Whitman Lewis, Company H

Even though there were several discrepancies in the claimant’s birth dates and there were errors in geographic labels, the veteran’s claim was approved.

Invalid — 847,132 / 682,769

General Affidavit, Whitman Lewis, 5 April 1891
54 years old; residence, Pasquotank Co, NC; post-office address, Woodsville [sic], Perquimans Co, NC

Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Whitman Lewis, 4 May 1898
[married] Sofa Lewis — maiden name, Sofa Overton
[when, where, by whom] William Manning, Pascotang [sic] Co, Va.
[record] court house or clerk’s office, Elizabeth City, Va [sic]
[previously married] “not married before”
[children living] Mary Lewis born April 10, 1876; Martha Lewis born March 2, 1877; Briton Lewis born March 27, 1872; William Lewis born Jan 6, 1873; Ella Lewis born August 4, 1875
NOTE: Pasquotank Co, North Carolina; Elizabeth City is in North Carolina; Elizabeth City County is in Virginia — Leslie

Questionnaire (Form 3-173), Whitman Lewis, 11 May 1899
[married] Sofa Ann Overton — Sofa Ann Lewis, present name
[when, where, by whom] “about the year 1869, Pasquotank County, North Carolina by James Munden“
[record] “at Elizabeth City Court House, North Carolina”
[previously married] “I was not married before”
[names and birth dates of living children] Ella Lewis born August 4, 1874; William Lewis born January 6, 1871; Martha Lewis born March 9, 1875

Questionnaire (Form 3-493), Whitman Lewis, 13 May 1899
[current residence, nearest post-office] 75 Spring St, Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey
[residence after discharge] “I lived in Woodsville [sic], McQuilmans [sic] County, North Carolina until eight years ago when I came to Morristown my present abode”
[nearest post office] at Woodsville [sic]
[occupation since discharge] all kinds of work
[known by another name] “never had any other name”
[different name in military] “I never had any other name different from the one I am now known by.”

Questionnaire (Form 3-389), Whitman Lewis, 2 April 1915 [date stamped by Pension Office]
[birth date and place] Muffelsboro [sic], Virginia
[post office at enlistment] Norfolk, Va.
[wife’s name] Louise Frances
[when, where, by whom] Baptist Church, Morristown, NJ, Rev C Morris
[record] church record
[previously married] Sophia Ann Lewis; died about 10 years ago
[living wife] “no, she went away and left me”
[names and birth dates of all children] Wm Lewis; Mary Lewis, dead; Martha Lewis; Ellen Lewis, dead; Britton Lewis, dead
NOTE: Murfreesboro, North Carolina — Leslie

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Isaac Manning, Company K

The widow’s first husband Miles Fentress served in the 36th US Colored Infantry organized in North Carolina. It was her second husband who served in the 1st US Colored Cavalry. The family and witnesses maintained their relationships in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina for decades and their recorded memories of spouses, siblings, and neighbors help reconstruct a community.

Invalid — 833, 924 / 676,727
Widow — 947,323 / 710,673, Cherry Manning

Abstract of Death Register, Annis Manning, 1 May 1884
“Colored … date of death, 1 May 1884 … place of birth, Tanners Creek … cause of death, womb disease … parents, Harry and Edie Manning … consort of Isaac Manning”

Deposition, Isaac Manning, 11 May 1893
“between 55 and 60 years as near as I can tell”; occupation, farmer; “residence, Princess Anne Co., Va. but I receive my mail and pension letter at Wm Pat Miles on the New Town Pike road about one mile out of the city”
“Q. Did you apply for pension under the old law?
A. Yes, sir. My first agent was a black man named Becket, but I don’t know what the number of the claim was. Becket did all my business and I never saw any of the papers.”
“Q. Who was your attorney?
A. Mr. WR Drury the man they have got in jail.
Q. How did you come to employ Mr. Drury?
A. I was told that he was doing so well getting pensions through that I thought I would go to him.”
“Q. Who were your witnesses?
A. Henry Hopkins was one and I believe the other one was John Herring, but I am not sure of this.
Q. When the declaration wa executed who administered the oath to you?
A. I kissed the book for Mr. Drury.
Q. What do you mean by ‘kissed the Book’?
A. Mr. Drury asked me if I would take a solemn oath and that I was the man I said I was, and I handed me the Book. It was something like a Testament.”

Deposition, Henry Hopkins, 12 May 1893
65 years old; residence, 121 Princess Anne Avenue
“Q. How long have you known [Isaac Manning]?
A. I have known him since 1863″

Deposition, John H. Brown, 18 May 1893
about 55 or 56 years old; occupation, oyster bagger; residence, 45 Cumberland St., Norfolk, Va.
“Q. Do you know Isaac Manning?
A. No, sir. I am not sure that I do.
Q. Do you think you know him?
A. I have heard the name but I have no acquaintance with the man.”
“Q. Do you know BA Richardson Jr.?”
A. I know him when I see him.”

General Affidavit, Henry Hopkins and Wm Purnell, 13 June 1895
[Hopkins] 65 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 121 Princess Anne Avenue, Norfolk, Va.
[Purnell] 50 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, Princess Anne Avenue, Norfolk, Va.
“Our acquaintance with the soldier dates from the date of enlistment … since his discharge we have resided in the same section — lived as near neighbors and have worked with the said soldier Isaac Manning”

Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Isaac Manning, 4 June 1898
[married] Cherry Anne Manning, was Cherry Anne Ballard Fentress
[where, when, by whom] October 1887, Norfolk Co., Va. by Elder John Brickhouse
[record] Norfolk Co., Va
[previoius married] no
[living children] “none living under the age of sixteen”

Questionnaire (Form 3-173), Isaac Manning, 31 March 1899
[married] yes, Sarah Anne Manning, Sarah Ann Ballard
[when where, by whom] John Brickhouse, October 1888
[record] “I have none”
[previously married] Annis Manning, Norfolk Co died 1 May 1887
[living children] yes Isaac Manning born Jan 1, 1865. Sarah Manning do not know date of birth was in 1867

Declaration for Pension, Isaac Manning, 28 March 1907
residence, Broad Creek, Princess Anne Co., Va.
“That his occupation on enlistment was farmer, That he is 75 years of age, having been born … 1832 at Sand Cross, Gates County, North Carolina … That since discharge he has resided at Norfolk Co., Va. & Princess Anne Co., Va.”
“Also personally appeared Joe Reid, residing at Princess Anne Co., Va. and Henry Hopkins, residing at Norfolk, Va…. their acquaintance with him of 20 years and 25 years, respectively”

General Affidavit, Elijah E. Riddick, 2 June 1908
96 years old; residence, Princess Anne Co., Va.; post-office address, Lynnhaven, Princess Anne Co., Va.
“I have been well and personally aquainted with Isaac Manning …. from time he was three years old or not over three years old and I was then not over thirteen years old and I am ten years older than Isaac Manning … we continued playboys together until we were both grown as we were born and raised on adjoining farms. He being owned as a slave by a Mr. Manning and I was owned by a Mr. Riddick in Gates Co., NC.”

General Affidavit, Adelaide Hinton, 22 August 1910
59 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 665 Church St., extended
“That I am a sister of the above named claimant and have known her all my life … Miles Fentress died in Norfolk Co., Va. and I attended his funeral in Calvary Cemetery in Norfolk Co., Va. This happened in the winter. I cannot remember the year, but it ws about 5 years before claimant re-married.”

General Affidavit, Peter Fentress, 22 August 1910
71 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 62 Park Ave., Ext’d, Norfolk, Va.
“That I am a brother to Miles Fentress. That said Miles Fentress died to the best of my memory in December 1882, and I attended his funeral. He died in Norfolk, Va. and I was present at the time. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Norfolk Co., Va.”

General Affidavit, Cassandra Riddick and Docia Brown, 22 August 1910
[Riddick] 59 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, SW cor Goff St & Chapel St., Norfolk, Va.
[Brown] 59 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 800 Chapel St., Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
“We have known Isaac Manning for our entire lifetimes … we both attended the funeral of Anice Manning, in Calvary Cemetery, Norfolk Co., Va. We cannot recall the exact date, except that it was early in the summer and that she had been dead about three years when Isaac Manning re-married.”

General Affidavit, Charlotte Odom, 24 August 1910
61 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; 9 New Bedford Court
“That I am a cousin of Cherry Anne Manning and have known her all my life”

General Affidavit, William T. Warden, 26 August 1910
58 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 285 Princess Anne Ave.
“I became pastor of Mt Zion AUMP Church in Norfolk Co., Va. in July 1883 and remained there until either one or two years, but not over two years, and it was while I was pastor of this church that I officiated at the funeral of Anise Manning, wife of Isaac Manning and after I had left the above charge I heard of Isaac Manning’s re-marriage to Cherry Ann Fentress.”

General Affidavit, Southey Kellam, 27 August 1910
70 years old; residence, Princess Anne Co., Va.; post-office address, Diamond Springs, Va.
“I helped to shroud [Isaac Manning] for burial, and dug his grave and assisted in burying him”

General Affidavit, Adelaide Hinton, 1 September 1910
59 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 664 Church St extd, Norfolk, Va.
“Isaac Manning died in Princess Anne Co., Va. July 26th 1910. I was not there when he died, but I was sent for by his wife who is my sister and when I got there the next morning at 9:30, July 27th, 1910 soldier was dead. I attended [the] funeral and saw him buried in St. John AME Church Cemetery, Princess Anne Co., Va. on July 28th, 1910.”

General Affidavit, Cherry Ann Manning, 2 September 1910
71 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 664 Church St., Norfolk, Va.
“I was previously married once and to Miles Fentress who died in December 1880 in Norfolk Co., Va. and no record of his death can be found in Norfolk Co. Clerk’s Office. That soldier’s first wife Annie Manning died May 1st, 1884 in Norfolk Co., Va. That my first husband Miles Fentress served during Civil War in 36th Reg. in Co B … I never applied for a pension as his widow. That I am unable to furnish death certificate of the death of Isaac Manning and Miles Fentress as no records of death are kept in Princess Anne Co., Va.”

General Affidavit, Cherry A. Manning, 8 October 1910
about 65 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 664 Church St., Huntersville, Norfolk, Va.
“36th Regt Co ‘B’ was my mistake. Company “E” 36th Regiment Infantry, United States Colored Troops is his correct service.”

Letter from Cherry Manning, 1645 Chuch Street, Norfolk, Virginia to Commissioner of Pensions, 13 December 1916
“I am 71 years of age, having been born before December 30, 1844, in Gates County, NC.”

General Affidavit, Cherry A. Manning, 13 December 1916
71 years old; residence, Norfolk, Va.; post-office address, 1645 Church St.
“That from the statements made to her by her parents she was born sometime in the year 1844; that she was married to her first husband, Miles Fentress, on December 30, 1866, at which time she was 22 years of age and consequently she must have been 71 years of age on or before the 30th day of December, 1915.”

Letter from Myra Hayes to the Department of the Interior, 4 February 1920
“Cherry A. Manning lived in my home two years prior to her death. For the last four weeks of her life she was bedridden and helpless, requiring the constant attention and services of an attendant — I acted as attendant. My bill for this service is herewith attached.”
[Note – The typewritten letter was on letterhead belonging to Thomas L. Carter, MD, Gatesville, North Carolina. Carter also witnessed the letter — Leslie]

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James Lind, Company K

This freeborn carpenter was born in Boston and settled in New Orleans after the war but the place of his enlistment is unclear. The couple had no children.

Invalid — 1,100,526 / 82?, 331
Widow — 907,018 / 675,708, Louisa Lind

Affidavit, Peter Perry, 4 April 1892
72 years old; residence, Lyon & Coliseum St, 13th Ward, New Orleans
“I have been working with claimant as carpenter since 1866 off and on … [Lind] fell from the roof of a house where we were at work … he is not able to perform severe manual labor. Disabilities not due to bad or vicious habits and of a permanent character.”

Affidavit, Edward King, 4 April 1892
79 years old; residence, 200 Berlin St., New Orleans
“I have known claimant since 1866 and have known him well during the intervening time”

Affidavit, Tilton Turner and Randall Carter, 15 May 1895
[Turner] 66 years old; residence, Peters Ave
[Carter] 59 years old; residence, Peters near Arcadia, NO
“We were neighbors of this man James Lind who is well known to us. He is a carpenter by trade. He does not do any ordinary manual labor. We have known him for 6 and 25 years. During the last 6 years he has not been able to do the work of any ordinary workman…. We would not under any circumstances employ this man as a laborer at the usual wages. His general habits and character are excellent.”

Office of Board of Health, Recorder of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 15 December 1898
“W. Beltz, an undertaker, native of this City residing at No. 7808 Maple St., who hereby declares, that James Lind (colored), a native of Boston, Mass., aged 60 years, departed this life yesterday, (7 Oct 1908) at No. 2100 Peters Ave., in this city.
Cause of death, endocarditis
Certificate of Dr. J.Y. Hunter
Deceased was married, a carpenter & 40 years in city
“I do certify, the foregoing to be a true and faithful copy from the original recorded in Book marked No. 144 Folio 1187.”

Questionnaire (Form 3-173), James Lind, 29 November 1898
[wife’s name] Louisa Lind … Louisa Nelson
[where, when, by whom] January 16, 1868; New Orleans, Louisiana; Rev. Emperor Williams
[record of marriage] “the regular marriage certificate”
[previously married] no
[living children] “never had any children”

Questionnaire (Form 3-493), James Lind, 29 November 1898
[present residence, post-office address] 2100 Peters Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana
[residence from Feb 1, 1866 to present residence] “I lived at first at Magazine & Erats St., NOLA; second, Elenor & Camp; 3rd cor Peters Ave & Liberty St., No. 2100
[post-office nearest residences] New Orleans, La
[occupation since February 4, 1866] “I was when able to work, a carpenter”
[known by any other name] no
[different name in military service] no

Affidavit, James Lind and Louisa Lind, 26 January 1899
“I desire to make and file declaration so that in the event of my death prior to that of Louisa Nelson she may not have difficulty to prove the legality of her marriage. … I am the identical ‘James Lend‘ who is mentioned in the original marriage certificate in my possession signed by Rev. E. Williams, and that my true name is James Lind … I am the identical ‘Loisa Nelson‘ sanctioned in the original marriage certificate in our possession and that my true name is Louisa Nelson … [married] according to the rites of the Methodist Episcopal Church [by] Rev. E. Williams, pastor Jefferson and Carrolton ME Churches, Ada F. Sparks, Sarah V. Phelps, G.W. Scott, witnesses”
[Note — A handwritten note on the document states ‘The above is a true copy of the original marriage certificate this day exhibited to me’ — Leslie]

Affidavit, Louisa Lind, 20 November 1908
[birthplace] Mississippi
[residence when you became acquainted with the soldier] New Orleans, Louisiana
[length of acquaintance before marriage] one year
[[where, when, and by whom married] New Orleans
[previous marriage] no
[marriage since soldier’s death] no
[children born to you and soldier] no
[enslaved, previous enslavers] “Yes — William Robney — at date of marriage I was free – my only name before marriage was Louisa Nelson”
[soldier’s birhplace] Massachusetts
[soldier’s residence at your acquaintance] New Orleans
[soldier’s place of enlistent] “supposed to enlist in Massachusetts”
[date soldier enlisted] abpit 1862
[residence before enlistment] Massachusetts
[soldier’s age at enlistment, occupation, skin color] “about 30 … carpenter … greefe [sic]”
[his only wife] yes
[soldier enslaved?] no

General Affidavit, Nathan Hunter, 30 November 1908
66 years old; residence, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana; post-office address, 1900 [illegible]
“I have known Louise Lind since her childhood, she was never married before she married James Lind on the 16th day of January 1868
“I have also known James Lind … since he was a young man of marriageable age, he was never married before he married Louise Lind befoe he married Louise Nelson … I have been a friend of both the above before and after marriage”

General Affidavit, J.W. Pierce, 30 November 1908
62 years old; residence, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana; post-office address, 7508 Oak [illegible], New Orleans, La. 1900 [illegible]
“I have known Louise Lind nee Louise Nelson since her childhood … I have also known James Lind … since he was a young man of marriageable age … I have knowledge in the above testimony from being a half-brother of Louise Lind and a friend of James Lind before his marriage and a constant visitor at their home.”

Letter from B.F. Harper, Auditor, Treasury Department, Washington, DC to Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, DC, 9 February 1909
“James Lind … (P.O. address c/o Peter Small, Custom House, New Orleans, La) states … that he was born free; that he volunteered in November 1864 … that he is identified by L.H. Stone, and E. Sullivan, (neither residences nor P.O. address given)
“James Lind alleges … that his age is 39 years … He is identified by Eugene Sullivan, and John W. Pierce of the County of Orleans, La.”
“His post office address is 236 Peters Ave., New Orleans, La.; that his age is 54 years … He is identified by L.R.. Lowe, and W.R. Matzler, of the County of Orleans, La.
“The soldier signed by mark such rolls as have been examined.
“A tracing of his signture to the last named application is inclosed herewith.”

Handwritten Letter from J.W. Pierce, 4730 S. Liberty St., New Orleans, La., to Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, DC, 3 March 1923
“I am the only legal heir of Mrs. Louisa Lind, widow of James Lind who died January 7, 1923 in Oakland, California. I received her remains and buried them with her husband in this city. My son Thomas D. Pierce of Los Angeles, California, has forwarded to your office the particulars of her death and funeral, and also returned to you the last pension check.”

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Randall Lewis, Company L

This soldier was swindled from money paid to his wife for nursing and taking in washing.

Invalid — 1,287,830 / —–

Bureau of Pensions (Form 3-442), 13 November 1902
Please furnish the names and post-office addresses of officers and comrades of Co. L, 1st Reg’t USC Cav

Name	Rank	Present Post-Office Address
Harvey W. Brown	Major	Dead
Charles H. Coburn	1st Lt. & Q.M.	793 Merrimac St., Lowell, Mass.
James E. Fuller	Q.M. Sgt.	168 Queen St., Norfolk, Va.
W.H. Gray	Asst. Surg.	Dead
Frank B. Garrett	Adjt.	Syracuse, Onondaga, NY
John T. Hogue	1st Lt & R.G.	St. Johns, Apache Co., Arizona
London Hurdle	R.C. Sgt.	Lamberts Point Road, Norfolk, Va.
B.S. Manly	Surg.	Dead
Nathan Pond	Major	61 E. Main St., Rochester, NY
Adolph C. Warberg	Lt. Col.	Dead

Note: There’s a strikethrough in the line for James E. Fuller. Written above the address is “seen 11 3 -02” — Leslie

Deposition, Randall Lewis alias Johnson, 14 January 1903
about 62 years old; residence and post-office address, Rio Vista, Henrico County, Virginia; occupation, farming
“Oscar Johnson, my son, and Joshua Robinson were with me at the time. I was born in Nelson Co., Va. near Howardsville but I can’t give you the date. Was born a slave to Zach Lewis. My father’s name was Reuben Johnson (dead) and my mother’s name was Minnie Johnson (dead). My father and mother belonged to my master. I don’t know whether Zack Lewis’s close relatives are alive or not. I left him at the outbreak of the war and have never since saw any of them nor have I gone back to the old place. His children were all very small when I left. I only had one brother Moses and he separated from me at the outbreak of the war and I have never since seen or heard from him. Have no other relatives except Rachel a sister. Rachel Granger, she is a good deal younger than I am. I don’t where she lives in Richmond. I think it is Gray she is married to but I never saw him and don’t know his first name. When the war broke out I drifted away from Nelson Co., Va. and got up with the Army — the Yankees at Masses Junction in this state. That’s what it was called. White Bridge was about five miles from it”

Deposition, Joshua Robinson, 14 January 1903
23 years old; residence and post-office address, Rio Vista, Henrico County, Virginia; occupation, laboring

Letter from Chief of Law Division, Bureau of Pensions, Department of the Interior to Chief of S.E. Division, 23 January 1903
“It appears that about June 1902, Sidney B. Webb, otherwise known as Sidney Webb, Harrison Webb, S.B.W. Harris, Harrison etc., impostor, who is now in jail at Richmond, Va., … went to Rio Vista, Henrico Co., Va. (the home of the applicant) and had a conversation with him, the substance of which, according to the applicant was that he the applicant had joined the army at Massas (presumably meaning Manassas Junction, Va.), had worn a uniform, carried a gun, and at times had ridden a horse, and had been turned loose by the Yankees after the fall of Richmond … The paper was filed and the report from the War Department disclosed the fact that the applicant did not perform the alleged service. After this paper was filed the applicant was systematically swindled by Sidney W. Webb, who did him out of about $34, causing him among other things to sell his heifer and his turkeys, and to turn over to Webb the money which his wife received for nursing and for taking in washing.”

Deposition, E.E. Clark, 3 February 1903
30 yeas old; post-office address, 312 Indiana Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
“I am the Chief Clerk of W.H. Wills, a pension claim attorney, whose office is at the above stated address”

Deposition, George E. Chapman, 3 February 1903
45 yeas old; post-office address, 312 Indiana Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
“I am a clerk in the employ of W.H. Wills, a pension claim attorney, whose office is at the above stated address”

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Jacob Lockhart, Company A & Company H

The applicants were among the children whose father died in the war and whose mother died shortly after the war ended. Witnesses had grown up with the enslaved couple on adjoining plantations in Northampton County, North Carolina. They described how the couple was allowed to marry and ultimately had eight children. They also named Jacob’s enslaver, his parents, and his parents’ enslaver. They also identified Sarah and her enslaver Before enlistment, the 42-year-old husband and father worked as a hog feeder.

Minor — 393,113 / 292,364, Annie Lockhart etal

General Affidavit, Isaac Lockhart Gee, 28 May 1889
60 years old; post-office address, Garysburg, NC
“That in the year 1846 Jacob Lockhart … was a slave, the property of Wm. Lockhart’s widw … and that Sarah Ellis was at the same time a slave, the property of D.L. Ellis … [Gee] heard the said Jacob Lockhart ask for and obtain the consent of D.L. Ellis that he should take the said Sarah Ellis as his wife.”

General Affidavit, London Ellis, 28 May 1889
61 years old; post-office address, Garysburg, NC
“That in the year 1846 … this affiant was a slave belonging to D.L. Ellis … Sarah Ellis was … a slave belonging to D.L. Ellis … affiant was personally present when Jacob Lockhart asked for and obtained the consent of said D.L. Ellis to his marriage with said Sarah Ellis”

General Affidavit, L.J. Norwood, 15 June 1889
60 years old; post-office address, Garysburg, Northampton Co., NC
“That he was born and had all his life lived in Northampton Co., NC That he knew said Jacob Lockhart and his wife Sarah Ellis before and after their marriage, that before their union, they were both virtuous people … marriage was about the year 1847.”

General Affidavit, William Bradley, 15 June 1889
“That he has lived in Northampton Co., NC for the last 60 years of his life”

General Affidavit, London Ellis, 16 July 1889
60 years old; post-office address, Garysburg, Northampton Co., NC
“Has lived in Northampton County, NC all his life, that he was born a slave to D.L. Ellis until the end of the war was 1861-65 … Jacob Lockhart and Sarah Ellis (who lived on the same plantation, belonged to the same master, and whom this affiant knew all his life also) were allowed to marry.”

General Affidavit, Wm. Bradley, 16 July 1889
73 years old; post-office address, Garysburg, Northampton Co., NC
“That he was a slave belonging to W.H. Gray who was a neighbor of D.L. Ellis, that he married a girl belonging to D.L. Ellis”

General Affidavit, London Ellis and William Bradley, 16 September 1889
[Ellis] 60 years
[Bradley] 73 years
post-office address, Garysburg, NC
“They were well acquainted with said Jacob and Sarah Lockhart … that no physician attended at the births of any of them, as in slavery times it was always customary to have only an old ‘granny’ woman in attendance, that they believe such midwife or midwives are long since dead.”

General Affidavit, London Ellis, 9 December 1889
60 years old; post-office address, Garysburg, NC
“That he knew Jacob Lockhart and his wife Sarah Ellis, before and after their marriage, that he lived in the same place with said Sarah … that he was present at the births of all their children, and helped in attending to their mother.”

Deposition, Annie Lockhart, 20 April 1891
about 30 years old; post-office address, Garysburg, Northampton Co., NC
“I understand I was born in June 1862 … I am the daughter of Jacob & Sarah Lockhart. They are both dead. Jacob, my father died in US Army & my mother Sarah Lockhart died here at this place since the war, the year I cannot give.”
“My father was a slave of Joseph Lockhart & my mother was a slave of Daniel Ellis near this place. Both of them are dead.
“I ask a pension as the minor child of my father who was in the army. My brothers & sisters are:
Penny is the oldest,
Cornelius,
Samuel, he’s at Franklin, Va.,
Jacob, somewhere in Halifax Co., NC. Sam knows.
Nellie,
Nancy,
Bettie – Sam knows where she is, I don’t —
Annie – that’s me
I don’t know the ages of any of them. I was too young to know anything of my parents.
My father’s father was named Jacob.
My father’s mother was named Milley.
They are both dead, died near here. My father had no sisters or brothers.
I never heard of Mary Lockhart, do not know any such person. I never knew Henry Wilson & Moses Lester.”

Deposition, Cornelius Lockhart, 21 April 1891
43 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Garysburg, Northampton Co., Va.
“I am the son of Jacob & Sarah Lockhart. They are both dead. My mother died the 2nd year after the war. My father Jacob Lockhart was in the 1st US Col Cavly & died there…. My father’s father was Jacob Road [sp?].
“Penny was my oldest sister born some time before I was. I was born Sept 15th 1849; Samuel is not 12 months older than I am. He was born Aug 10th 1850; Nellie was born Nov 6th, 1854; Jacob came before her, he was born July 20th, 1852; Nancy – Oct 10th 1856; Bettie – Apl 20th 1858; Annie, June 10th, 1862. These ages I got from the older colored persons, they will be here, we have no better way of getting them. There is no record & I don’t know any white people who can tell you about our ages as all are dead who knew.”

Deposition, Nancy Lockhart, 21 April 1891
35 or 36 years old; post-office address, Garysburg, Northampton Co., Va.
“I am the daughter of Jacob & Sarah Lockhart. Both are dead.
“My grandparents on my father’s side are Jacob & Milly Lockhart. They were slaves of Col. Wm. Lockhart, near this village. All of them are dead.
“There were eight children born to my father Jacob Lockhart by my mother Sarah.
Penny — the oldest
Cornelius,
Samuel, P.O. Franklin, Va.,
Jacob, Sam knows. I don’ t know his P.O.
Nelly,
Nancy – that’s me
Betty, Sam knows her post office
Annie
I don’t know the ages of any of them.
My father had no brothers or sisters. I do not know Mary Lockhart, or Polly, or John Lockhart, never heard of them before. “

Deposition, Penny Lockhart, 21 April 1891
45 years old … “that’s what I was always told was about my age”; post-office address, Garysburg, Northampton Co., NC
“I am the oldest child… I am about two years older than Cornelius & there is about that time between each of us — two years.”

Deposition, Nellie Lockhart, 21 April 1891
“I am about 37 or 38 years of age”; residence, Garysburg, Northampton Co., NC
“I never heard of Mary Lockhart or Henry Wilson or Moses Lester.
My father & mother had 8 children. … I do not know their ages, or the years any of us were born. All were born here in at Garysburg, NC.”

Deposition, Lewis J. Norwood, 22 April 1891
63 years old; occupation, carpenter & preacher; post-office address, Garysburg, Northampton Co., NC
“I remember Jacob Lockhart, a slave of Col. Wm. Lockhart. I also knew his wife, Sarah Ellis, she was a slave of Daniel Ellis, knew them from boyhood up…. I remember Jacob & Sarah Lockhart had eight children of which Penny is the oldest. I remember perfectly the day [they] became man & wife with the consent of their owners. That was in the year 1847 I am sure. I was married in 1849 & I know it was 1847 in that way, two years before I got a wife. Jacob was a little older than I was. I think they had been man and wife about a year when their first child came. Her name was Penny. Then they had a boy two years after Penny named Cornelius. There is about two years between them all except Cornelius & Sam and there was hardly a year between them……The parents of Jacob Lockhart were Jacob Rhodes & Milly Lockhart. I never knew Polly Lockhart or John Lockhart or Mary Lockhart. “

Deposition, William Bradley, 22 April 1891
76 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Garysburg, Northampton, NC
“I was a slave of Mr. Wm. Gray, his farm was adjoining farm to Daniel Ellis near Garysburg, NC. I knew Sarah Ellis very well. She was a slave of Daniel Ellis & I had a wife also a slave of Daniel Ellis. So when I went to see my wife I saw Sarah Ellis. … I think it was at least 15 yeas before the war Sarah Ellis became the wife of Jacob Lockhart with the consent of her owner … They had eight children, Penny, Cornelius, Sam, Jacob, Nelly, Nancy, Betty, Annie. these were all they and & they came in the order I have given you. I do not know where they were born … [Jacob Lockhart’s] parents belonged to Col. William Lockhart. All are now dead. … Jacob Lockhart was some 42 years old when he left home for the war…. I cannot write my name.”

Deposition, London Ellis, 23 April 1891
60 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Garysburg, Northampton Co., NC
“I was a slave of Mr. Daniel Ellis who is now dead… Jacob [Lockhart] belonged to Joseph Lockhart I was right there & heard Jacob Lockhart ask Mr. Ellis to give Sarah Ellis to him for his wife & Mr. Ellis told him all right … they became man & wife in that way just as slaves were married in that day … I can’t read or write”

Deposition, Henry E. Pate, 23 April 1891
61 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Garysburg, Northampton Co., NC
“I remember Jacob Lockhart very well, born & raised 3/4 of a mile from my house… [He named Jacob’s enslaver, his parents, and his parents’ enslaver. He also identified Sarah and her enslaver– Leslie]
“I knew all of the Lockhart slaves… [Jacob Lockhart] had no brothers or sisters…. I was my father’s car driver & I was with Jacob Lockhart a great deal as he was the hog feeder… Jacob Lockhart I heard died in the army… Jacob Lockhart was some five years younger or more old than I was. My father at one time was the overseer for Col. Wm. Lockhart.”

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