Orville Howard, Company I

It was somewhat easier for white officers and their families to have their pension applications approved. Family Bible entries for births, marriages, and deaths could be corroborated with other sources to prove relationships.

Invalid – 495, 059 / 979,556
Widow – 1,083,100 / 826,058, Clara J. Howard

General Affidavit, Charles M. Howard, 29 December 1898
50 years old; post-office address, 59 Quimby Street, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Have known O.L. Howard for years having been in business with him …”
[Note: Another individual’s name “Charles [illegible], aged 20 years …” and signature were struck through — Leslie]

General Affidavit, George W. Morris, 30 December 1898
60 years old; post-office address, 43 Close Place [???], Detroit, Michigan
“I have known Orville L. Howard for the past thirty years. I know that he was in the Mt. Clemens [???] Mich in 1892 suffering from rheumatism and taking baths for treatment of the same. I know this for I visited him there two or three times.

General Affidavit, Orville L. Howard, 1 July 1914
69 years old; post-office address, 142 Wallach Ave., Buffalo, NY
” … there is no public or church record of his birth and no way to prove same other than a leaf [of paper] from the family Bible … This leaf was taken from the family Bible by this soldier some years ago and he does not known where the family Bible is now. [He recalls seeing his name in the Bible] giving his date of birth as July 26, 1844. o

General Affidavit, William H. Smith, 6 September 1912
40 years old; residence, Warsaw, Wyoming Co., NY; occupation, Pastor of the First M.E. Church, Warsaw, NY
“Have examined the church records here and find the following record
O.L. Howard — Farmer — Brockport, NY
Clara J. Morris Warsaw, NY
Married Dec 22nd, 1866 by H.H. Lyman, Pastor”

General Affidavit, Orville L. Howard, 1 July 1914
69 years old; post-office address, 142 Wallach Ave., Buffalo, NY
” … there is no public or church record of his birth and no way to prove same other than a leaf [of paper] from the family Bible … This leaf was taken from the family Bible by this soldier some years ago and he does not known where the family Bible is now. [He recalls seeing his name in the Bible] giving his date of birth as July 26, 1844. o

Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Clara J. Howard, 26 October 1916
“77 years of age … born November 23rd, 1839 at Warsaw, Wyoming Co., NY
“That she is the widow of Orville L. Howard who enlisted August 9, 1862, at Brockport, NY… as 1st Sgt & Cptn. in Company M, 3rd NY Cavalry and was honorably discharged November 22, 1864 …
“That she was married to said soldier December 22, 1866 under the name of Clara J. Morris, at Warsaw, NY by Rev. H.H. Lyman, that she had not been previously married, that he had not been previously married …
“That said soldier died October 20, 1916, at Buffalo, NY …”

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Barney Hutchins alias George Wilmer, Company H

The soldier and his brother John Hutchins alias Levin Wilmer served in the same company. Born free men in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, they worked as watermen on the Chesapeake Bay. The brothers were with a friend Alexander Hazleton alias William Fortney when a group of men attempted to kidnap and enslave them. The three men escaped and enlisted under assumed names. They returned to Maryland’s Eastern Shore at war’s end.

Invalid — 1,137,020 / 1,138,640
Widow — 1,034, 690 / 782,665, Susan Hutchins

General Affidavit, Solomon Price and Elias Bryson, 5 August 1895
[Price] 67 years old;
[Bryson] 69 years old;
“citizens of the town of Centreville, County of Queen Anne, State of Maryland … We have known him for a long while and we know that before he went into the Services of the U.S. he was a strong healthy man and we often met during the war and after the war our intimacy has been kept up for we all have lived together or rather very near each other … this affidavit has been written for us … by Alfred Tucker, at Centreville, Queen Anne County, Maryland “

General Affidavit, Boswell Griffin, 27 December 1895
57 years old; citizen, Wye Mills, Queen Anne’s County, Maryland;
“I am personally acquainted with George Wilmer … We were both in the army but in the same Regt. … We frequently met while we were at Brazos and Brownsville, Texas …”

Questionnaire, Barney Hutchinson, 25 March 1901
[birthplace] near Queenstown, Md
[place of enlistment] Onancock, Va.
[previous residence] in Queen Anne Co., Md
[occupation] laborer
[enslaved] “I was born free.”
[place of discharge] Brazos Santiago, Texas
[residence since discharge] Queen Anne Co., Md.
[occupation] “I work on farms when able.”
[physical description] 5’6″, brown skin, smallpox marks
[a different name in service] no
[different name in pension application] no
[current name] Barney Hutchins

Form 3-442, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, K.C. Kniffen, Chief, Record Division, 27 January 1909
Please furnish the names and post-office addresses of officers and comrades of Co. H, 1st Reg’t U.S.C. Vol. Cav.

Theophilus H. Butler		Surry C.H., Surry Co., Va.
George Goodson		Waterway, Princess Anne Co., Va.
Jeremiah Locker		Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.
Ferdinand Ohlenberger	2d Lieut	c/o Aug. Limberger, San Antonio, Tex.
Albert Page		Oak Tree, York Co., Va.
Richard Pierce	Sergt	c/o J.W. Hosier, Suffolk, Va.
Alfred Simpson		#28 1/2 Lincoln St., Nofolk, Va.
Joseph Scott		Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.
Jerry White		#243 Lincoln St., Hampton, Va.
John H. Williams		Mapleton, Princess Anne Co., Va.

Deposition, Barney Hutchinson alias George Wilmer, 8 September 1909
“65 years, July 8 last” post-office address, Wye Mills, Queen Anne Co., Md.
“I was born in this immediate locality in Queen Anne Co., Md. was about 20 years old when I enlisted, farm laborer … I had no measles scars or marks before I enlisted except scars from smallpox, which I had in Feby 1864.
“I have but one brother John H. Hutchins who served in the same co and regt with me. I have five sisters and half-sisters living. They are:
Sarah Emory wid[ow] of John Emory who lives not far from Centreville.
Tamsey Hurd – widow of Oliver Hurd – lives in the road from Centreville to Wye Neck.
Ann Maria Curtis – 1135 W. Saratoga St., Baltimore, Md.
Rachel Griffin [illegible] Bazwell Griffin lives near here.
Lizzie Saulsbury – wife John Saulsbury – no his widow – she lives in Baltimore, Md. but I cannot give her street address. I lived here until just before I enlisted. Then I went to Baltimore accompanied by my brother John. After we got to Baltimore a man fooled us and got us in a boat to dredge for oysters and took us down the Chesapeake Bay.
“When we got down the Bay – we left the boat – ran away and landed on the Va. shore near a place called Pungoteague – went from there to Onancock, Va. where we met a recruiting office who offered us three hundred ($300) bounty so we enlisted and we were taken to Cherrystone, Va. then by boat to Norfolk County then to Newport News, Va. where we got our money for enlisting and our uniform.
“We did not send the money home we kept it and spent it.
“Q. Anything out of the ordinary happen in the Regt?
A. One man whose name and co. I cannot recall was hung at Ft. Lincoln for killing a man before we got to the Regt. while his co. was in Norfolk.
“Butler and Parker of my co. – given names forgotten – deserted – were caught – tried by court martialed [sic] – put on duty but never received any pay …
“Q. Name the officers of the co.
A. Lt. xx Waterman commanded the co. until we went to Texas. Then he was made Provost Marshall and after that Lt. Whitsell commanded the co. We also had a Lt. xx Smith with us for a time.
No Captains was with the Co. while I was in the Regt.
The Sgts. were Odly. xx Boyd, Sgt. xx Williams, Sgt. xx Scott, Sgt. xx Wright. Copl. xx Butt, Copl. xx Hardess, Copl. xx Wright.
I cannot give first names of any of these men or address.
“I remember the following members of the Co. Levin Smith, John Williams, “Bob” Furby, Arthur Webb, Isaac Gardner, xx Wingfield, Bob Hughes, xx Albert. I think he was made Copl. while we were in Texas. Noah [illegible], Abraham Henry. I do not know where any of these men are — never saw them before I enlisted, have not seen one of them since. They were mostly from Va. Copls. Butt — and Sgt. Boyd did live in Norfolk — so they said — before they enlisted.
“I saw no one from Queen Anne Co., Md while I was in the service …”
“Q. Why did you change your name when you enlisted. Because I had run away from the oyster boat and was afraid I might be caught. I do not know why I selected the name George Wilmer rather than some other alias. I knew plenty of people named Wilmer in this section of Md. I was freeborn.”

Letter from Special Examiner, 17 September 1909
“In connection with this claim I have also investigated the claim of John H. Hutchins alias Levin Wilmer … a brother of the pensioner George Wilmer; the report in both cases being mailed at the same time.
“The evidence in these two claims should be considered together.
“I intended to have taken both [statements] the same day so that they might not have an opportunity to coach or communicate with each other but Barney was away from home and it was almost night before he could be located — too late for me to return to the locality and secure his brother’s testimony on the same day.
“Barney is the brightest of the two brothers and seemed to be able to give a finely detailed history of his service, considering he was called upon without warning. He cannot read or write and there is no roster and there is no roster or other history of his Regiment on the peninsula so far as I can [illegible].
“I am therefore inclined to believe the statement he has made is based upon his memory alone.
“While he states he met no one of his former acquaintances and friends in the army except his brother John H. and Alex Hazleton alias Mr. Fortney.”
“He is an encyclopedia of information about soldiers who enlisted from Queen Anne Co., Md. but he was never given information adverse to a claiamant and sometimes his information is not correct so I do not know how much reliance to place in his testimony in this case.
“The Eastern Shore of Va. locality described by Hazleton I know well and the George Powell he refers to was a local merchant … Powell died some ten years ago. I did not have pensioner and his brother go with me to Hazleton as they are poor, John very poor and disabled … Hazleton is not a pensioner, nor an applicant and seemed unbiased in his manner.”

Declaration of Pension, Barney Hutchins, 27 May 1912
67 years old; residence, Carmichaels, Queen Anne, Maryland; post-office address, Carmichaels, Queen Anne, Maryland
“that he is the same person who enrolled at Nan Cock [sic], Va. under the name of George Wilmer … that he was born July 8th, 1844 … his several places of residence have been Queen Anne County, Maryland … ”

Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Susan Hutchins, 26 September 1914
65 years old; “she is the widow of Barney Hutchins … who died on the 10th day of September A.D. 1914 … that she was married under the name Susan Little … in January 1889 by Rev. _____ Lee … at or near Carmichael, Q.A. Co., Md.
“Also personally appeared Frederick Nichols, residing at Centreville, Md, and Daniel Hutchins, residing at Carmichael, Md. … an acquaintance with her of 40 years and all his life, 40 years, respectively … “

General Affidavit, John H. Hutchins and Rachel E. Griffin, 6 [8?] October 1914
[Hutchins] 72 years old; of Queenstown
[Griffin] 65 years old; of Centreville
“citizens of the County of Queen Anne, State of Maryland …
That they were intimately acquainted with Barney Hutchins and Susan Little from the time said parties became of marriageable age up to the time of their marriage … that said parties were married about the year 1869 in Queen Anne County, Maryland by a minister named Lee …”

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John Hutchins alias Levin Wilmer, Company H

The soldier and his brother Barney Hutchins alias George Wilmer served in the same company. Born free men in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, they worked as watermen on the Chesapeake Bay. The brothers were with a friend Alexander Hazleton alias William Fortney when a group of men attempted to kidnap and enslave them. The three men escaped and enlisted under assumed names. They returned to Maryland’s Eastern Shore at war’s end.

Invalid — 1,132,138 / 917,423

General Affidavit, Robert Scott and Frank Moore, 5 June 1893
[Scott] 57 years old; citizen of Wye Mills, Queenanes [sic], Md. … I have been knowing Levin Wilmer for forty years …
[Moore] 50 years old; citizen of Wye Mills, Queenanes [sic], Md. … have been knowing Levin Wilmer for the last twenty years …”

Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Louisa Wilmer, 4 June 1898
[married] yes, Louisa Wilmer Louisa Scott
[when, where, by whom] April 1864; Rev. M Smith; Centreville
[record?] had no children; consent of master
[previously married] no
[living children] no

Deposition, Barney Hutchins alias Geo. Wilmer, 8 September 1909
65 years old (July 4 last); post-office address, Wye Mills, Md.
“I served under the name of George Wilmer. My correct name is Barney Hutchins. My brother John H. Hutchins enlisted at the same time I did in the same co & regt under the name of Levin William … We served together – were discharged together – and came home together – and this has been our home ever since we changed our names because we were afraid the captain of the oyster boat would capture us.
“He is two years and four days older than I am – somewhat shorter than I am … my [enlistment] certificate is all right except as to place of birth”
[Note: Two witnesses were Effie Hutchins and Fannie Hutchins — Leslie]

Deposition, Laura Hutchins, 9 September 1909
“I don’t know my age” … post-office address, RFD Queenstown, Md. “I am the wife of John H. Hutchins … during the war I remember he left in fall of the year … and I never heard anything more of him until after the war had closed when he came back home wearing citizens clothes but had his army clothes with him.
“[He and his brother] had been wanting to go in the army before they left.”
[Note: A witness was Lorenzo Griffin — Leslie]

Deposition, Rachel F. Griffin, 9 September 1909
“I don’t know my age. I was about 12 years of age when the war commenced.
“P.O. RFD is Queenstown, Md.
“I have two brothers living, John H. Hutchins and Barney Hutchins. Both live near me. Both born and raised and always lived in this locality except when they were in the army.”
[Note: Two witnesses were Richard E. Stansberry and Larenzo Griffin — Leslie]

Deposition, John H. Hutchins, 9 September 1909
67 years old (July 4 last); post-office address, Wye Mills (or Queenstown, Md).
“I have not had my discharge certificate for years — some man came around here said he could get bounties for me and I gave him my discharge certificate and I have not seen it since.
“The man’s name was William B. Hill, W. Fayette St., Baltimore, Md. I do not know his number. He got my discharge just after I returned from the army.
“I never received any bounty, cannot say if Hill collected bounty for me or not. I wrote him several times, but could get no reply.”
“I was born near here in Queen Anne Co., Md. Lived here in this neck until just before I enlisted then I went to Baltimore, Md. where a man got us drunk and said he would take us to the “West Indies” but instead he got us in an oyster boat, and took us down the Chesapeake Bay to [illegible]
“We remained on the boat until Saturday night when we stole one of the [illegible] small boats and rowed ashore and went to Onancock, Va., then we met a recruiting office who offered us $200 to enlist.
“We thought the captain of the oyster boat was after us so we changed our names and enlisted.
“Q. Who do you mean by ‘we’?
A. My brother Barney Hutchins who enlisted as George Wilmer and another man who left here with us, got in the oyster boat and enlisted with us.
“This third man was Alex Hazleton he enlisted as William Fortney. My correct name is John H. Hutchins and I am known by that name by everybody in this locality.
“Q. Why did you choose the name Levin Wilmer as your alias instead of some other name.
A. Because I used to go with a boy named Levin Wilmer (dead) before I enlisted. He and I were chums and I thought of his name as a good one to go by when I enlisted

“The three of us — my brother and Alex Hazleton and I were sent to Norfolk, Va. where we were given our uniforms and then sent to Ft. Magruder, Va. We remained there until the spring, then we went somewhere “on the side” of a R.R. in Va.” and while there Lee surrendered, then we went to Richmond after the “vaccination [sic] of Petersburg” We then went to a place called “Camp Lincoln” and lay there until the “25th Corps” including my Regt. was sent to Texas.
“Our Rgt. was shipped from Ft. Monroe on the ship ‘Meteor‘ to Brazos Santiago, Texas the summer of 1865.
“This was headquarters until we were ordered home to be discharged.
“We came home on the ‘Evening Star’ to City P’t. ,Va. when we were discharged and paid off. I came directly back here by way of Baltimore, Md. and this has been my home ever since.
“My brother, and Alex Hazleton, were the only ones in my Regt. I had known before my enlistment.
“Alex Hazleton came back here with us, remained around here several years, and I have seen him a few times since he left here.
“The last I heard of him he was in Cecil Co., Md. somewhere about Sassafras.
Q. Have you seen any other membes of your co. since the war?
A. I met Bill White who was visiting in Baltimore, Md. but I do not know his address and I met another member of the Co. in Baltimore. but I cannot call his name, this was just after the war.
“Q. Who were the officers of your co?
A. We had no captains. Lt. ____ Waterman — he was promoted to Provost Marshall. Then Lt. ____ Whiteman took command of the Co. in Texas and was in command until our discharge.
I cannot recall the name of the other Lt. He was an Irishman.
The sgts. were. Odly Sgt. ____ Boyd [or Byrd?], Asst. Sgt. Bill White, Sgt. ____ Scott, Sgt. ____ Wright, Sgt. ____ Shorts.
The Crpls were Butts, Wright, Williams — I cannot give first names of these officers and do not know where any of them is.
“The others in the company I can think of ____ Winfield — he was my tentmate. My brother Barney Hutchins – alias George Wilmer also tented with me. I had another tent mate, his name I cannot recall.
A man name ____ Gordon was in the tent next to me.
A man named ____ Bush, and Bob Hughes drilled next to me.
There was a Sgt. Bill Reed who was reduced to the ranks.”
[Note: Two witnesses were Richard E. Stansbery and Lorenzo Griffin — Leslie]

“My mother and father are dead. I have but one brother living — have three full and two half-sisters living. My brother is Barney Hutchins. My sisters are Rachel S. Griffin, Anna Maria Curtis, 1135 W. Saratoga St., Baltimore, Md., Lizzie Salisbury, Balto., Md. My half sisters are Alphonzie Hand and Sarah Emory. …
“I never saw Fred Nichols in service. … The co. was made up almost entirely of natives of Va…. I was freeborn … … I was not quite 22 when I enlisted… I told the recruting office not to let “them dredge men” the oystermen catch us or they would kill us. .. I am married — have been married just once. My wife’s maiden name was Louisa Scott. She was not married before she married me.
“She and I were married in Wye Neck near here by a white preacher whose name I can not recall in Easter holidays 1864. I do not suppose there is any record of this marriage because colored people could not then get license to marry and I do not recall if there is a church record. I think the minister was Episcopalian.

“I made a mistake when I said my wife had not been married before I married her. My wife was the widow of Ben Hicks when I married her. They parted and he died some five or six years ago.”
“I have heard the testimony of my brother Barney Hutchins read — do not desire to cross-examine him.”
[Note: Two witnesses were Richard E. Stanbery and Lorenzo Griffin — Leslie]

Deposition, Frederick Nichols, 10 September 1909
63 years old; post-office address, Catonsville [?], Md. … “I knew [John H. Hutchins] well before his enlistment. We lived in the same section of the county…. I think I had seen him before that at Deep Bottom, Va. when John Ewing of the 39th, his brother-in-law, called my attention to him and his brother Barney.
“When I met them in service, they both had on a cavy uniform and were with the 4th U.S.C. Cav.”
[Note: The document reported that the brothes were with the 4th US Colored Cavalry. I don’t know if the witness misstated the fact or if the clerk recording the testimony made a mistake — Leslie]

Deposition, Alexander Hazleton, 16 September 1909
post-office, Balt, Md.; post-office address, Sassafras, Kent Co., Md.
“I gave my age when I enlistd as eighteen — but in fact was but fifteen. I was born and raised in Queen Anne, Md. near Wye Mills, Talbot Co., Md. … [John H. and Barney Hutchins and Hazleton] were ‘playboys’ together, raised together, enlisted at the same time … served together … discharged at the same time – and came home together and lived near neighbors for about four years after my discharge.
“Since I have been here I have occasionally visited them — have occasionally corresponded with them.
“Saw them last about four years ago. Here from them last, through correspondence, about one year ago. … Barney has had smallpox and his face is marked.”
“[After we deserted the oyster boat] we went with George Powell to Pungoteague where we were offered $300. We did enlist but we only got $200. From Pungoteague we were sent to Norfolk, via Cherrystone, Va.
“We enlisted at Norfolk … I enlisted and served as William Fortney. … I am not a pensioner. I never applied for a pension.”

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Jackson Hodges, Company F

The soldier was born enslaved in Richmond, Virginia and purchased by a man who lived in Portsmouth. The soldier’s wife visited him several times while he was stationed in Fortress Monroe; she saw him off at the dock when the troops were deployed to Brazos Santiago, Texas. After the war the widow was employed as a house servant by the wife of an Ordnance Sergeant. The officer’s wife and granddaughter suspected a visitor to the home was trying to swindle the widow out of money due her from the Pension Bureau.

 

Widow — 410,116 / 350,329, Indiana Hodges

 

Handwritten Statement from E.C. Bainbridge, Postmaster to Fortress Monroe, Post Office, 16 August 1882
“This is to show that a letter addressed to Susan Gibbs (cold) from Pension Agent, Knoxville, Tenn. that has been detained in this office on complaint of one. J.A.H. Armstead, Claim Agent, was delivered to Susan Gibbs, on or about the 25th July 1882.”

 

Deposition, Julia A. Chambers, 16 August 1882
61 years old; residence and post-office address, Fortress Monroe, Elizabeth City County, Virginia
“[She]is acquainted with Susan Gibbs … has known her since July 1866. She has worked for deponent as a house servant by the day at various time during that period …
“Question — Has she had a husband or lived with any man as his wife since you have known her?
Answer — She has not to my knowledge. I have not heard of such a thing. I have heard in fact, you know she has two mulatto children, a boy and a girl.
Question — How do you fix date of your acquaintance with pensioner?
Answer — My husband was Ordnance Sergeant. We came here in June 1866, and got acquainted with pensioner very soon afterwards by employing her to clean up the quarters we moved to. She then informed me she had a husband in Texas who was a soldier, and soon afterwards she informed me of his death, or it is possible she told me he had died in Texas when she first spoke of him….
“Mr. Armistead called at my front gate to see her, she being at the time employed by me cleaning my house. I told her to invite him into the house. She did so. He told her that her son Joseph had insulted him, and appeared to be somewhat excited. He took a letter from his pocket and informed her that her pension claim was allowed and that she would receive her money in a few days; that perhaps it would be directed to herself, and that if she got any papers from the Post Office she must bring it to him, and he would have to go with her to the Custom House at Norfolk and see her paid, and that she would get thirteen hundred dollars. I told him that there would be no need for him to go to Norfolk with her, that I was a pensioner, and if she received her Certificate and Voucher, she could fill out the Voucher here, and a check would be sent to her for the amount. He replied that there was a difference between coloured [sic] and white claims or words to that effect, and reiterated that she must bring the papers to him.  My granddaughter, Mrs. Yeates, told him that she believed he would get his fee, that it would be retained for him by the Pension Agent. H e replied that he was away of that, but there was local fees to which he was entitled. After Armistead left, pensioner sent to the Post Office to see if there was any mail for her and the P.O. sent word that it was but that she would have to call for it herself. She did so and got her Certificate and Voucher. The voucher was opened by my said granddaughter and found to call for $1,806 034/100 as I now remember.”

 

Deposition, Ida M. Yeates, 16 August 1882
28 years old; “She is a granddaughter of Julia A. Chambers, and wife of Thomas G. Yeates, Clerk in the War Dept., Adjutant Gen’ls Office, Washington, DC. She is on a visit to said grandmother,and was present at the interview between Mr. Armistead and Pensioner …
“Question –How long have you know the pensioner?
Answer — I have known her for ten years well and had some knowledge of her several years before that…”

 

General Affidavit, Ann Arrington & Mary Ann Cherry, December 1889
{Arrington] 40 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Glasco [sp?] St. Extended
[Cherry] 50 years old; residence, Portsmouth Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Gordon St. Extended
“Know time and place when [for marriage] … it was before the war 1861 that was on the first day of January 1855 …”

 

General Affidavit, Henry Harper & Solomon Baker, 17 January 1890
[Harper] 69 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Gor[illegible] St. west of Portsmouth, Va.
“he was at the resident [sic] of the soldier Jackson Hodges at the time he was struck for death … [he lived] near neighbor to him for 15 years …””

“[Baker] 51 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Crab St extended west
“went to see him while Hodges was sick … ”

 

Proof of Disability, Ned Gaskins & Joshua Brickhouse, 18 March 1890
[Gaskins] 43 years old; residence, King St., Portsmouth, Va.
[Brickhouse] 52 years old; residence, Norfolk, Va.
“… they are acquainted with Jackson Hodges … on or about the 12 day of June 1865 … the heat being intense claimant incurred a sunstroke, which greatly affected him, affecting his heart, and continued to suffer from same up until the date of his discharge being often unable to for duty by reason of same …. Being a member of the same company, present and with the command when the soldier received his sunstroke …. often heard him complain and saw him in pain as above stated while in the service.”

 

Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Indiana Hodges, 8 July 1890
60 years old; …. “The names and dates of births of all the children now living under sixteen years of age of the soldier by herself are as follows:
Lill Hodges, born February 14, 1854; Jackson, born May 21, 1856; William, born May 15, 1859; Mary, born March 28, 1865; Isaiah, born Oct 24, 186[illegible]; Anne, born August 7, 1868.
[NOTE: The children’s names and birthdates and struck through. A handwritten note’s attached. It reads: “Joe Hodges, oneof the cihldren, was born April the 19, 1870. I put this slip on the blank as the spaces where children belong are all full out as they was one I put it on a slip as you may see it.” — Leslie].

 

General Affidavit, Isaac Shepard & Levi Rainey, 10 March 1892
[Shepard] 49 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Va.; post-office address, 808 Godwin St., Portsmouth, Va.
[Rainey] 48 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Va.; post-office address, South St. Extended, Portsmouth, Va.
“We have known the above named claimant for many years past and know that they have no property of any kind either real or personal and has not means of support from any source except that accrued from her own labor and the charity of others not legally bound for her support.”

 

General Affidavit, Ann Hodges & Mary Cherry, 4 April 1892
[Hodges] 55 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Va.; post-office address, Eastwood’s Lane, Portsmouth, Va.
[Cherry] 52 years old; residence, Norfolk County, Va.; post-office address, Portsmouth, Va.
“That they were well acquainted with Indiana Hodges and her husband Jackson Hodges. That they lived in this City, Portsmouth, Va. before the war; that they were acquainted with [the couple] before they were old enough to marry when they were but boy and girl; That they were never married before previous to their marriage with each other; That they both have this knowledge from personal acquaintance with them”

 

General Affidavit, Samuel B. Harper & Esther Allen, 1 August 1892
[Harper] 39 years old; residence, Norfolk County, Va.; post-office residence, Portsmouth, Va.
[Allen] 35 years old; residence, Norfolk County, Va.; post-office residence, Portsmouth, Va.
“That they were well acquainted with Indiana Hodges — lived very near neighbors to her and her late husband, in fact, lived within talking distance …”

 

Deposition, Indiana Hodges, 14 September 1901
about 70 years old; occupation, housekeeping; residence, 807 Godwin St., Portsmouth, Va.
“My husband was born in Richmond, Va. and was a slave. When he grew up he became the property of Wm. Wilson of Portsmouth, I expect he took the name Hodges from his parents. When I knew him his name was Hodges and he never went by any other name. I have never gone by any name since his death except that of Hodges.
“My husband died 19 years ago on this st. He had dropsy and shortness of breath and a bad cough before death. He was an invalid for a year or so before death.”

 

Letter from Acting Commissioner to Auditor for the War Department, 19 November 1909
“Henry Harper and Simon Baker, both of Portsmouth, Va. were present at the death of Jackson Hodges on Sep 26, 1882.
“Ann Arrington and Mary Ann Clung of Portsmouth, Va., state in a joint affidavit … that they were present at the marriage of Indiana Hodges and Jackson Hodges on January 1, 1855; that neither party was married before, and that the widow has not re-married. My husband was a medium sized man, had a dark brown complexion, black eyes & black hair. I married my husband before the war commenced. We had a slave marriage, got consent of our owners & went to living together as husband & wife. I belonged to Mrs. Howland before the war but married my husband under the name of Indiana Moore. That was my mother’s name, her full name was Charlotte Moore. My husband enlisted in Portsmouth, Va. but was discharged in Texas. He enlisted about middle of war and was gone I suppose about 3 years. He was in Fortress Monroe for a while after he joined him and I used to see him there. I also saw him when he took the boat for Texas.
“You were mistaken when you understood me to state that I had no marriage ceremony for I was married by Bishop Winfield but being colored we had no license. My husband’s discharge was given to a man named Brown and he never got it back, gave it to Mr. Brown, when he was trying to get his bounty.
“Mary Brown and Annie Rosser were my witnesses. They charged me nothing but I gave them something because of their time — gave them one dollar each. My vouchers are executed by Capt. Phillips, charge is fifty cents. He always swears me and I never execute vouchers before the 4th.”

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Scipio Pollard alias William Henry, Company C

The soldier’s mother owned significant property in what’s now Hampton, Virginia. Her application was denied because she failed “to furnish the necessary evidence showing date and cause of soldier’s death.”  However, his mother’s application included addresses for members of Company C and though most lived in Virginia two individuals lived in Kansas and Oregon. A year after the war ended the soldier died in Norfolk County, Virginia; he was born in King and Queen County, Virginia. 

Mother – 527,256 / —–, Catherine Pollard

 

Notarized Statement, Scipio Pollard, 10 March 1866
“I, Scip Pollard have made, constituted, and appointed, and by these present do make, constitute, and appoint C. Leonard, Washington, DC, my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name, place and stead, to prosecute my claim to Bounty filed in the Washington, DC under act of Congress, and also to receipt; and hereby revoking all other Powers of Attorney, giving and granting unto my said attorney full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully, to all intents and purposes, as I might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution and revocation hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said attorney, or his substitute, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
“I claim $100 Vet. Bounty and difference of pay up to May 1, 1864.
“In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 10th day of March, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
“Scip Pollard [his mark]
“Sealed and delivered in the presence of
“E. Humphrey Randan
“J.E. Tuller”

 

Notarized Statement, Henry Rhone & Henry Pollard, 13 November 1868
“[These two men], citizens of the county of Elizabeth City, State of Virginia, reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid claim as follows:
“That the aforesaid Scipio, died in Norfolk, Va., in the month of September 1867, day unknown, that they both attended his funeral.”

 

Claimant Affidavit, General Affidavit, Catherine Pollard, 6 December 1897
74 years old; residence, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, Virginia; post-office address, Hampton, Va.
I Cathren Pollard is the mother of William Henry alias Scipio Pollard … When my son went in the Army we called him Scipio Pollard and his name is Scipio Pollard. But when he went in the army he enlisted in the name of William Henry. When he came from Texas he came to Hampton to my house and he was there since he told me that he enlisted under the name of William Henry, that he was going to Norfolk and be discharged and return back to Hampton here where I lived. He went to Norfolk and died. Mr. S.E. Beckford was acting as my agent. March 21st he sent for me to come downtown in Hampton. He had a letter for me. When I came he read the letter and it said that the paymaster was coming to Norfolk, Virginia and I must come over to get my money from my son’s bounty. . . [my son] died in the year of 1866 in Norfolk, Virginia. I don’t know the month. I only had one son in the service. His name was William Henry in service and when home his name was Scipio Pollard.”

 

Questionnaire (Form 3-514), Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions for Names and Addresses of Post-office Addresses of Officers and Comrades of Company C, 1st Regiment USC Vol. Cav, 12 February 1898

Frank A. Smith	1 Lt.	Pension Bureau
Edmund Bothwood	2 Lt.	Ottawa, Franklin Co., Kansas
Joseph Jones	Sgt.	Box 71, Newport News, Va.
Geo. O. Allen	Sgt.	Toano, James City Co., Va.
Harry Foreman	Pvt.	23 Mills Ave., Yonkers, N.Y.
Johnson Foreman	Pvt.	67 Va. Street, Norfolk, Va.
Sandy Crag	Pvt.	25 Fox St., Norfolk, Va.
Napoleon Capron	Pvt.	75 Newton St., Norfolk, Va.
Frank Robinson	Pvt.	Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
Louis Selden	Pvt.	Phoebus, Elizabeth City County, Va.
Cicero Hill	Pvt.	Natl. Home, Elizabeth City County, Va.
John Ferby	Pvt.	Grafton, York County, Va.

 

Questionnaire (Form 3-514), Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions for Names and Addresses of Post-office Addresses of Officers and Comrades of Company C, 1st Regiment USC Vol. Cav, 12 February 1898 

Sampson L. Whiteman	Capt.	Buena Vista, Polk Co., Oreg.
Edward R. Pitti	Sgt.	Bowers Hill, Norfolk Co., Va.
Stephen Riddick	Sgt.	Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va.
Azariah Griffin	Pvt.	Camden C.H., Camden Co., N.C.
Willis Counsel	Pvt.	Washington, Beaufort, N.C.
Moses Dawley	Pvt.	Knotts Island, Currituck, N.C.
Chas. Cooke	Pvt.	Peake’s Turnout, Hanover Co., Va.
Henry Hopkins	Pvt.	121 Pr. Anne St., Norfolk, Va.
Saml. B. Humphries	Pvt.	46 Moseley St., Norfolk, Va.
Jacob Ashburn	Pvt.	Bowers Hill, Norfolk Co., Va.
Peter Fentress	Pvt.	Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
Jerry Wilkins	Pvt.	Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.

 

 

Questionnaire, Catherine Pollard, 14 April 1898
[Residential history] Hampton post office, I live at the residence of Rosie Marable. In 1866, I lived in Hampton on King St. I live little out of town. Now on Queen St at the residence of Rosia Wormbley. No number.
[Occupation since date of filing your claim in 1891] Picking peas or little washing
[Also known as] Catharine Pollard 

 

Affidavit of Claimant, Catherine Pollard, on/about 29 June 1901
“My son, Sipio Pollard, alias William Henry, was born in King and Queen Co, Va. He was dark complected. His present home would have been here in Hampton with me had he not died. Before he got his discharge he came from Texas and went to Norfolk, Va. To be discharged but died before he got his discharge. The only way I can tell you why he changed his name was because he went in the army and he was afraid his owners would catch up with him.”

 

Notarized Statement, Catharine Jefferson, 7 November 1908
about 75 years old; post office address is #326 W. Queen Street, Hampton, Virginia … “I was first married to Henry Rhone when I was a colored slave during the Civil War and continued to live with him until he died sometime during the year 1891; I then married Thomas Jefferson, and lived with him until he died in June 1906: I have no other property other than a small house and lot worth about $400.00 and located in the Wythe District, Elizabeth City County, Virginia, which is assessed on the property books at $310; I have no personal property and no income: I am unable to do manual work and am entirely dependent upon my adopted daughter and her husband who live in my house, for support, and have been ever since the death of my husband, Thomas Jefferson. There is nobody legally bound for my support since the death of my husbands. And those who have contributed to my support are very poor and have families dependent upon them.”

 

General Affidavit, Walker Toliver & Gust Milburn, 23 November 1908
[Tolliver] [illegible] years old and [Millburn] 49 years old; both of Hampton, Virginia … “We are well acquainted with Catharine Jefferson the above-named applicant for pension and were familiar with her personal and financial affairs during the years 1891 and 1892 and we know that during this period that the only property owned by her or in which she had any interest was a small house and lot in Hampton, Va. Worth about $400.  From Sept. 1891 to Mch 1892 claimant has had no means of support other than her own work and the contributions of those not legally bound for her support.”

 

General Affidavit, William Morgan & Charles Buckner, 23 November 1908
[Morgan] 43 years old and [Buckner] 29 years old; both of Hampton, Va. …. “I am personally acquainted with Catharine Jefferson and knew her when she was the wife of Henry Rhone. She has a small house and lot on West Queen Street, Hampton, Va. Where she lives, and where she has lived for more than 20 years. Worth about $400….She has never had anymore than she has now since I knew her as Mrs. Catharine Rhone. I know the above facts by having lived in the same community with her and seeing her almost daily. Henry Rhone was dead about a year when she married Thomas Jefferson who about June 1st 1906.”

 

Dependent Mother’s Pension, Catherine Jefferson, 16 February 1909
“326 West Queen Street, Hampton, Virginia … Rejection on the ground of claimant’s failure and apparent inability to furnish the necessary evidence showing date and cause of soldier’s death.”

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