Charles Cooke, Company K**

The statements in this pension application are interesting because of their repetitive yet contradictory nature. However, a lot of his comrades and their locations are identified; a former employer who entered the Confederate Army is included. Last week’s post included research notes from documents dated April 1889 – May 1895. This week’s post includes research notes from documents dated June 1895-June 1898.

Invalid — 700,141 / 528,899,

Deposition, Peter Fentress, 3 June 1895
near 56 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, WH Miles, Broad Creek road & Park ave

Deposition, Squire Bright, 18 June 1895
54 years old; occupation, fishing and crabbing; post-office address, 313 Dinwiddie St., Portsmouth, Va.
“I did not know him before enlistment and have never seen him since discharge”

Deposition, Isaac Manning, 29 June 1895
about 61 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, c/o WH Miles, Park Ave, Norfolk, Va.
“I am pretty certain there was a man of that name in the co. I don’t remember the man”

Deposition, Edward R. Pitt, 3 July 1895
about 56 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Bowers Hill, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I was present with my co. all the time except for 2 weeks about Sept 1864 … Don’t remember even the name.
“I was in the skirmish this side of the Chickahominy Swamp (don’t know that the place was called Bottom Bridge) about the latter part of April 1864 … no member of Co K 1st USC Cav received a wound of left cheek”

Deposition, Thomas Riddick, 6 July 1895
55 years old; occupation, gardening; post-office address, 1437 King St., Portsmouth, Va.
“I cannot remember the clmt Chas Cook”

Deposition, James Forman, 9 July 1895
77 years old; occupation, “laborer when able to work”; post-office address, Hayes, Gloucester Co, Va.
“I remember that thre was a man named Chas Cook in Co K, 1st USC Cav but do not now remember the man … I was in the fight at Chickahominy Swamp”

Deposition, Jerry Wilkins, 13 July 1895
about 73 years old; occupation, none; post-office address, Nat’l Soldiers Home, Va.
“No member of our company was wounded in the fight at Chickahominy Swamp. I was there.”

Deposition, Sampson JL Whiteman, 21 August 1895
59 years old; post-office address, Buena Vista, Polk Co., Oregon
“I am not in trade or occupation but am disabled.
“I was Captain of Company K 1st US Colored Vol Cavalry. I was with that Company all the time it was in service except during a very brief interval.
“My memory here is very imperfect and cannot remember him very distinctly. I think however he was a short man. I have some recollection of some defect with one of his eyes. I think it was a squint.”
“My recollection now, is that I had two, if not three of my men wounded there but I do not remember who they were as I clearly recall to mind the event I think one man was wounded in the head another in his hand and another in his leg …. I have not seen Charles Cook since our discharge and don’t think I have heard from him since the war.”
“I have no company records. They were burned in my house in Iowa in 1868 or 9.”

Deposition, Stephen Riddick, 26 Auguat 1895
about 67 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, Berkley, Va
“I got acquainted with him shortly after enlistment … I was in the fight at Chickahominy Swamp but do not remember that any member of our co. was wounded … Captain JL Whiteman was in command at the fight above referred to … So far as I know my co was never in a fight at a place called Bottom Bridge.”

Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Charles Cooke, 6 June 1898
[married] Margarette Cooke (nee Chamberlaine)
[when, where, by whom] “about 13 years ago King Wm Co, Va., Rev. James Weatherly (Oak Grove Church)
[marriage record] King William Co court house
[previous marriage] “Georgianna, Hanover Co, Va, About 20 years ago”
[living children] “James Cook (don’t know date), Bartlett Cook (don’t know date of birth), Annie Cook about 9 years old”

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Charles Cooke, Company K*

The statements in this pension application are interesting because of their repetitive yet contradictory nature. However, a lot of his comrades and their locations are identified; a former employer who entered the Confederate Army is included. This week’s post includes research notes from documents dated April 1889 – May 1895. Next week’s post will include research notes from documents dated June 1895-June 1898.

Invalid — 700,141 / 528,899,

Declaration for Original Invalid Pension, Charles Cook, 17 April 1889
41 years old; post-office address, Peaks Turnout, Va.
“In the line of duty near Petersburg in the State of Virginia, on or about …. March 1864, he was wounded by explosion of a shell in left cheek splintering the inferior maxillary bone, cutting muscle etc and causing loss of left eye first and affecting right eye also. … [treated at] City Point, Va. & at Brazos Santiago, Tex … resided in the County of Hanover, State of Va. … his occupation has been that of a laborer”

General Affidavit for any Purpose, Chas Cooke, 4 February 1893
residence, Peakes Turnout, Va.
“My first physician after discharge was Dr. Talley who treated me until 1867 when Dr. Thos. H Kinney commenced to treat me. Dr. Talley died in 1872 or 1873. Dr. Kinney resides now at Newport News, Va. … Dr. Benson treated me from 1880 to 1884 … and he died in 1886. Dr. Thos E. Williams treated me past 7 or 8 years and his evidence is on file
“Immediately after discharge I went to Hanover Co, Va. and I resided there until on or about the 10th day of March 1869 when I removed to Caroline Co, Va. where I resided until the middle of Jan 1873 when I moved back to Hanover Co, Va, where I still reside. During my service, I was treated by Surgeon Manual & Asst Surgeon Grey and I was in Regimental Hospital at Bermuda Hundred, Va.”

General Affidavit for any Purpose, Charles Cooke, 24 March 1893
“He has been sick and is too poor to pay his railroad expenses to Hampton. He would be glad to have a Board appointed nearer so that he can attend and be examined. He lived near Hanover Co & about 17 miles from Richmond.”

Deposition, Charles Cooke, 23 May 1895
about 50 years old; post-office address, Ellerson, Hanover Co., Va
“I enlisted at Norfolk, Va. went from there to Ft. Monroe to Camp Mix just before Christmas. From Camp Mix we went to Gloucester Co. after Christmas made a raid and came back. In the spring we went to City Point in a boat. No one went up to the front by way of Williamsburg on our horses. … The only time they took my horse away from me was at City Point after the fall of Richmond. … We fought around at different places, tore up a portion of a RR and captured a wagon train. This all took place before I was wounded of course.”
“We stayed in camp that day and that night we started out on a raid. The camp had no name. We were just camped in the woods …. We came out of a piece of woods in line of battle, over an old field … I enlisted just before Christmas and I was wounded the following spring or summer. I can’t read or write and don’t k now anything about dates, don’t know ABC.”
“I don’t remember anything more except that I felt a pain in my cheek and that I fell. When I recovered my senses I was in an ambulance. I was taken to the Reg’l Hosp’l at Bermuda Hundred … I was the only member of my Co wounded in that fight so far as I know … Did no duty for a long time … I don’t remember who came to see me while I was in Hosp’l. Peter James was my tentmate when we were in Regt’l camp. The 2nd C. Cav was along with us when I was wounded … I did not lose the sight in [my left eye] fully until after we got to Texas. … We were camped on the beach at Brazos Texas and the sun and sand affected my eyes.”
“I was raised in Hanover Co., Va. and belonged to Williams Carter now dead, plenty of people in the neighbohood, plenty of people knew me before the war. … I was paid off at City Point and came here in March. Worked first for BL Winston, then for Mr. Cady now dead. I worked for different people up to ten years ago … I have lived within 10 miles of this neighborhood ever since discharge.”

Deposition, Wm Winston alias Weston, 23 May 1895
about 47 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, near Peakes TO
“I have known the clmt Chas Cooke all my life. We lived about 5 miles apart before the war … I returned to this neighborhood and have lived here ever since, and during that time I have seen clmt on an average of about twice a year. I have also worked with him at times.”

Deposition, Thomas E. Williams, MD, 23 May 1895
58 years old; occupation, physician and Secty Bd of Ex’g Surgeons, RIchmond, Va.
“I have known the clmt Chas Cooke for about 12 years. About 10 years ago he worked for me about a year.”

Deposition, Wm H Chisholm, 24 May 1895
54 years old; occupation hotelkeeper; post-office address, Hanover CH, Hanover Co, Va.
“I have known the clmt Chas Cooke since 1861. Williams Carter was his master”

Deposition, Julian A. Chisholm, 24 May 1895
52 years old; occupation, hotelkeeper; post-office address, Hanover CH, Hanover Co., Va.
“I have known the clmt Chas Cooke some 34 or 35 years … He has worked for me often during the past 25 years…. I saw him frequently up until the time I went into the Confederate Army in 1863.”

Deposition, Bickerton L Winston, 24 May 1895
78 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Hanover CH, Hanover Co., Va.
“I did not personally know the clmt … until after the close of the war. I employed him in 1866 and he worked for me about 12 months, maybe a lititle more.”

Deposition, Peter James, 24 May 1895
about 50 years old
“I have known the claimant Chas. Cooke all my life and he served with me in Co K … when we got back off the field the stretcher bearer carried him to the rear … I see him occasionally now each year, some time ago I used to see him oftener.”

Deposition, Thomas Smothers, 24 May 1895
about 49 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, near Dawn, Caroline Co., Va. “I have known the clmt Chas Cooke all my life, we both belonged to Williams Carter before the war … I was attached to the Howitzer under command of Lt Venable“

Deposition, Anthony Pierce, 24 May 1895
about 56 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, near Dawn, Caroline Co., Va.
“I was at Fort Magruder when he and others of the Regt went out on a scout. I heard of him being wounded and went to see him.”

Deposition,George Johnson, 24 May 1895
about 45 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, French Hays, Gloucester Co., Va.
“I have known the clmt about 40 years and we served together … I went to see him the next day after he was wounded … He can barely go anywhere at night, has to take a stick and feel his way.”

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William Cates, Company I

The soldier died in service in Texas several months after Lee’s surrender. This young man’s mother lived in Petersburg, Virginia and received her mail “care of Freedman’s Savings Bank.”

Mother – 192,719 / —–, Eliza Aubert

Father, Mother, or Orphan Brother’s Application for Army Pension, Act June 6, 1896, 22 December 1870
“Eliza Aubert … age 52 years, residence, Jerusalem Road, Petersburg, Virginia; t of … [the soldier] died in the State of Texas on or about the month of Sept AD 1865 from disease … Her post-office is at Norfolk care of Freedman’s Saving Bank”
“Also personally appeared Andrew Jones and John Coates residents of the County of Norfolk in the State of Virginia”

Sworn Statement, Andrew Jones and John Coates, 22 Decembr 1920
“Her husband’s name was Barm Peters, that she is unable to procure any record evidence and the paternity of her child William Coates”
“Also personally appeared … Andrew Jones and John Coates … say that for twenty years they have been personally acquainted with Eliza Aubert [that the claimant and her husband] continued to live together together until the year 1858 when her husband Barn Peters died and they were recognized and treated as man and wife by the community among whom they lived and they had a son named William Coates who lived and were supported by them … claimant’s name was formerly Eliza Coates but after her husband’s death she moved on a plantation and was owned by a man named Aubert and and assumed his surname, that her husband’s name was Peters after the name of his owner, slaves assuming the surnames of their masters in the community they resided ,,, [claimant] has not remarried since the death of her son … lived near neighbors to them and been frequent visitors at their house”

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Henry Colyer, Company UNA

This widow’s application appeared to be associated with the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry but I realized this wasn’t the case: she lived in St. Louis, the couple was married in Tennessee and documents in her application indicated that he served in the 14th U.S. Colored Troops as an infantryman. Because this person’s application was labeled incorrectly years ago and filed with the wrong regiment, interested partices might never locate this person’s file.

Widow — 516,217 / —–, Maria Blackburn

Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Maria Blackburn, 18 May 1891
45 years old; residence, St. Louis, St. Louis Co., Mo.; post-office address, 1019 Franklin Ave., St. Louis, Mo.
The soldier “died of wounds in Hospital. That she was married under the name Maria Lee to Henry Colyer by col’d minister Bob Belote, at Gallatin, Tenn.

“Also personally appeared Silas Foulkes, residing at St. Louis, Mo. and Rube Rellis, residing at St. Louis, Mo…. an acquaintance with [Maria] for 25 and 22 years, respectively”

Secondary Proof of Marriage, Mary Colyer, 10 July 1892
“My maiden name was Maria Lee, that I was lawfully married to said deceased at Gallatin, County of Davidson, State of Tennessee by Bob Belote, Minister, on or about the 15 day of March, 1855, that I have by said marriage the following children…
Alice born on 10th of August 1856
Henrietta born on 9th April 1858
Maud born on 15h of March 1860″

“there was no license required and no record was kept…. the party who performed the marriage ceremony … died about fifteen years ago… in the military hospital at Murfreesboro, Tennessee of wounds”
“At the same time personally appeared William Ellis and Silas Fawlkes, of the City of St. Louis and State of Missouri … they have known the claimant Maria Colyer and her deceased husband Henry Colyer … for 38 years”

General Affidavit, Henry Blackburn, 19 August 1892
[Blackburn] 46 years old; residence, St. Louis, St. Louis Co., Mo.; post-office address, 3028 LaSalle St., Mo.
“That he was wounded during an engagement with the enemy between Shelbyville and Murfreesboro, Tenn during the summer of 1864 and know that he was sent to General Hospital at Murfreesboro, Tenn where he died from the effects of said wound … The soldier was a member of the 14 USC Inf. I know that above facts from being present with the soldier and having personal knowledge of his being wounded …. The soldier was a member of the 14 USC Inf. I cannot remember the Company.”

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Robert Carter alias Watson Cooper, Company D

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

Widow — 680,095 / —–

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

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

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