Loyal Friman alias William Shean, Company L

The couple married in Springfield, Massachusetts where the former soldier worked as a barber. The veteran was born in Oswego, New York and was previously married. His second wife was born in Richmond, Virginia and she lived until 1936.

Invalid — 806,624 / 806,999
Widow — 1,179,395 / 916,047

RESUME @152417

Marriage License, Loyal F. Friman and Fanny Smith, 13 October 1879
The couple was married in Springfield, Massachusetts on 13 October 1879. The groom was a 32 years old and mulatto born to David and Mary Friman in Oswego, New York. The bride was 26 years old and mulatto born to Walter and Lucy Smith in Richmond, Virginia. The couple resided in Springfield where he worked as a barber. It was his second marriage; it was her first. The officiant was John H. Docker of Springfield.
[Note: This information was taken from a transcript from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, date stamped by Pension Bureau, 30 December 1921 — Leslie]

Questionnaire (Form 3-389), Fannie Friman, 18 March 1915
[place and date of birth] Jan 13, 1845, Oswego, NY
[post-office at enlistment] Oswego, NY
[wife’s full name] Fannie Friman, Fannie Smith
[where, when, by whom] Springfield, Mass by Rev. Docker, October 13, 1879
[official or church record] city clerk’s office, Springfield, Massachusetts
[previously married] “My first wife name Alice Wright died in Springfield, Mass 1877. Cannot give you date of burial”
[present wife previously married] “She was not married”
[living wife] “I am now living with my wife … no separation”
[names and birthdates of children] Lillian Friman born May 9, 1880; Estella Friman born July 16, 1884; Ada Friman born Dec 1, 1890; Loyal Friman, Jr born Feb 1, 1882 died Sep 7, 1882

Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Fannie Friman, 24 September 1921
64 years old; residence, 34 Central St, Springfield, Mass
“born October 15, 1857 at Richmond, Virginia … widow of Loyal Friman alias William Shean who enlisted March 8, 1865 at Oswego, State of New York, under the name of William Shean, as a Private … honorably discharged February 4, 1866 … that he served Sargent … That she was married to said soldier … October 13, 1879 under the name of Fannie Smith at Springfield, Mass. by Rev. John H. Docker; tht she had not been previously married; that she had been previously married to Alice Wright, deceased — said Alice Wright, died in Springfield, September 1878 … That said soldier … died August 24, 1921, at Springfield, Mass, that she was not divorced from him and has not remarried since his death … All surviving children are above 16 years of age”

Notarized Statement of Ernest S. Bisbee, MD, Boston, Massachusetts, 24 December 1921
“This is to certify that Loyal Friman was attended by me at 32 Batavia St., Boston, Mass., on August 24, 1921, and that he died on that date of Cerebral Hemorrhage.”
[Note: This statement was written on Bisbee’s letterhead — Leslie]

Death Certificate, Fannie Friman, 23 January 1936
[Place of death] Springfield, Hamden Co., Massachusetts
[Name, residence, length of residence] Fannie Friman; 34 Central Street, Ward 3; 50 years
[sex / race / status] female / black / widowed
[spouse] Loyal Friman
[age] 80 years, 3 months, 2 days
[profession, industry, date last worked, time in this occupation] caterer, own self, October 1935, 30 years
[birthplace] Richmond, Va
[father’s name / birthplace] “cannot be learned” / “cannot be learned”
[mother’s maiden name / birthplace] “cannot be learned Smith” / “cannot be learned”
[Informant] Mrs. Stella Franklin (daughter), 34 Central St., Springfield, Mass
[Date of death] January 23, 1936
[physician] Laurence D. Chapin, MD, 20 Maple, Springfield, Mass
[place and date of burial] Springfield Cemetery, Springfield, Mass, January 26, 1936
[undertaker] Ernest A. Byron, 684 State St., Springfield, Mass

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Charles Sprout, Company E

Born enslaved in Spotsylvania County, Virginia the soldier enlisted as a free man. When the war ended, he married in Spotsylvania in 1897. He is buried in Fredericksburg National Cemetery. Additional information about his life is available in this week’s sidebar which includes a brief documentary and other items of interest.

Invalid — 1,050,441 / 814,459

Declaration for Pension, Charles Sprout, 17 August 1891
48 years old; residence, Wilderness Tavern, Spotsylvania County, Virginia; post-office address, Wilderness, Spotsylvania Co., Va.
“Also personally appeared, Mary Gray, residing at Washington, DC and Mary Bailey, residing at Washington, DC … their acquaintance with him for 20 years and 6 years, respectively”

Declaration for the Increase of an Invalid Pension, Charles Sprout, 15 December 1892
residence and post-office address, Wilderness Tavern, Spotsylvania Co., Va.
“Also personally appeared John J. Berry [?], residing at Fredericksburg and A.B. Bowering, residing at Fredericksburg”

Declaration for an Original Invalid Pension, Charles Sprout, 4 August 1896
52 years old; residence and post-office address, Wilderness Tavern, Spotsylvania Co., Va.
“occupation, farmer … when enrolled a slave”
“Also personally appeared L.R. Colbert, residing at Massaponax, Virginia and Isaiah Long, residing at Sunlight, Va.”

Declaration for the Increase of an Invalid Pension, Charles Sprout, 26 July 1897
54 years old; residence, Spotsylvania Co., Va.; post-office address, [“Fredericksburg” is struck through] Dunavant, Spotsylvania Co., Va.
“Also personally appeared John S. Berry [?], residing at Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Charles W. Edington, residing at Fredericksburg, Virginia”

Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Charles Sprout, 23 March 1898
[married] Fannie Kemp Ward; Fannie Kemp Sprout
[when, where, by whom] “June 30th 1897 at her home in Spottsylvania [sic] Co by James Roberson“
[record] Spotsylvania Co., Virginia
[previously married] “was never married before this”
[living children] “none living nor dead”

Questionnaire (Form 3-493), Charles Sprout, 31 August 1898
[residence; post-office address] Spotsylvania County; Dunavant
[residence after discharge] “I think I was discharged in June 1865 at City Point, Va. from there I went to Washington where I went to Washington where I spent about two months, and from there I went to Wilderness Tavern, where I was about eight or nine years and from there I went to Dunavant where I am now”
[nearest post-office to residence] Wilderness Tavern and Dunavant
[occupation since discharge] farming
[known by another name] no
[name in service] Charles Sprout

Questionnaire (Form 3-173), Charles Sprout, 31 August 1898
[married] Fannie Kemp Ward Sprout
[when, where, by whom] “June 30th 1897 by James Roberson, Spotsylvania Co., Va.”
[record] at Spotsylvania courthouse
[previous marriage] no
[living children] no

Declaration for Pension, Charles Sprout, 22 June 1908
69 years old; residence, Dunavant; post-office address, Dunavant, Spotsylvania, Virginia
“occupation was teamster … born October 6th, 1849, at Spotsylvania County, Virginia … residences since leaving service have been as follows: [illegible] 2 months after the war and since in Spotsylvania — Warren County, Virginia … Also personally appeared, John S. Berry [?], residing in Fredericksburg, Virginia and Samuel Coleman, residing in Fredericksburg, Viginia … their acquaintance with him of 13 and 13 years, respectively”

Questionnaire (Form 3-014), Charles Sprout, 13 June 1913
70 years old; residence, Fredericksburg, Virginia; post-office address, Fredericksburg, Virginia
“honorably discharged at Brazos Santiago, Texas, on the 4th day of February, 1866 … his occupation was teamster … he was born about 1843 … Also personally appeared John S. Boon [Brown?], residing in Fredericksburg, Virginia and George A. Scott, residing in Fredericksburg, Virginia … their acquaintance with him of 15 years and 10 years, respectively”

Questionnaire (Form 3-364), Charles Sprout, 16 June 1913
“Age shown by evidence, 70 years old; date of birth, December 12, 1842; claimant does not write
[Note: This document was date-stamped received by Pension Office — Leslie]

Letter (handwritten) from A.D. Cunningham, P.O. Box 72, Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Commissioner of Pensions,
21 February 1926
“This is to let you know that Charles Sprout is dead. He died last Sat. the 13th. He was buried in the national cemetery Tue. the 16th and I his adopted son Arthur D. Cunningham take this means of letting you know.”

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Joseph Sykes alias Joseph Williams, Company I***

Five men — including the soldier and his two brothers Harrison Sykes alias Harrison Williams  and Henry Sykes alias Henry Williams — liberated themselves from a Southampton County, Virginia plantation and “joined the Union Army at the same time and place.

Today’s post includes research notes from documents dated June 1, 1900 – April 28, 1928. Previous posts included research notes from those dated 1891-1898 and research notes dated 1898-1900.

Widow– 681,670 / 513,343, Margaret Sykes

General Affidavit, Charles J. Barrett, 1 June 1900
30 years old; residence, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Pope, Va.
“I was the man who went after Dr. F.E. Williams for Joseph Williams in his last illness … Dr. Williams attended Joseph Williams until he died I think in December 1898 and died of pneumonia. I waited on him while he was sick.”

General Affidavit, Benjamin Turner, 21 July 1900
23 years old; residence, Courtland, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Courtland, Va.
“I have known well the above named Margaret Williams for about ten years.”

General Affidavit, Margaret Williams, 8 December 1900
41 years old; residence, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Courtland, Va.
“own in fee simple a tract of timbered land situate in Southampton County containing one hundred acres, and is valued at three hundred dollars. This is all the property I have except a little personal property such as a few household goods and necessary farming apparatus [illegible] horse farm, my horse, and two or three cows. … I have not sufficient means to erect a house on my land nor to put it in any condition in which it would produce a revenue for me…. There are no encumbrances on it.”

General Affidavit, George Cloud, 17 December 1900
50 years old; residence, Courtland, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Courtland, Va.
“I am well acquainted with Margaret Williams and was with her late husband until his death. During their married life they lived near me and there were two children born to them … Nettie Williams who was born on the 8th day of April 1883 and Cora Bell Williams who was born on the 8th day of June 1886. Both of these children are now living.”

General Affidavit, Fanny Spurlock and Harriett Sykes, 22 February 1901
[Spurlock] 50 years old; residence, Pope, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office
address, Pope, Va.
[Sykes] 52 years old; residence, Pope, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office
address, Pope, Va.
“We know that Nettie Williams, daughter of Joseph and Margaret Williams was born in April in the year 1883, and that Cora Belle Williams, daughter of Joseph and Margaret Williams was born in June of 1886 … to the best of our knowledge and belief they were April 8th and June 8th.”

Fanny Spurlock … says that she remembers the birth of the child to be as stated because she herself had a daughter born to her in the year 1882 and remembers that in the following spring Nettie Williams was born, and she attended on Margaret Williams … and Harriet Sykes says that at the birth of Cora Belle Williams, she and Fanny Spurlock attended on Margaret Williams, that it was in June, and that on the 30th day of April in the next year which was 1887 her own child (Luvinia Sykes) was born.”

General Affidavit, John Sykes and Ed Turner, 9 March 1901
[Sykes] 51 years old; residence, Courtland, Southampton Co., Virginia; post-office address, Courtland, Va.
[Turner] 42 years old; residence, Courtland, Southampton Co., Virginia; post-office address, Courtland, Va.
“We are well acquainted with above named Margaret Williams and her property … This is all her real estate and it is not arable.”

General Affidavit, Asbury Jarrett, 30 April 1901
49 years old; residence, Courtland, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Courtland, Va.
“I know claimant Margaret Williams and her daughters Lou Nettie Williams and Cora Belle Williams .. have seen both of them in the last day or so, and it is certainly improbable, if not impossible that either should have since died without my knowledge.”

Letter from Winfield Scott, Commissioner to Mr. Ben Turner, R.C. 2 Box 8, Capron, Virginia,
April 28, 1928
“I have your letter of the 19th inst., you state your grandmother, Mrs. Margaret Sykes, who was pensioned as the widow of the above-named soldier, is dead, and that her property is about to be sold on account of a debt of $300 contracted by her in 1924; that the property was purchased with her pension money and you ask this bureau to assist you in preventing the sale.
“There is no Federal law which protects property purchased money derived from pensions. It is the same as other property in the hands of the pensioner, and there is nothing this bureau can do to assist you in preventing the sale of the property to which you refer.”

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Joseph Sykes alias Joseph Williams, Company I**

Five men — including the soldier and his two brothers Harrison Sykes alias Harrison Williams  and Henry Sykes alias Henry Williams — liberated themselves from a Southampton County, Virginia plantation and “joined the Union Army at the same time and place.”

Today’s post includes research notes for documents dated 1898-1900. Last week’s post included research notes for those dated 1891-1898 and next week’s will include research notes for those dated 1900-1928.

Widow — 681,670 / 513,343, Margaret Sykes

General Affidavit, Margaret Williams, 12 December 1898
40 years old; residence, Courtland, Southampton County, Virginia; post-office address, Box 85, Southampton Co., Va.
“I neither own, nor have the use of, or recurring interest in, any property of any kind: real, personal, or mixed, except a small amount of personal property which is not a source of income, and real estate worth about two hundred & fifty ($250). Since the death of my husband no person has been legally bound for my support and I obtain a living solely by my own exertions at farming. My income never exceeds (from all sources four ($4) dollars per month.
“In conformity with the custom of those days my husband was generally known by his master’s name; so when he entered the U.S. Service he enlisted under the name Joseph Williams. After the war he was free & then took his own (father’s name) of Sykes — was married to me under that name. He was however just as well known by the name of Williams as by the name of Sykes & answered to either name. I further testify that there were 3 children left by my late husband … The children are aged as follows:
“Virginia Williams or (Sykes) born on 30th of March 1879
Lue Nettie ” ” ” ” 8th April 1883
Cora Bell ” ” ” ” 8th June 1886″

General Affidavit, F.E. Williams, 20 December 1898 [date stamped by Pension Office]
37 [or 57?] years old; “physician or farmer”; residence, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Pope, Va.
“That I have been acquainted with said Jos. Sykes or Williams all of my life and his widow Margaret Sykes since 1874, that Jos. Sykes was a slave of my grandfather Jacob Williams and as was the custom he was known by the name of Jos. Williams, but after the slaves were freed he assumed the name of his father
which was Solomon Sykes.
“He married Margaret Whitehead in 1876 and lived with her until his death in Dec 1897.”

General Affidavit, Abb Barnes and Robbert Harris, 5 March 1900
[Barnes] 48 years old; residence, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Courtland, Southampton Co., Va.
“I was at Joseph Williams house when he died on the 6th of December 1897.”

[Harris] 42 years old; residence, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Courtland, Southampton Co., Va.
“I was at the marriage of Joseph Williams to Margret Whitehead in the year 1876 … she Margret Williams now lives at the place that Joseph Williams died at on the 6th of December 1897.”

General Affidavit, Jane Bynum, 22 May 1900
52 years old; residence, Courtland, Southampton County, Virginia; post-office address, Courtland, Southampton County, Virginia
“That I was present at the marriage of Margaret Williams (who was Margaret Whitehead) on the 14th day of December 1876 to Joseph Williams … they were duly married in Southampton County.”

General Affidavit, James Cloud and Joseph Gregory, 30 May 1900
[Cloud] 43 years old; residence, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Courtland, Southampton Co., Va.
“I know Margaret June Williams and know that she was the lawful widow of Joseph Williams. I have known them as man and wife for 30 years and live in one-half mile of where they lived and know that neither of them had ever been married prior to the time that Joseph and Margaret was married on December the 14th 1876.”

[Gregory] 61 years old; residence, Franklin, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Franklin, Southampton Co., Va.
“I have known Margaret Williams for 30 years. I married Joseph Williams to his wife Margaret Jane on December the 14th 1876. They were both members of the church in my charge at that time and I am satisfied that neither of them had been married prior to that time and am satisfied that they lived together until the death of Joseph Williams.”

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Joseph Sykes alias Joseph Williams, Company I*

Five men — including the soldier and his two brothers Harrison Sykes alias Harrison Williams  and Henry Sykes alias Henry Williams — liberated themselves from a Southampton County, Virginia plantation and “joined the Union Army at the same time and place.”

Today’s post includes research notes from documents dated 1891-1898. Future posts will include research notes from documents dated 1898-1900 and 1900-1928.

Widow — 681,670 / 513,343, Margaret Sykes

General Affidavit, R.S. Lewis, 14 November 1891
“have been personally acquainted with the aforesaid soldier Jos. Williams for 20 years ever since 1871. I live within half of a mile of him … I know he has been frequently confined to his house from the time I first knew him to this time and not able to labor at all. He has been down with it for a long time this year”

General Affidavit, Nathan Worrell, 14 November 1891
Courtland, Southampton County, Virginia
“I knew the aforesaid soldier before the war and never knew him to complain of rheumatism before he went in the war. I have lived without two miles of him ever since he returned home from the war .. he is often confined to the house and not able to get out because of rheumatism”

General Affidavit, Hugh Darden, 7 December 1891
“I was well quainted [sic] and lived near to Joseph Williams … I never knew him to suffer or complain of rheumatism before he went in the army. I was still at home when the said soldier returned from the army to his home … I have lived near him ever since … I am no relation nor family connected in no way to the said soldier”

General Affidavit, T.H. Cloyd and Hugh Darden, 25 March 1895
[Cloyd] 54 years old
[Darden] 42 years old
Southampton Co., Va.
“We the undersigned have known Joseph Williams for thirty years”

General Affidavit, Joseph Williams, 30 April 1895
54 years old; Southampton County, Virginia
“The rheumatism was contracted in the Army & the first I knew that I had heart disease was about July 15, 1890.”

General Affidavit, Joseph Williams, 2 November 1895
residence and post-office address, Courtland, Southampton County, Virginia
“I write a very bad hand — can scarcely write my name. For that reason, I sometimes sign by mark and occasionally sign my name myself. This is the only reason why my papers are signed sometimes by my own hand and at other times by mark.”

General Affidavit, George W. Cloud, 23 November 1898
65 years old; residence, Southampton County, Virginia; post-office address, Courtland, Southampton Co., Va.
“I knew him from a boy. We were raised joining plantations. His old master was named Jaccobb Williams. His mother was named Louisa Williams, her husband was named Solmon Sykes. Before the Civil War the mother and children all went by the name of Williams and after the war when the people became free they claimed their own names but we were all play children together — eat, played and sleep together. I do not not know what regiment he belonged to but I know the night he left here for the northern army.”

General Affidavit, Henry Charity, 23 November 1898
52 years old; residence, Southampton Co., Va.; post-office address, Boykins, Va.
“That I have been acquainted with Margt. and Jos. Williams since 1862, and I have been acquainted with her every since she was a little girl by the name of Margarett Whitehead. She grew up and married Joseph Sykes who went by the name of Joseph Williams before the war. Her mother was named Martha J. Whitehead & her father was named Calkit [sp?] Whitehead & Joseph Sykes his old master was named Jachob Williams. His mother was named Lucy Williams & father was Solomon Sykes. They all went by the name of their former master until after the surrender of Gen. Lee. They come out of servis [sic] and went by the name of Sykes father. I, Henry Charity, Joseph Williams, Parison [sp?] Williams, we enlisted the year of 1864. … and I have known Joseph Sykes every since he was a boy & all raised in [adjoining] plantations.”

General Affidavit, J.S. Gilliam and J.W. Williams, 9 December 1898
[Gilliam] 54 years old; residence, Southampton County, Virginia
“That I have been acquainted with said parties since 1869 … that as Commissioner of Revenue to District No. 2 of Southampton County do certify that the said Joseph Sykes, in the year 1896, listed personal property amounting to $166.00, that said property is now listed in the name of Margaret _____ Sykes, who is the widow of John Sykes: That I do not know positively that Joseph Sykes and Joseph Williams are one and the same person, yet I believe them to be one and the same person.”
[Williams] 51 years old; residence, Southampton Co., Va.
“That I have known the claimant Margaret Williams or Sykes since 1876 … I have known the soldier Joseph Williams or Sykes since 1865 till the time of his death and I know that Joseph Williams and Joseph Sykes were one and the same person”

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