Archer Keelan, Company G

This veteran was enslaved when he enlisted. When the war ended, he lived in Mississippit.

Invalid — 738,847 / 762,048

Declaration for Original Invalid Pension, Archey Kealand, 13 November 1889
“in the line of his duty at Petersburg in the State of Va. on or about the 30th day of June or July 1864 he was thrown to the ground and stunned by explosion of shell very nearby him. His injuries were pronounced serious at the time and by reason thereof he was excused from duty for a week. That as result of said concussion he now suffers with pains all through his body.
“That he was treated by Dr. Emanuel, R.S. but never went to hospital … That since leaving the service this applicant has resided in the County of Holmes in the State of Mississippi, and his occupation has been that of farmer. That prior to his entry into the service above named he was a man of good, sound, physical health, being enrolled a slave.”
“Also personally appeared John A. Durden, residing at Lexington, Mississippi and A.C. Campbell residing at Lexington, Mississippi.”

Declaration for Invalid Pension, Archey Keland, 15 July 1890
50 years old; residence, Bee Lake, Holmes County, Mississippi
“a wound received by an explosion a shell at the battle of Petersburg, Va.”

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Peter Keeling, Company G

The soldier spoke of his “late owner” when asked about his age. It was the men he served with who vouched for his pension application. Other supporters had worked with him after the war.

Invalid – 471,537 / 503,721

Sworn Statement, Peter Keeling, 21 September 1883
“I was in Hospital near Pointer Rocks [sic] and after being there some 15 or 20 days I was transferred to the Hospital at Fortress Monroe … Dr. Manlley [sic] & Dr. Gray were the Drs in my Regt”

Affidavit, Peter Keeling, 28 May 1888
43 years old
“[Keeling’s] first sgt is dead, William Teemer. He died in this city, the first day of April 1888 … [Keeling’s] Captain is here in Norfolk and he has called on him to get his evidence … Dr. Manley died at Portsmouth, NY about 7 yeas ago and Dr. William H. Gray died at Jackson Hospital, La. in June 1873″

Deposition, Mark Sanford, 12 May 1893
51 years old; occupation, laborer; residence and post-office address, 26 Avon St., Norfolk, Va.

Deposition, James Cornick, 25 May 1893
49 years old; occupation, laborer; residence and post-office address, 139 Broad (or Wide) St., Norfolk, Va.
“[Keeling and Cornick] were boys together”

Deposition, Owen Hopper, 12 June 1893
52 years old; occupation, laborer; residence and post-office address, 69 James St., Norfolk, Va.
“‘[Keeling complained about his health on several occasions.] “Once when we were working in the swamp about 15 years ago, once 5 or 6 years ago, then about the time he put in a claim about two years ago.”

Deposition, Cary Ives, 12 June 1893
about 39 years old; occupation, longshoreman; residence, Walker Avenue near Seventh St., Berkley, Va.
post-office address, Berkley, Va.
“I have known Peter Keeling since soon after the war. I think I have known him 15 or 16 years personally. We have worked together at times, off and on.”

Deposition, Lewis T. Fuller, 14 June 1893
56 years old; occupation, laborer; residence and post-office address, 295 Bute St., Norfolk, Va.
“I have seen [Keeling] but once in ten years.”

Deposition, John T. Wilson, 15 June 1893
49 years old; occupation, collector; residence and post-office address, 98 Clay Ave., Norfolk, Va.
“I do not know Peter Keeling, Edward Parsons, Lewis T. Fuller, or Henry Boush. I distinctly and emphatically say that the signature of my name as attesting witness to papers purporting to have been executed by them is a forgery, and a poor forgery.”

Deposition, Peter Keeling, 16 June 1893
about 48 years old; residence and post-office address, Hickory, Norfolk Co., Virginia
“enlisted as Peter Keelan … W.R. Drury made out my application … I do not now remember who my witnesses were. I know I had two … I know Jasper Cornick, Thomas Fuller, Edward Parsons, Henry Darly and James Cornick. I don’t know Mark Sanford …. I don’t know Ben Richardson except by sight”

Declaration for Pension, Peter Keeling, 18 April 1897
“63 years old … resident of Hickory, county of Norfolk, State of Va … his occupation was farmer; that he was born in the year 1843 at London Bridge, Princess Anne Co., Va. … Also personally appeared J.J. Riddick, residing in Hickory, Va. and Boston J. Harpper, residing in Hickory, Va. … their accquaintance with him of 15 years and 10 or 15 years, respectively”

Sworn Statement, Peter Keeling, 8 February 1908
“cannot give date of my birth as there is no record of my birth or baptismal record. Before the war there was no such record kept. My late owner might of [sic] had a record of my birth but he is dead & there is no way for me to get it. To the best of my knowledge I was about 13 or 14 years old at the time of the big snow in the years of 1856 & 1857 as I was a cart boy at that time.”

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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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Jeremiah Keeling, Company G

“My husband visited me once every two weeks as we lived some miles from each other. That is the way we lived until the Union troops came to Norfolk, Va. when we both ran away and got to Norfolk & then we lived together until he enlisted in the Army. I don’t know the year we ran away … The names of all my former owners were as follows … The names of his former owners is as follows … My husband never asked for a pension – why I do not know … [My husband] died April 28th, 1870 and was buried April 30th, 1870 … My pension certificate vouchers are in my possession and I have never pledged either for debt, loan, or liability of any kind.”

NOTE: The couple fled from their enslavers with their children. All four youngsters were under 10 years old and would live into adulthood.

Widow — 384,773 / 261,343, Mary Keeling

Widow’s Declaration for Pension or Increase of Pension, Mary Keeling, 24 October 1888
61 years old; residence, Spring Field First Street; post-office address, Norfolk, Va.:
“[the soldier] contracted lung dease [sic] and died of consumption due to the service in the United States Army at the Front of Petersburg & Richmond, also in Texas. First sickness Front of Richmond, Va. June 1864 and he died on the 28th day of April A.D. 1870 … he died in Norfolk … she was married under the name of Mary Wright to said Jeremiah Keeling … August A.D. 1846 by her Former Master at Princess An [sic] Co
“Also personally appeared Isaac Kellum, residing at 65 Queen St, Norfolk City, Va., and Jasper Cornick, residing at 120 Nicholson St., Norfolk City, Va.”

Sworn Statement, Robert Brickhouse, 13 November 1888
55 years old; residence, 264 Lincoln Street, Norfolk, Va.;
“Well known to me to be reputable and entitled and who duly sworn … that he was a soldier in Company G … well acquainted with Jermaih Keeling … him and the soldier lived in the City of Norfolk as near neighbors up to his death and the soldier died of consumption”

Neighbor’s Affidavit, Joseph Conick, 13 November 1888
57 years old; residencee, 120 Nicholson Street, Norfolk, Va.;
“He knew Jemiah Keeling well, knew him before the War of 1861 … came home to Norfolk and they all resided in Norfolk until Keeling died on the 28th of April 1870, he died of consumption”

Sworn Statement, Law: L. Waring, DC, 13 November 1888
“I hereby certify that it appears from the records of my office that Jeremiah Keeling died in the City of Norfolk on the 30th day of April 1870 of phithisis”

Sworn Statement, Mary Ann Singleton, 14 November 1888
65 years old; residence, 304 Queen Street,
“That she is well acquainted with Mary Keeling … she knew the soldier and his widow before the War of 1861 … they was [sic] the mother and father of 4 children
Fany Keeling, born Dec 4th, 1856
Ellen Keeling, born Dec 19th, 1858
George Keeling, born July 19th, 1860
Jemiah Keeling, born Feb 28, 1863
“All still living … she was the midwife for said children, and she has a record of the births of said children, and … the soldier Jemiah Keeling died of consumption on the 28th day April 1870 at Norfolk City, Va.”

Sworn Statement, Isaac Kellam and Jasper Cornick, 1 July 1889
[Kellam] 63 years old;
[Cornick] 59 years old;
“City of Norfolk, County of Norfolk … That they were well acquainted with Jeremiah Keeling … also his widow Mary Keeling pretty much all of there [sic] life … and that they were children together … Jeremiah Keeling was married by consent of his former owner on or about August 1846 … they have lived near neighbor pretty much … Jeremiah Keeling died April 28, 1870 … they lived near neighbors and witnessed these events.”

Deposition, Mary Ann Singleton, 16 October 1889
66 years old; post-office address, 304 Queen St., Norfolk, Va.
“I knew [Mary Keeling] before she was married living at Mr. Robert Benton. Her Mistress married Mr. Waters & moved to Deep Creek, Va. I was a free woman & a midwife and went from one place to another on the different farms to attend the women in sickness … I was not [at their wedding] … I am no relation to any of them”

Deposition, George Smith, 16 October 1889
56 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, [illegible] Smith St, Norfolk, Va.
“[I first knew the soldier] when he came out of Army. His wife at that time was living across the street from me & he came to her house. I saw him after I got out of the Navy at that house about July 1866 … I was at Keeling funeral but I can’t give the year he died … [they] had 4 children … Jeremiah was quite young. I hardly think he was four years to be truthful. I can’t say if Fanny was 10 or 12 years when her father died … I don’t think Fanny was over 12 years when her father died.”

Deposition, Thomas Wright, 16 October 1889
“I am the brother of Mary Keeling … Mary and myself were slaves of Robert Benton at his death in Princess Anne Co., Va. His widow married John West. near Deep Creek, Va. … [Mary and Jeremiah] have four living children — Fanny, George, Ellen, Jeremiah. Fanny must be 29 years of age. She was born in Princess Anne Co., Va. George must be 27 years. Ellen must be 25 1/2 years & Jeremiah about a year and a half younger than Ellen. These three were born near Deep Creek, Va. I can’t give their exact ages. None of the white people are living. All as far as I know are dead.”
“Jeremiah & Mary both ran away from their owners & brought their children with them to Norfolk, Va. as soon as they heard the Union soldiers were in town.”

Deposition, Mary Keeling, 16 October 1889
63 years old; post-office address, Springfield St., Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
“[My husband] died April 28th 1870 & was buried on April 30th by James Edwards Undertaker. …. Dr. Moore who died here in Norfolk last year was his physician.
“My husband was a slave of William Keeling, London Bridge, Princess Anne Co., Va. I was a slave of John West who got me by marriage with my Mistress Mary Eliza Waters of Deep Creek, Norfolk Co., Va. … My husband visited me once every two weeks as we lived some miles from each other. That is the way we lived until the Union troops came to Norfolk, Va. when we both ran away and got to Norfolk & then we lived together until he enlisted in the Army. I don’t know the year we ran away.”
“I was born in Princess Anne Co., Va. and after my mistress married we went to live at Deep Creek, Va. that’s how I got to Deep Creek, Va. I was married to Jeremiah Keeling before we went to Deep Creek, Va. I had been married nearly three years before I went to Deep Creek, Va. with my old mistress.
“When my husband Jerimiah Keeling enlisted here in Norfolk, Va. we had been set free by Mr. Lincoln. … Dr. Moore came to see him about a month after got out of the Army & ordered cod liver oil for him…. when he got stronger he worked a little bit down at the wharves.”
“Mr. William Keeling sold my husband to Thomas Keeling & Thomas Keeling sold him to Tully L. Dozier. They are all dead & lived in Princess Anne Co., Va. before the war”
“The midwife who was with me lives here in Norfolk now — she was a freeborn woman & looked after the children that were born to slaves in Princess Ann & Norfolk Cos., Va as the two counties join each other.
“Mr. William Stevens rented my husband a house & I lived in that house when he came out of the Army & he died in that house. I reckon Mr. Stevens will remember all about me & my family as I lived a long time in his house which was directly in front of the house where he lived 69 Smith St, Norfolk, Va.”
“My husband never asked for a pension — why, I do not know”

Deposition, Isaac Kellum, 17 October 1889
63 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, Springfield, Norfolk, Va.
“Jeremiah Keeling & Mary Wright & myself were children together in Princess Anne Co., Va. We all belonged to different masters … I belonged to Joshua James, Princess Anne Co., Va.”
“I was at [their] wedding … They had 4 children. All are living”

Deposition, Phillip Bagley, 17 October 1889
42 years old; occupation, drayman; post-office address, 44 Nicholson St., Norfolk, Va.
“I was in Co G, 1st US Col Cavy … I remember he was sick nearly all the time after we put to Texas … He was often excused from duty, confined in his tent nearly all the time we were in Texas … He was treated in Regimental Hosspital, I think by Dr. Manley our surgeon. … I know nothing of his family but he has a wife living here in Norfolk. I don’t know where she lives or her children.”

Deposition, Jasper Cornick, 18 October 1889
59 years old; occupation, plasterer; post-office addres, 120 Nicholson St., Norfolk, Va.
“I just knew him when he was a slave of Thomas Keeling & afterward a slave of Tully L. Dozier at London Bridge, Va. I lived on the adjoining farm. … I also knew his wife. I was not at the wedding .. He enlisted about the same time I did, a little before I did in Co G.1st US Col’d Cavly…. Jeremiah and Mary Keeling have 4 children, all living … they were born in Norfolk Co, Va.”

General Affidavit, Mary Keeling, 1 July 1889
63 years old; residence, 273 Queen St., Norfolk, Va.
“I was born at Princess Anne Co, Va. My residence and post office when I first met the soldier was Princess Anne Co., Va.
“Since then I have changed my residence and post office address as follows Springfield, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I knew the soldier before our marriage for 5 or 6 years.
“The soldier and I were married at Princess Anne Co., Va. the year 1846, by her former master’s consent.
“The names of all my former owners were as follows: Robt Benton was the first, John West was the second.
“The soldier was born at London Bridge, Princess Anne Co., Va.
“His actual residence and post office at the time I became acquainted with him, was London Bridge, Princess Anne Co., Va.
“His age at time of enlistment was about 40 years. His occupation farmer — his height about 5 ft 9 or 10 in — color was dark
“The names of his former owners was as follows:
Thos. Keeling was first & Tully L. Dozier 2nd”

Deposition, Mary Keeling, 1 October 1901
about 73 years old; occupation, housekeeper; residence and post-office, 152 South St., Norfolk, Va.
“I became acquainted with my husband long before the war. His father’s name was Chas. McCoy (decd) and he belonged to John McCoy (decd). My husband’s mother’s name was Nellie McCoy (decd). They belonged down in Princess Anne Co. and my husband was born down in that county. He was eight years older than I …. His full and correct name was Jeremiah Keeling … He derived his name from his master Wm Keeling (decd) of Princess Anne Co. near London Bridge near Virginia Beach.”
“He died at Norfolk, Va. on this street of consumption … Dr Moore (decd) formerly of Bank St. attended him. He died 31 years ago last April on the last day of the month.
“My name before I married was Mary Bently [Inserted in pencil is the name “Benton” — LEA] as titled after my parents [The word “parents” is struck through — LEA] master, Robert Bentle (decd) down in Princess Anne Co., Va. Soldier and I got the consent of our masters to live together and we became husband and wife according to slavery custom. He came to me every Saturday night and I had four children by him before the war started… We lived together on this street when he enlisted.
“Since soldier’s death I have resided on this street ever since…. Previous to that I lived over at Springfield with my brother Thomas Wright.
“Jeremiah Keeling, my son by soldier and who now lives on 12 Ouman [sp?] Place, Brooklyn, NY was under 16 years of age when his father died as he was not 16 until the following March. I may be mistaken though.”
“My pension certificate vouchers are in my possession and I have never pledged either for a debt, loan or liability of any kind.”

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