This veteran lost his job at the Norfolk Navy Yark because he could not “perform a reasonable day’s work.” Like other American shipyards, the facility employed free and enslaved labor in the years prior to Emancipation.
Invalid — 1,145,151 / —–
Declaration for Invalid Pension, Jesse Nichols, 30 January 1893 49 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co, Va; post-office address, 626 Light St., Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va. “Also personally appeared Jno. D. Moore residing at Deep Creek, Norfolk Co., Va., and Thomas Harris, residing at Norfolk Co., Va. …. their acquaintance with him for 20 and 26 years”
General Affidavit, Jesse Nichols, 7 September 1893 50 years old; Bowers Hill, Norfolk Co., Va. “has been discharged from the Navy Yard at Norfolk, Va. on account of not being able to perform a reasonable day’s work … That he is in destitute condition”
The couple married with the consent of their enslavers who lived in Gates County, North Carolina. Their four daughters were born enslaved.
Widow’s Claim for Pension, Ann Nelson, 12 February 1869 31 years old; residence, near Suffolk, Nansemond Co., Va.; post-office address, Suffolk, Nansemond Co., Va. “her maiden name was Ann Pierson … married to said Moses Nelson on or about Winter [illegible] … in the County of Gates, and State of NC by mutual consent of Master Anthony Pierson to Moses Nelson with consent of his master Moses Nelson all of Gates County, NC “She further declares that said Moses Nelson, her husband died in the service of the United States as aforesaid at Chickahominy in the state of Va. … March 1865, of injuries incurred in the service and in the line of duty … all the children of my deceased husband who were under sixteen years of age at the time of his death “Martha born March 1858. Maria born April 1860. Jane born May 1862. Frances born May 1864.” “Also personally appeared … William Parker and Hannah Watkins, residents of Nansemond County, and State of Virginia”
This veteran served in the Union Navy before he joined the Union Army. Prior to his military service, he’d been enslaved in North Carolina. When the war ended, he settled in Mississippi. This pension application includes information about his wife, parents, and children as well as harrowing descriptions of his battle injuries and details about the enslaved and their enslavers.Last week’s post included research notes from documents dated 1895-1898; this week’s post includes research notes from documents dated 1916-1921.
Widow’s Application for Pension, Martha Burr, 26 October 1916 post-office address, 327 Broadway St., Greenville, Mississippi “She was married to the said Benj Burr on the 19th day of January 1868 at Issaquena Co in the state of Mississippi… her name before said marriage Martha Young. “Also personally appeared J. Henry Bevins, residing at Greenville, Miss, and Patsy Smith, residing at Greenville, Miss… know her to be the lawful widow of Benjamin Burr who died on the 23 day of Oct 1916″
General Affidavit, Harry P. Pittman, 2 December 1916 “I have known Martha A. Burr and her husband Benjamin Burr for many years here in Washington Co … they were married Jan 19, 1868″
General Affidavit, Martha Ann Burr, 12 December 1916 70 years old; residence, Greenville, Mississippi “I was married to Benjamin Burr under the name of Martha Ann Young on the 19th day of January 1868 … but through some error his name seems to have been given as Burris but his name is Benjamin Burr”
General Affidavit, Paul Young, 26 March 1917 67 years old “I have known Martha Burr for 51 years or more for I was born on the same plantation in Issaquena County … and I was present at the marriage in January 1868”
General Affidavit, Diannah Young, 26 March 1917 67 years old; address, Greenville, Mississippi “I know Martha Burr and Benjamin Burr well here in Issaquena County … I was present at the marriage in January 1868 … I was at his funeral on the 24th 1916 … his death October the 23 1916”
General Affidavit, Martha Burr, 1 August 1917 71 years old; address, 327 Broadway, Greenville, Mississippi “I was born on the Holly Ridge Plantation in Issaquena County, Miss. a slave and was owned by Mr. Duncans. My mother and father were all slaves and no records of slaves were kept in those days of slaves but my mother told me when I married in January 1868 I was in my 21 years of age and she in dead now over 35 years ago and my father died 6 years before she died and all the older people are dead that could tell anything about my birth. No book or other records are kept of slaves here.”
General Affidavit, H.H. Pittman and Alex Parker, 24 December 1918 [Pittman[ 55 years old; residence, Baleshed [?], Issaquena County, Mississippi [Parker] 55 years old; residence, Mayersville, Issaquena County, Mississippi “[Burr] while with several others was detailed to mend the telegraph wire running from Fort Powhatan to a place called ‘Flood’ or ‘Floods.'”
Application for Reimbursement, Dan Burr, 4 March 1921 “Dan Burr … 37 years … resident of Greenville, Washington County, Mississippi … in the last sickness and burial of Martha Ann Burr … on account of the service of Benjamin Burr … 1- pensioner, Martha Ann Burr 2 – relationship, widow 3 – n/a 4 – children under 16 years old, no 5 – still living, no 6 – sick or death benefit paid on pensioner’s account, no 7 – life, accident, or health insurance, no 8 – insurance company, n/a 9 – beneficiary, n/a 10 – beneficiary’s relationship, n/a 11 – premium – n/a 12 – premium by non-pensioner, n/a 13 – executor or administrator, no 14 – money, real estate, personal property, no 15 – character and value of property, n/a 16 – assessed value of real estate, none 17 – disposal of real estate, n/a 18 – unendorsed pension check, no 19 – relation to deceased pensioner, son 20 – married, yes 21 – cause of death, acute indigestion 22 – date last sickness began, December 12, 1920 23 – date when caretaking required, December 12, 1920 24 – name and post-office address of physician, Dr. J.H. Miller, Greenville, Mississippi 25 – person who nursed pensioner, Lula Johnson 26 – pensioner’s residence at last illness, Greenville, Mississippi 27 – place of death, Greenville, Mississippi 28 – date of death, December 19, 1920 29 – burial, Greenville, Mississippi 30 – additional request for payment, no 31 – expenses
Names
Nature of Expense
Paid or Unpaid
Amount
J.H. Miller
Physician
Partially Paid
8.00
Taylor Drug Store
Medicine
Paid
3.00
None
Nursing and Care
Delta Undertaking Co
Undertaking
Partially Paid
237.00
None
Livery
None
Cemetery
None
Other expenses
32 – a complete list of expenses, yes; post-office address, 501 Peach Tree St, Greenville, Washington County, Mississippi; [claimant’s signature]
This veteran served in the Union Navy before he joined the Union Army. Prior to his military service, he’d been enslaved in North Carolina. When the war ended, he settled in Mississippi. This pension application includes information about his wife, parents, and children as well as harrowing descriptions of his battle injuries and details about the enslaved and the enslavers.Today’s post includes research notes from documents dated 1895-1898; next week’s post will include research notes from documents dated 1916-1921.
General Affidavit, Geo E.W. Grant and James Barney, 29 March 1895 [Grant] 47 years old; residence and post-office address, Greenville, Washington Co., Mississippi … well and intimately acquainted with Benjamin Burr” [Barney] 28 years old; residence and post-office address, Greenville, Washington Co., Mississippi … well and intimately acquainted with Benjamin Burr”
Deposition, Benjamin Burr, 14 June 1895 57 years old; no occupation; residence and post-office address, 219 Broadway, Greenville, Mississippi “I was sergeant of Co E 1 US Col’d Cav. I enlisted at Newbern, NC, in Dec 1864 was mustered in at Camp Hamilton, 3 miles from Fort Monroe, Va., was discharged at Brazos Santiago, Texas, and was mustered out at New Orleans in 1866. Before that I had served in the navy on the sloop Granite. I enlisted at Portsmouth, NC in 1862 and was mustered in at Newbern and was discharged at Newbern in Dec 1864. “I was bred and born on Ocries Island [?], NC and belonged to the Jackson family. They lived on the sea-coast and were fishermen and oystermen. Portsmouth, NC was 10 or 12 miles from our place. There is no one in this county who knew me in NC. Before I went into the army I had always followed the water as a boatman and fisherman.”
“The company was stationed on Fort Powhatan on the James River in Virginia and had 35 miles of telegraph wire to keep up. [In Winter of 1865 in February, he and the company had been out – twice – to replace wire that had been cut] … were about 3/4 mile below City Point when we were fired upon by the rebels. At the second volley my horse became frightened and rode under an oak tree dragging me from the saddle. I fell on a stump on the side of the road. I fell on my left side The horse whirled around and walked on my left foot crippling one of my toes …. Bugler Henry Meekins and Corp[oral] Steve White are the men who wanted to assist me. I lay in the snow under a holly bush that day until sundown when I tried to make my way to camp but could not. By ten o’clock next day I had managed to almost reach the picket. “Of the names you have read to me Noah Ballot, Amos Simmons, Ransom Sutton, Willis Warren, Henry Charity and Henry Miggins were with the company on that occasion. … [The doctor who treated Burr was from] a 90-day Massachusetts regiment which was camped with us. … I got the asthma and my feet were frostbitten … I was treated in Virginia … After we got to Texas I was treated by our own doctor, Woodland. “I was given a medal by General Graper [?] through Lt Col Sites at Brazos Santiago, Texas the last year I was in the army. (claimant here displays his medal) It is a silver medal with the inscription Distinguished for Courage Campaign before Richmond 1864, and on the reverse side, Ferro 115 libertas pervenent [?], US Colored Cavalry ] This was given me for my conduct at Petersburg, Va.
“After being mustered out in New Orleans, I went to Shepperd’s Landing, Miss and lived on Mr. Richardson‘s Esperanza owned by Andrew & Fred Turbull and lived there 8 months next to Duncans‘ Holly Ridge place, I’m below Mayersville and lived there 8 years, from there to Turnbull’s Lakeside on Sterle’s Bayou, four miles from Skippers and staid [sic] 1 year, to Holly Ridge 2 years, and then to Greenville, where I have been ever since. Before coming to Greenville I was a farmer. After coming to Greenville I was a raftsman on the river for seven years and for the last five years I have been unable to work …. [was treated by] Dr. Blackman who lived near Glen Allen, Miss. He died about 1868. Dr. Farris was the next doctor who treated me. He lives in Mayersville. Dr. Winslow at Bend Lamond teated me next. He died 6 ot 7 years ago. Dr. Dunn was the next doctor to treat me, then Dr. Shackelford and then Dr. Pierce. These doctors all live in Greenville.”
“My correct name is Benjamin Burr. I don’t remember my parents but I know my father went by the name of Burr. Some of the people in fact a great many calls me Burl or Burrell and my true name is Burr. My children who can write always sign the name Burr. I never went by the name Catchings. … There is no other family in Greenville named Burr that I know. There are no colored people in Greenville by the name of Catchings that I know of.”
Deposition, Benjamin Burr, 18 July 1895 “I served thirteen months in the Navy … all my service was on the Granite. I lost my discharge in Virginia during the war. The Granite was lying about four miles from Portsmouth, NC when myself, Sam Neal and Jim Howard went aboard of her as contrabands We had been on the Granite about a week when the captain asked us if we did not want to enlist. We said yes and he told us to go on duty and when we went to Newbern he would have us sworn in. When we went to Newbern we went aboard the flagship the Hatzel and were sworn in. The Granite was a small sloop which carried only one big gun. She had three officers but I don’t remember their names. There were about fourteen in the crew. Sam Neal, Jim Howard, August Johnson, were among the crew. I received $14 per month. I served under the name of Benjamin Burr. … I was rated as a landsman or seaman … We lay at anchor at Portsmouth on the blockade nearly all the time.”
Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Martha Burr, 3 July 1898 [married] Martha Burr, Martha Young [when, where, by whom] by Charles Lewis, Davis Place in Issaquenah Co., Miss; [record] license [previous marriage] none [living children] Deala Burr, Nov 7, 1874; Mattia Burr, Dec 24, 1876; Alic Burr, Dec 30, 1877; James Burr, 1879; Ed Burr, Nov 30, 1883; Mary Burr, Nov 9, 1885
This soldier, born in Nova Scotia, enlisted as a Private in a Massachusetts infantry unit and was discharged as a First Lieutenant from the cavalry. He became President of a beverage corporation founded in 1891. That company exists today.
Invalid — 1,397,744 / 1,166,101 C-2, 463,729
Sworn Statement by Thomas J. Morton, Jr., Notary Public, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, 16 June 1911 “I personally examined the record of births, marriages and deaths in the family bible of Richard and Rebecca N. North, married August sixth, eighteen hundred and thirty-nine, and there found recorded the birth of James N. North on September tenth, eighteen hundred and forty-one.”
Declaration for Pension, James N. North, 23 June 1911 69 years old; residence Brookline, Norfolk, Massachusetts; post-office address, 1012 Beacon St., Brookline, Norfolk, Mass “enrolled at Boston … discharged at Fort Monroe, on the 17 day of June 1863 … residence since leaving the service have been as follows: Boston and suburbs” “Also personally appeared Thomas J. Morton Jr., residing in Boston and Frank J. Hall, residing in Quincy … their acquaintance with him of 16 years and 20 yeara, respectivly”
Questionnaire, James North, 10 July 1911 [married?] Fanny Rebecca North; Fanny Rebecca Howe [when, where, by whom] Oct 16, 1873 at Medford by Rev. Henry Clay Delong [record] “town records of Medford, Mass” [previously married] “no other marriage” [children living? names and dates of birth] Elizabeth Rebecca Dunham, Nov 12, 1874; Marion Howe James, Mar 15, 1876; Norman Howe North, Sept 16, 1886
Questionnaire, James North, 10 July 1911 [date of birth] Sept 10, 1841 [place of birth] Winsor or Wilmot, NS [date of enlistment] Dec 15, 1861 [place of enlistment] Boston, Mass. [address before enlistment] Chelsea, Mass. [post-office address at enlistment] Chelsea, Mass. [occupation at enlistment] clerk [discharge date] Oct 10, 1865 or Oct 7, 1865 [place of discharge] Richmond, Va. [residence since discharge] Chelsea, Somerville, Quincy Somerville, Medford, Boston, Brookline, Allen, Mass [present occupation] President, American Soda Fountain Co. [physical description] 5 feet 4 1/2 inches tall, 144 pounds, blue eyes, gray hair, light complexion, “left eye imperfect – large mole near left armpit”
Declaration for Pension, James N. North, 15 March 1912 70 years old; residence, 1012 Beacon St., Brookline, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; post-office address, 282 Congress St., Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts “enrolled at Boston, Mass. under the name of John Norman North, on the 15 day of December, 1861 as a Private, in Co., B, First Reg Mass [illegible] Infantry … was honorably discharged at Richmond, Va., on the 7 day of October, 1865. That he also served meanwhile from Sept 25, 1863 to Dec 30, 1863as 2d Lieut 35 USC Inft from Dec 1863to Feb 15, 1865 as Lieut 1 USC Cavalry from Feb 15, 1865 to Oct 7, 1865 as Lieut [illegible] 24 Reg Mass Vol Inft … that his occupation was clerk; that he was born September 10, 1841 at Wilmot (or Windsor), N.S. “That his several places of residence since leaving the service have been as follows: Chelsea, Somerville, Quincy, Somerville, Medford, Boston and Brookline” “Also personally appeared Frank J. Hall, residing at Quincy, Mass. and John T. Skinner, residing in Boston, Mass. … acquaintance with him of 21 years and 25 years, respectively”
While researching the lives of my great-great-grandfather Edward R. Pitt and his brother William Thomas Pitt of Norfolk County, Virginia, I found fascinating (and sometimes disturbing) details about the civilian and military experiences of those who served in the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry.
The regiment included free men, freedom seekers and white officers from the United States and abroad. It was organized at Camp Hamilton, Virginia in 1863, attached to Fortress Monroe, Virginia in 1864, and mustered out at Brazos Santiago, Texas in 1866.
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 