and her husband Benjamin Burr for many years here in Washington Co … they were married Jan 19, 1868″

General Affidavit, Martha Ann Burr, 12 December 1916
70 years old; residence, Greenville, Mississippi
“I was married to Benjamin Burr under the name of Martha Ann Young on the 19th day of January 1868 … but through some error his name seems to have been given as Burris but his name is Benjamin Burr”

General Affidavit, Paul Young, 26 March 1917
67 years old
“I have known Martha Burr for 51 years or more for I was born on the same plantation in Issaquena County … and I was present at the marriage in January 1868”

General Affidavit, Diannah Young, 26 March 1917
67 years old; address, Greenville, Mississippi
“I know Martha Burr and Benjamin Burr well here in Issaquena County … I was present at the marriage in January 1868 … I was at his funeral on the 24th 1916 … his death October the 23 1916”

General Affidavit, Martha Burr, 1 August 1917
71 years old; address, 327 Broadway, Greenville, Mississippi
“I was born on the Holly Ridge Plantation in Issaquena County, Miss. a slave and was owned by Mr. Duncans. My mother and father were all slaves and no records of slaves were kept in those days of slaves but my mother told me when I married in January 1868 I was in my 21 years of age and she in dead now over 35 years ago and my father died 6 years before she died and all the older people are dead that could tell anything about my birth. No book or other records are kept of slaves here.”

General Affidavit, H.H. Pittman and Alex Parker, 24 December 1918
[Pittman[ 55 years old; residence, Baleshed [?], Issaquena County, Mississippi
[Parker] 55 years old; residence, Mayersville, Issaquena County, Mississippi
“[Burr] while with several others was detailed to mend the telegraph wire running from Fort Powhatan to a place called ‘Flood’ or ‘Floods.'”

Application for Reimbursement, Dan Burr, 4 March 1921
“Dan Burr … 37 years … resident of Greenville, Washington County, Mississippi … in the last sickness and burial of Martha Ann Burr … on account of the service of Benjamin Burr …
1- pensioner, Martha Ann Burr
2 – relationship, widow
3 – n/a
4 – children under 16 years old, no
5 – still living, no
6 – sick or death benefit paid on pensioner’s account, no
7 – life, accident, or health insurance, no
8 – insurance company, n/a
9 – beneficiary, n/a
10 – beneficiary’s relationship, n/a
11 – premium – n/a
12 – premium by non-pensioner, n/a
13 – executor or administrator, no
14 – money, real estate, personal property, no
15 – character and value of property, n/a
16 – assessed value of real estate, none
17 – disposal of real estate, n/a
18 – unendorsed pension check, no
19 – relation to deceased pensioner, son
20 – married, yes
21 – cause of death, acute indigestion
22 – date last sickness began, December 12, 1920
23 – date when caretaking required, December 12, 1920
24 – name and post-office address of physician, Dr. J.H. Miller, Greenville, Mississippi
25 – person who nursed pensioner, Lula Johnson
26 – pensioner’s residence at last illness, Greenville, Mississippi
27 – place of death, Greenville, Mississippi
28 – date of death, December 19, 1920
29 – burial, Greenville, Mississippi
30 – additional request for payment, no
31 – expenses

Names	Nature of Expense	Paid or Unpaid	Amount
J.H. Miller	Physician	Partially Paid	8.00
Taylor Drug Store	Medicine	Paid	3.00
None	Nursing and Care
Delta Undertaking Co	Undertaking	Partially Paid	237.00
None	Livery
None	Cemetery
None	Other expenses

32 – a complete list of expenses, yes; post-office address, 501 Peach Tree St, Greenville, Washington County, Mississippi; [claimant’s signature]

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Benjamin Burr alias Benjamin Nash, Company E*

This veteran served in the Union Navy before he joined the Union Army. Prior to his military service, he’d been enslaved in North Carolina. When the war ended, he settled in Mississippi. This pension application includes information about his wife, parents, and children as well as harrowing descriptions of his battle injuries and details about the enslaved and the enslavers. Today’s post includes research notes from documents dated 1895-1898; next week’s post will include research notes from documents dated 1916-1921.

Invalid –707,728 / 898,171
Widow — 1,085,609 / 830,632, Martha Ann Burr

General Affidavit, Geo E.W. Grant and James Barney, 29 March 1895
[Grant] 47 years old; residence and post-office address, Greenville, Washington Co., Mississippi … well and intimately acquainted with Benjamin Burr”
[Barney] 28 years old; residence and post-office address, Greenville, Washington Co., Mississippi … well and intimately acquainted with Benjamin Burr”

Deposition, Benjamin Burr, 14 June 1895
57 years old; no occupation; residence and post-office address, 219 Broadway, Greenville, Mississippi
“I was sergeant of Co E 1 US Col’d Cav. I enlisted at Newbern, NC, in Dec 1864 was mustered in at Camp Hamilton, 3 miles from Fort Monroe, Va., was discharged at Brazos Santiago, Texas, and was mustered out at New Orleans in 1866. Before that I had served in the navy on the sloop Granite. I enlisted at Portsmouth, NC in 1862 and was mustered in at Newbern and was discharged at Newbern in Dec 1864.
“I was bred and born on Ocries Island [?], NC and belonged to the Jackson family. They lived on the sea-coast and were fishermen and oystermen. Portsmouth, NC was 10 or 12 miles from our place. There is no one in this county who knew me in NC. Before I went into the army I had always followed the water as a boatman and fisherman.”

“The company was stationed on Fort Powhatan on the James River in Virginia and had 35 miles of telegraph wire to keep up.
[In Winter of 1865 in February, he and the company had been out – twice – to replace wire that had been cut] … were about 3/4 mile below City Point when we were fired upon by the rebels. At the second volley my horse became frightened and rode under an oak tree dragging me from the saddle. I fell on a stump on the side of the road. I fell on my left side The horse whirled around and walked on my left foot crippling one of my toes …. Bugler Henry Meekins and Corp[oral] Steve White are the men who wanted to assist me. I lay in the snow under a holly bush that day until sundown when I tried to make my way to camp but could not. By ten o’clock next day I had managed to almost reach the picket.
“Of the names you have read to me Noah Ballot, Amos Simmons, Ransom Sutton, Willis Warren, Henry Charity and Henry Miggins were with the company on that occasion. … [The doctor who treated Burr was from] a 90-day Massachusetts regiment which was camped with us. … I got the asthma and my feet were frostbitten … I was treated in Virginia … After we got to Texas I was treated by our own doctor, Woodland.
“I was given a medal by General Graper [?] through Lt Col Sites at Brazos Santiago, Texas the last year I was in the army. (claimant here displays his medal) It is a silver medal with the inscription Distinguished for Courage Campaign before Richmond 1864, and on the reverse side, Ferro 115 libertas pervenent [?], US Colored Cavalry ] This was given me for my conduct at Petersburg, Va.

“After being mustered out in New Orleans, I went to Shepperd’s Landing, Miss and lived on Mr. Richardson‘s Esperanza owned by Andrew & Fred Turbull and lived there 8 months next to Duncans‘ Holly Ridge place, I’m below Mayersville and lived there 8 years, from there to Turnbull’s Lakeside on Sterle’s Bayou, four miles from Skippers and staid [sic] 1 year, to Holly Ridge 2 years, and then to Greenville, where I have been ever since. Before coming to Greenville I was a farmer. After coming to Greenville I was a raftsman on the river for seven years and for the last five years I have been unable to work …. [was treated by] Dr. Blackman who lived near Glen Allen, Miss. He died about 1868. Dr. Farris was the next doctor who treated me. He lives in Mayersville. Dr. Winslow at Bend Lamond teated me next. He died 6 ot 7 years ago. Dr. Dunn was the next doctor to treat me, then Dr. Shackelford and then Dr. Pierce. These doctors all live in Greenville.”

“My correct name is Benjamin Burr. I don’t remember my parents but I know my father went by the name of Burr. Some of the people in fact a great many calls me Burl or Burrell and my true name is Burr. My children who can write always sign the name Burr. I never went by the name Catchings. … There is no other family in Greenville named Burr that I know. There are no colored people in Greenville by the name of Catchings that I know of.”

Deposition, Benjamin Burr, 18 July 1895
“I served thirteen months in the Navy … all my service was on the Granite. I lost my discharge in Virginia during the war. The Granite was lying about four miles from Portsmouth, NC when myself, Sam Neal and Jim Howard went aboard of her as contrabands We had been on the Granite about a week when the captain asked us if we did not want to enlist. We said yes and he told us to go on duty and when we went to Newbern he would have us sworn in. When we went to Newbern we went aboard the flagship the Hatzel and were sworn in. The Granite was a small sloop which carried only one big gun. She had three officers but I don’t remember their names. There were about fourteen in the crew. Sam Neal, Jim Howard, August Johnson, were among the crew. I received $14 per month. I served under the name of Benjamin Burr. … I was rated as a landsman or seaman … We lay at anchor at Portsmouth on the blockade nearly all the time.”

Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Martha Burr, 3 July 1898
[married] Martha Burr, Martha Young
[when, where, by whom] by Charles Lewis, Davis Place in Issaquenah Co., Miss;
[record] license
[previous marriage] none
[living children] Deala Burr, Nov 7, 1874; Mattia Burr, Dec 24, 1876; Alic Burr, Dec 30, 1877; James Burr, 1879; Ed Burr, Nov 30, 1883; Mary Burr, Nov 9, 1885

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Jacob Bayless, Company A

Basic items in this veteran’s application are inconsistent with facts pertaining to the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry. Perhaps the most glaring discrepancy between the soldier’s 1862 enlistment date and issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation which authorized the participation of African American men in the Union Army. Was this a faulty memory? Did he serve in the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry or another battle unit? In which regiments did Dobson and Underwood command troops? Did the regiment engage in combat at Saltville?

It’s vital to seek information from other sources such as the National Park Service Soldiers and Sailors Database which has basic information an individual’s service and regimental history. Another source abbreviated as the CMSR could be used to confirm or refute the applican’ts claims. The researcher can access these records on microfilm or Internet Archive or with a fee-based database.

— Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served with the United States Colored Troops [microform]: 1st through 5th United States Colored Cavalry, 5th Massachusetts Cavalry (Colored), 6th United States Colored Cavalry (1997). Reel 0001 – 1st United States Colored Cavalry: Ackess, Alexander – Bom, John H. at https://archive.org/details/compiledmili0001akesunit/page/n5 ). There isn’t a match for Jacob Bayliss in this regiment.

Invalid – 970,262 / —–
Widow — 228,889 / —–, Martha J. Bayless

Declaration for Invalid Pension, Jacob Bayless, 18 July 1890
47 years old; residence, Jonesboro, Washington County, Tennessee; post-office address, Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee
enrolled 14 February 1862 in Co. A, 1st U.S. C. Cav. commanded by Col. Dobson and the Company by Captain Underwood. I was always a Private … served at least 90 days and was furloughed after being wounded at saltworks in Va from hospital at Petersburg, Va. and recovered from wound until after regiment was mustered out, expected to get discharge now unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of gun shot wound of right leg, on the inner side of the leg halfway between the ankle & knee, and rheumatism and kidney disease, also frostbite feet”
“Also personally appeared A.M. Stuart residing at Jonesboro, Tenn. and R.M. May residing at Jonesboro, Tenn…. their acquaintance with him for 10 years and 10 years, respectively”

General Affidavit, Jacob Bayless, 20 August 1891
51 years old; residence Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee
“I was wounded in right leg at Saltville on or about Dec 1864 while in action. I got my feet frostbitten about the same time that I incurred the gunshot of right leg. All done while on [illegible] raid.”

Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Martha J. Bayless, 22 February 1896
46 years old; residence, Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee; post-office address, Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee
“[the soldier] died November 12, 1895 … she was married under the name of Martha J. Hughs to said Jacob Bayless on the 12 day of Oct A.D. 1871, by H.B. Hancock [?], M.D. at Brown’s [?] Creek, Tenn. … names and dates of birth of all children of the soldier, now living, and under sixteen years of age … Sarah Bayless, born Aug 24th, 1880″
“Also personally appeared Chas. S. Mason, residing at Jonesboro, Tenn., and J.R. Russell, residing at Jonesboro, Tenn. … an acquaintance with her of about three years and about three years, respectively”

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