Thomas Paines, Company K**

This soldier died in service in June 1864. His widow received benefits but was later dropped from the rolls because authorities believed she had re-married. Upon appeal, her benefits were re-instated. Documents written in pencil were extremely difficult to read; several individuals’ names could not be captured.

Today’s post includes research notes from documents dated February 1881-November 1887. Last week’s post included research notes from those dated September 1865-February 1879 and next week’s will include research notes from those dated November 1887-December 1887.

Widow — 105,242 / 102,602, Judy Paines

General Affidavit, Rev. Scott Redick and Phylis Carlan, 9 February 1881
[Redick] 35 years old;
[Carlan] 48 years old;
“That they know Judy Paine and her said husband Thomas Paine before the War of 1861. They know the said Judy Paine has never remarried since the death of her said husband … [Redick and Carlan have resided] in Portsmouth, Va. for 15 years … very near to the said Judy Paine”



Sworn Statement, Persilia Moore, 11 June 1887
40 years old; residence, Crab st., Portsmouth, Virginia
“That she has been a resident of Portsmouth city for 25 years, that she has been well acquainted with Mrs. Judy Paine … at least 20 years or more … she did not know Mrs. Judy Paine’s husband … she has been residing next door to Mrs. Judy Paine 7 years … blong [sic] to the same church Zion Baptist, City of Portsmouth, and Mrs. Paine name is recorded on the church record as Mrs. Judy Paine and that she is a good standing member”



Sworn Statement, Samuel Fisher, 11 June 1887
37 years old; residence and post-office address, 312 Fenham St.
“That he is a citizen of the City of Portsmouth … for 25 years and his occupation is hackman, and a member of the City Council of Portsmouth … well acquainted with Mrs. Judy Paine 22 years … and that he lived in the house with Mrs. Judy Paine, 7 or 8 years … Blonging [sic] to the same church.”

General Affidavit, B.F. Jourdan and Martha Darden, undated
[Jordon] 34 years old;
[Darden] 41 years old; both “citizens of Portsmouth City
“That they know Judy Paines for 20 years and lived next for 10 years … Bolonging [sic] to the same church”

Deposition, Judy Pains, 22 November 1887
about 65 years old; occupation, housekeeper; residence and post-office address, cor Crabb and Effingham St., Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va. ….my name was droped [sic] from the pension roles because it was alleged that I was cohabiting with one Jack Johnson
“Q. Where were you living when your husband enlisted?
A. I was living in the basement of a house on the cor King & Middle st., Portsmouth, Va. The house was owned by Mr. Geo. Oast (dec’d) . Mr. Oast and family lived in the upper part of the house.
Q. How long did you live in that house after your late husband enlisted.
A. I think about two years. I think I lived there about a year after he died…. My brother Wilson Darden (now decd) lived with me. I did not keep an eating house while I lived in Mr. Oast’s house. I left their house because they wanted to use their basement for a kitchen. From there I moved on King St. near Washington St., Portsmouth and rented from a colored man by the name of Charles Walk. I think I rented from him about a year. My brother Wilson Darden lived with me while in the King St house.
Q. Where did you go from the King st house
A. I moved to a house on Middle st near County and I lived there by myself for a year or two. I rented from a Mr. Buruss and my brother Wilson Darden lived there with me. While I lived in Mr. Burruss’s house I was employed opening oysters and it was while I worked at this that I first met Jack Johnson. He saw me and asked if I would open a cook shop for him and I agreed to do so for three dollars a month and boarded me but did not buy my clothes.
“The place I went to work at was in the basement of a house on Crawford st near the market. Jack Johnson rented the basement from a Mr. Robert Noel, now dead. When I first went to work from him I did not sleep in the basement where I cooked but went back and forward to where I rented from Mr. Burruss until the weather got so cold that I could not stand it, then I moved my bed into the basement where I cooked.
Q. How many rooms were in that basement?
A. There were four rooms in it. I used the front rooms for cooking and eating in and a room back was used as a kind of storeroom. and my room was in the side room back, and Jack Johnson occupied the room joining mind…. Jack Johnson paid me my monthly wages until I got my husband’s bounty & back pay. I saved it. I had left Jack Johnson’s cook shop and was living on Dinwiddie St when I got my money, my pension I think it was, and I was going out to work in the truck fields and I was afraid to leave my money in my room so I went to Jack Johnson and asked him to keep it for me until I came back, and when I returned from work, I asked him for my money, and he said he had put it in the bank, and as I worked and earned money I gave it to him to keep for me and he kept putting it in the bank, and the first I knew what he was doing he bought the lot where we now live. When I found it out I went to the atty who had procured my money (Mr. S.C.P. Cooper), now dead, and he made Jack Johnson deed part of the ground to me and then Jack put up the house in which we now live. He had my money and I believe used a part of it in building our house. He also used a part of his own money to help build the house.”
Q. Did Jack Johnson live with you or in the same house where you lived on Dinwiddie st.
A. No, sir. He lived on Water st.
Q. From whom did you rent on Dinwiddie st
A. I rented from a Mr. Hidgers [sp?]. He is dead…. I have sometimes done [Jack Johnson’s] washing & mending and he paid me for it. … I have lived in the same house with him because I believed the property rightfully belonged to me and that I had a right to it. The whole thing was a plan between Jack Johnson and & my attorney Mr. Cooper to beat me out of my money.”
“Q. Who pays the taxes on the house.
A. Jack Johnson”
“Q. To what church do you belong
A. Zion Baptist Church.
Q. How long have you been a member of that church
A. I think I joined that church about seventeen years ago My name is recorded on the church book as Judy Pains.”

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Thomas Paines, Company K*

This soldier died in service in June 1864. His widow received benefits but was later dropped from the rolls because authorities believed she had re-married. Upon appeal, her benefits were re-instated. Documents written in pencil were extremely difficult to read; several individuals’ names could not be captured.

Today’s post includes research notes from documents dated September 1865-February 1879. Future posts will include research notes from documents dated February 1881-November 1887 and November 1887-December 1887.

Widow — 105,242 / 102,602, Judy Paines

Memo from F.W. Taggart, Assistant Adjutant General, Adjutant General’s Office, 4 September 1865
“On the Muster Roll of Co. K of that Regiment, for the months of May and June 1864, he is reported Died of Disease June 3rd 1864 in Hospt’l at Bermuda Hundred, Va.”

Memo from J.J. Woodward, Record and Pension Bureau, Surgeon General’s Office, 23 December 1865
“Tom Paine, Co. K, 1st Regiment U.S.C. Cavy, is reported to this Office by Surgeon B.S. Manley as having died June 10, 1864 at Petersburg of Erysipelas.”

Memo from F.W. Taggart, Assistant Adjutant General, Adjutant General’s Office, War Department, 23 August 1866
“Thomas Pain … has died June 9, 1864 in Hospital at Bermuda Hundred of Erysipelas.”

Letter from C.W. Foster, Assistant Adjutant General, Adjutant General’s Office, War Department to Leopold C.P. Cowpers, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Portsmouth, Virginia, 24 May 1867
“Referring to your letter of the 21st instant … Sampson J.S. Whiteman, late Captain who is supposed to be a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio is the only officer … whose probable address is known at this office.
“The late Surgeon Bradford S. Manly, entered the service at Madrid, N.Y., and the late Assistant Surgeon William H. Gray, at Acton, Mass., but both were mustered out of service in Texas, to remain in the South, and their present addresses are not known at this office.”

Sworn Statement, Louisa Cook, 23 April 1875
“lived near neighbor to said Judy Paine in the City of Portsmouth, Va., seen her every day and visited her nearly every day living for the last six years within a few yds. of her.”

Sworn Statement, Scott Reddick, 23 April 1875
“for fifteen years he has well known Judy Paine … living near neighbor to said Judy Paine, seeing her almost daily and having visited often at her house”

Exhibit A, Judy Paine, 4 February 1879
about 55 years old; residence, corner of Crab & Effingham Sts., Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.
“That for several years preceding the late war she was a slave to Robert Darden who bought her from John Nelms estate; while she was a slave of said John Nelms, she was married by mutual consent and consent of owners to Thomas Norfleet, a slave of Nathaniel Norfleet who lived near Suffolk, Va. She continued to cohabit with said Thomas Norfleet as husband and wife after she became a slave of Robert Darden and until the enlistment of her said husband in the U.S. Service … he changed his name to Thomas Paine upon his enlistment … he had taken the name of Paine or Paines after his father who was a free negro named James Paine or Paines, affiants’ master & mistress are dead …
“[H]e left his master before his enlistment and was working on the Batteries near Getty Station, affiant had also left her owner and was living with the soldier as his wife at Portsmouth, Va. at time of his enlistment, he came to see her several times after enlistment, before he went away … learned of his death from Mrs. Colden whose husband was in same Regiment … [the Regiment moved to Hampton for a short time] … visited the soldier at that point several times and remained a day or two on each occasion, had no child by deceased husband, but had five children by former husband, all of whom are dead …
“[affiant and John Johnson] have lived in their present residence 9 or 10 years.
[Note: Johnson built a house with money they shared in a bank account. They continued to occupy separate rooms — Leslie]
“The house she occupies is a small double tenement, one end is rented to Daniel Watkins, the rent is sometimes paid to affiant and sometimes to Johnson but the tenement to Watkins by said Johnson.”

Exhibit B, Richard Colden, 5 February 1879
about 48 years old; residence, Crabb bet Effingham & Chestnut Sts., Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia
“well acquainted with the claimant and was acquainted with her dec’d husband … Affiant was a comrade with deceased soldier… Claimant belonged to the estate of Nancy Nelms, widow of John Nelms”

Exhibit C, Robert Noel, 5 February 1879
51 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.
“acquainted with claimant … never heard her called anything but Judy, never heard her called Judy Paines or Judy Johnson“

Exhibit D, John Johnson, 6 February 1879
about 50 years old; residence, Crab & Effingham sts., Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.
“acquainted with claimant, has known her at least twelve years … she has kept house for him but they have not occupied the same bed or room … They do own some property but there is [sic] separate deeds … the deed was made to him by E. Mahoney & Wife, in 1871 he (affiant) made a deed to claimant for one half the lot, gave her the part of the lot that contained the tenement … since then they have built a tenement on the other end of the lot, the part retained by affiant, his deed covers the said tenement … they are not known in church or society as husband and wife.”

Exhibit E, E.G. Corprew, 6 February 1879
50 years old; residence, Effingham St., Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.
“he is a regularly ordained minister of the Gospel and Pastor of Zion Baptist Church (col), he is acquainted with claimant who is a member of said church … claimant’s connection with Johnson was investigated before she was taken into the church, and she and Johnson satisfied the committee that she was simply Johnson’s housekeeper, and occupied no closer relation … she would not be allowed to retain her membership were she known to occupy closer relations with Johnson.”

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Isam Portlock, Company F**

**Today’s post includes research notes for documents dated 1891-1892. Last week’s post included research notes for documents dated 1868-1888.

The widow’s former enslaver offered testimony about the widow’s age, her children’s ages, the year of purchase, and the year he moved “his people” from Hampton, Virginia to Dinwiddie County, Virginia. Pension benefit applications from the widow and the guardian dragged on for more than 20 years and were eventually denied.

Widow — 425,390 / —–, Margaret Washington
Guardian — 162,426 / —–, Albert Portlock

Widow’s Declaration for Pension or Increase of Pension, Margaret Washington, 16 November 1891
about 50 years old; post-office address, Hampton, Va.
[She married the soldier Isom Portlock] on the 1st day of October A.D. 1856 by Rev. Rich’d Parker at Norfolk, Va. … Claimant re-married … 1867 … [the soldier’s] legitimate children
Georgiana born November 1st 1859
Cyrus born September 15th, 1861
“Also personally appeared Lee Price, residing at Hampton, Va. and Annika [Amanda?] Robinson residing at same.”


Declaration for Original Pension of a Widow — Child or Children under Sixteen Years of age surviving, Margaret Washington, 10 December 1891
46 years old; residence, Hampton, Va.; post-office address, Hampton, Va.
“She was married under the name of Margaret Young to said Isom Portlock … 1856 by consent of former owners … names and dates of birth of all his legitimate children yet surviving who were under sixteen years of age at the father’s death,
Georgia Portlock, born Oct 1, 1859
Cyrus Portlock, born Sept 15, 1859
“Also personally appeared L.C. Williams, residing at No. 19 in Jefferson street, in Norfolk, Va. and Cyrus Portlock residing in Atlantic City, Norfolk, Va.
[Note: There are discrepancies in the reported birthdates — Leslie]



Names and P.O. addresses of officers and comrades of Co. F. 1st Reg’t U.S. Col. Cav., 31 March 1892

Name	Rank	Present P.O. Address
Jno. Walker	2d Sgt.	Elizabeth City, Pasquotank Co., NC
Beverly West	Sgt.	22 Cleveland St., Norfolk, Va.
Cuffy Emmerson	Pvt.	Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va.
Wm. Fuller	Pvt.	Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va.
Henry Sivills	Pvt.	Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va.
Edw. W. Whithers	Pvt.	c/o J.F. Dezendorf, Norfolk, Va.
Isaac Deans	Pvt.	Barboursville, Orange Co., Va.
Edw. Proctor	Pvt.	South Mills, Camden Co., NC



Report from Special Examiner, Eastville, Virginia, to the Commissioner or Pensions, Washington, DC, 22 November 1892
“p.o. addresses are respectively: Georgiana until the Spring of 1893, Calhoun Colored School, Calhoun, Lowndes Co., Ala. After the Spring of 1893, Normal School, Hampton, Va., Cyrus, Atlantic City, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va. … Wm. B.F. Hudgins, who was the last owner of the mother and who appears to be a highly intelligent gentleman and to have a good memory, states that he bought the mother in 1858 and that she had two children then … Wm. Hudgins, moved his slaves off from Hampton to Dinwiddie, Va. in July 1861 … the soldier ‘kept company’ with one Jennie Selden after the mother of the minors was sold and sent away in 1858, that he ‘kept company’ with Jennie when his company was stationed in Norfolk for 7 [or 9?] months during service and that when his regiment was sent to Texas after the war ‘Jennie’ accompanied the soldier and occupied a tent with him there as his wife and was known by his surname although it is stated that they were not married and did not live together after service and that afterwards ‘Jennie’ would not have anything more to do with him.”

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Isam Portlock, Company F*

*Today’s post includes research notes from documents dated 1868-1888. Next week’s post will include research notes from documents dated 1891-1892.

The widow’s former enslaver offered testimony about the widow’s age, her children’s ages, the year of purchase, and the year he moved “his people” from Hampton, Virginia to Dinwiddie County, Virginia. Pension benefit applications from the widow and the guardian dragged on for more than 20 years and were eventually denied.

.

Widow — 425,390 / —–, Margaret Washington
Minor — 162,426 / —–, Albert Portlock (Gdn.)



Application of Guardian of Minor Children in order to Obtain Army Pension, Act July 14, 1862, Albert Portlock, 18 May 1868
42 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va. “Declaration as Guardian of the minor children of Isom Portlock… guardian of Georgiana Portlock & Cyrus Portlock …[Isom Portlock] died in Norfolk City, Virginia … [August 1897] ; that his death was caused by phthisis pulmonalis … dates of birth are Georgiana Portlock born July 1856, Cyrus Portlock born October 1859 … parents of said wards were married in Norfolk City, Virginia on the 2d day of October [1855] by Rev. Richard Parker … Chas. C. Brown, Claim Agent, Norfolk, Va.
“Also personally appeared Rev. Pete Shepperd and Jacob Reddick, residents of Norfolk City, County of Norfolk, State of Virginia”



Handwritten letter from Cyrus Portlock, Norfolk, Virginia to Hon. John C. Black, Pension Bureau, 9 January 1888
“Dear Sir — Having put in my claim some time ago I write for information concerning it. I am the son of the late Isom Portlock, Co. F, U.S. Infantry. I wish you would let me know something concerning it whether pro or con in my favor.
Cyrus Portlock
Knitting Mills
Norfolk, Va.
c/o Eda Cowper [sp?]
[Note: The soldier’s son incorrectly reported that his father served in the infantry — Leslie]
[Note: There were several knitting mills in Norfolk. More research to determine which one this one is.– Leslie]

Sworn Statement, James Brooks, 27 December 1888
45 years old; residence, 255 Queen St. “That he was a corporal of Co. F…. he was well acquainted with Sergt. Isom Portlock … contracted a heavy cold at Fort Monroe about the months of Jan and February … layed [sic] for at least four weeks without tents on the cold ground in the snow, frost, and rain … great many soldiers caught their death of cold and Portlock was one of the victims. He lingered all through the army up to his discharge on the 4th of Feby 1866. … he died the immediate cause of his death was consumption he contracted in the service … he died on the 8th Dec 1867 … he had but little acquaintance with his family”

Sworn Statement, Cyrus Young and Frank Young, 27 December 1888
[C. Young] 58 years old; residence [illegible] Queen St., [Norfolk, Va.]
[F. Young] 55 years old; residence, [illegible] Queen St., [Norfolk, Va.]
“Each of them well acquainted with the claimant Margaret Portlock … now the wife of Cornelius Washington that they knew Isom Portlock before the war … they resided near neighbor to the claimant and claimant’s husband at that time … [Cyrus Young] says they served together up to discharge … each of them were present in the City of Norfolk when the soldier died. They cannot say whether the soldier had any doctor to treat him after being home. They heard from his wife Margaret one Doctor Crowder treated the soldier but … they are sure is deceased and the soldier lived but a short while”



Sworn Statement, Margaret Portlock, 27 December 1888
about 50 years old; residence, Norfolk Co., Va.;
“Ida born 15 day of July 1857 and she died Sept 1862 at Hampton, Va. and Georgeana born 1 day of Nov. 1859 still surviving and Cyrus born on 15 day of Sept 1861 … the soldier her husband died Dec 8th 1867 at Norfolk, Va. … she was married with the said Cornelius Washington on the 22 day of Jan 1870 at Dinwiddy [sic] County, Va., that the ceremony was read to her and Cornelius Washington but had no license, her marriage to the said Washington was witnessed by the white people known as the Wishburns of said county, she further states that her said first husband Portlock never were previous married till the marriage to her … the guardian known as Albert Portlock of said minors he is deceased some five years now … She has been informed by good authorities both of the surgeons of his regiment are deceased Dr. Samuel S. Manily died at Portsmouth, NY seven years ago. Dr. William B. Grey died at N. Orleans June 1873. … treated by one doctor name Crowder who are deceased now three years”


Sworn Statement, Barbara Vann, 28 December 1888
60 years old; “That she was well acquainted with the claimant Margaret Portlock now Margaret Washington before the war of 1861, that the claimant was married to Isom Portlock the year of 1856 in the City of Norfolk, Va. by the consent of her former owner, the claimant is the mother of three children by her said husband … Ida born 15 day of July 1857 and died Sept 1862 at Hampton, Va. Georgana born 1 day of Nov 1859 and Cyrus born 15 day of Sept 1861, she further states the soldier died Dec. 8th 1867 at Norfolk, Va. … after the death of the soldier the claimant married one Cornelius Washington on the 22 day of Jan 1870 at Dinwiddy [sic] … she was to both marriages of the claimant and births of the children and also present at the death of the soldier”

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Nelson Portlock, Company B

These applications were prosecuted by W.R. Drury, an attorney in Norfolk, Virginia. There seemed to be a pattern of shady dealings viz statements taken in this attorney’s office for a number of pensioners in 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry. Statements on behalf of the soldier and his widow came from childhood friends, comrades-in-arms, and the daughter of the former slaveowner. 

Invalid — 804,931 / 1,057,118
Widow — 584,509 / 408,908, Maria Portlock

General Affidavit, Nelson Portlock, 5 April 1892
50 years old; residence, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.
“[T]hat he was sent to Texas and while at work unloading a vessel laden with lumber he was overstrained and hurt by heavy lifting. This occurred in 1865. He couldn’t remember dates. He is an unlettered man and cannot read or write, that he is confident his injury is permanent and was not incurred from vicious habits.”

Deposition, Lewis Walke, 16 July 1892
65 years old; occupation, farming; post-office address, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I have known the clt Nelson Portlock all his life. We have always lived within a half mile of each other — were owned before the war on adjoining plantations near where we now live and have lived continuously since discharge. We enlisted at the same time ….”

Deposition, Emmerson Cuffee, 1 August 1892
66 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I have known clt Nelson Portlock since childhood. He was reared in the immediate neighborhood prior to the late war and we served together…. He in Co. B, and I in Co. F. and we have been neighbors continuously since discharge …”

Deposition, Alexander Hodges, 15 June 1893
about 75 years old; occupation, rag gatherer;   7th St. cor Mahone Ave., Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I served on the U.S.S. Georgia and Port Royal also Colorado … I do not know Nelson Portlock. I know Louise Walke, John Coy, and Emmerson Cuffee. Yes, I have been in W.R. Drury’s office in Norfolk, Va.. .I do not know how my name came to be on the pension papers of Nelson Portlock because I do not know him ….”

Deposition, John Coy,16 June 1893
66 years old; occupation, farming; post-office address, Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I served in Co B., 1st U.S.C. Cavlry. I have known Nelson Portlock since I was a small boy.”

Deposition, Racho Jackson, 17 June 1893
56 or 57 years old; post-office address, 45 Cumberland St., Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
“My name is John H. Brown alias Racho Jackson…. I have seen the signature Racho Jackson on the application of Nelson Portlock executed Sept 12, 1892 and it is my signature but I do not now have any recollection of putting it there or any of the circumstances of that event. I have no personal knowledge of Nelson Portlock or John Coy, or Louise Walke.”

General Affidavit, L.L. Sawyer, M.D., 20 April 1894
68 years old; post-office address, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.
“… I attended Nelson Portlock, the husband of Maria Portlock, during his last illness and know that he died July 23, 1895 …”

General Affidavit, Mary Elizabeth Armstrong, 20 April 1894 
67 years old; post-office address, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I knew them both from birth. They both belonged to my grandfather’s estate and then to his children. My mother was one of them. They have lived near me all the time up to his death on July 25, 1893. He left one child under 16 years of age. She has no means of support other than her own labor….”

General Affidavit, Albert McCoy, 20 April 1894
54 years old; post-office address, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I have known Nelson Portlock and his widow Maria since they were children …  The child was born Sept. 19, 1880 … I lived near them from the time they went together as man & wife and until Nelson died. I saw the child in a few weeks of birth …”

General Affidavit, Mary Corprew, 17 September 1894
60 years old; post-office address, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I have lived near and been acquainted with Maria Portlock for twenty-five years or more and was with her when her son Willie Portlock and which is the only child Nelson left at his death under 16 years … I have always lived near her and am well acquainted with all of her children … I nursed Maria at the birth of Willie Portlock, during her sickness, was with her the most of the time, and know that the child was born Sept. 19, 1880….”

General Affidavit, Susanna Blankenship, 17 September 1894
45 years old; post-office address, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I have known Maria Portlock for fifteen years or more and have always lived near her and went to see her soon after the child claimed for, Willie Portlock, was born … I also visited her several times after the child was born …”

General Affidavit, W.N. Williamson and Alexander Payne, 26 September 1894
[Williamson] 34 years old; post-office address, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.
[Payne] 30 years old; post-office address, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.
“We are well acquainted with Marie Portlock … we have been living near her for 10 or 15 years and see and talk with her as often as once or twice a week … She is living in a rented house, has no income at all other than her own daily labor.”

General Affidavit, Washington Nichols and Louis Walke, 27 March 1895
[Nichols] 54 years old; post-office address, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.
[Walke] 68 years old; post-office address, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.
“We hereby state that we were in the army with Nelson Portlock … and think that it was the result of marching …”

Deposition, Maria Portlock, 29 June 1895
52 years old; occupation, housekeeping; post-office address, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.

Deposition, Rosalie Nichols, 11 February 1896
23 years old; occupation, housegirl; post-office address, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I have known the pensioner Maria Portlock all my life and my father Wash Portlock and I went with her to Great Bridge, Va. the 1st day and at the time she drew her first pension money as his widow ….”

Deposition, Washington Nichols, 11 February 1896
about 54 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address,   Norfolk Co., Va.
“I have known the pensioner Maria Portlock since my earliest recollection   and I was present at Great Bridge post-office Va. when she received her first pension money as the widow of Nelson Portlock …”

Deposition, J.J. Reynolds, 11 February 1896
40 years old; occupation, merchant;
“I know the pensioner Maria Portlock and I have known her the past six or seven years. I think I prepared nearly all of the affidavits for use in her pension claim and they were all executed before me in my character as Notary Public.”

Deposition, Maria Portlock, 12 March 1901
65 years old; post-office address, Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I know my said husband was born in Churchland. “Nat” Portlock was his owner and Nat Portlock‘s sister Barbara Wilson was my owner. My said husband’s father’s name was Aaron McCoy and his mother’s name was Sue Portlock and the soldier was never known by any other name than Nelson Portlock. We were born and raised near Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va. and at that place we resided he died and I have since resided in Great Bridge, Va.

“He and I were married by consent, three or four years before the war began. I had two children by the soldier before he enlisted. He enlisted in the army here at Norfolk, Va. and served 3 years …. I visited him in camp at Fort Monroe ….”

“I have 4 children living. My oldest son James lives with me. The other three reside in the same neighborhood.  I have cooked and washed since the death of my husband and my son James has contributed to my support. My said husband died in the summer of 1893 …. Dr. Sawyer was his physician.

“Riddick who had a store at Great Bridge did my writing and he took $35 out of my first check for his services. Riddick removed to Norfolk in Dec 1900. George Hall, Great Bridge, Va. has executed my vouchers. I trade at Hall & Hall’s store. My son William for whom I draw pension resides with me. He is now 18 years old.”

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