Thomas Turner, Company B

It appears the soldier’s marriage was recorded by the Provost Marshall — worth a look in that Record Group for details!

Widow — 553, 770 / —–, Amanda Turner

Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Amandia Turner, 18 June 1892
49 years old; residence, Waverly, Sussex County, Virginia; post-office address, Waverly, Sussex County, Virginia
“That she was married under the name Amandia Dillard … on the 10 day of February 1867 by Provost Marshall, Waverly, Va. … That names and dates of birth of all the children now living under over sixteen years of age of the soldier are as follows:
Mollie Turner, born July 10, 1868
Cattie Turner, born August 25, 1870
Eddie Turner, born March 6, 1872
Bettie Turner, born September 22, 1874
Ernest Turner, born June 12, 1876″
‘Note: The word “under” on the form was struck through; the word “over” was inserted in cursive. The children’s birthdates are written in the same format for readability.

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William Turner, Company B

This soldier and his wife seemed to have led an ordinary life when he returned to Norfolk after he was discharged from his military service. Sadly, two of their three children died in infancy. The couple maintained close relationships with neighbors — some of whom they share a dwelling with. Like many families, they struggled to afford medical treatment.

Widow – 482,241 / 292,214, Matilda Turner

Sworn Statement, John Lislo and Thomas Baker, 27 February 1891
[Lislo] 53 years old; residence, 20 Salter St, Norfolk, Va
[Baker] 55 years old; 60 York St., Norfolk, Va.
“That they lived near neighbors to them for twenty-seven years and they were present at their marriage as waiters and have lived near neighbors to the said Matilda Turner… from the death of said William Turner to the present time.”

Sworn Statement, John Brickhouse and James Brooks, 28 February 1891
“William Turner had three children by Matilda Cross, his wife … The names of all the children and their deaths and births … Richard R. Turner was born on the 15th day of June 1868 and now resides at No 150 Cumberland St, City of Norfolk, State of Virginia, and Martha and Mary was born on the first day of June 1870. They were twins. Martha died on the first day of June 1870 and Mary died on the 14th day of September 1871. The last two was twins.”

Widow’s Declaration for Pension, Matilda Turner, 10 July 1893
residence, 150 Cumberland St., Norfolk, Va.; post-office address, Norfolk, Va.
“That she was married under the name of Matilda Cross to said William Turner on the 22 day of April A.D. 1867, by Geo. Watkins, at Norfolk, Va. … no children under 16 at soldier’s death …. Also personally appeared William Galt, aged 65 years, residing at 87 Brewer St., City of Norfolk, Va. and James Williams aged 33 years old residing at 162 Queen St., City of Norfolk, Va.”

Claimant’s Affidavit, Matilda Turner, 21 March 1894
44 years old; residence, 60 [illegible] Street, Norfolk County, Va.
“My husband William Turner dec’d was attended by Dr. T.B. Ward of the City of Norfolk from soon after he came out of the U.S. Services to within a few days of before his (Dr. Ward) death of the consumption of the lungs … [Ward] died in the City of Norfolk about the last of April 1885… the only physician who attended him from his discharge from the service to his death. After Dr. Ward died he was not able to employ another physician but used such medicine as he could obtain from the drug store by the advice of his friends and neighbors such as cod liver oil, tonics, etc.”

General Affidavit, Peter Fuller, 28 April 1894
51 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co, Va.; post-office address, 1 Brown St, Norfolk, Va.
“We both came home to Norfolk together. I lived in Norfolk and within one hundred yards of William Turner … and during this time I saw him almost daily and frequently saw him several times a day and at the expiration of the said four years, I lived from that time four blocks from him to the day of his death the 10th day of October 1884. I was present at his death … He was unable to perform any kind of labor except opening a few oysters occasionally, about three gallons per day … she is without other means of support than by her daily labor, that she does not own any real estate or personal property nor have no income of any description whatever save the small amount pension … allowed her by the government”

General Affidavit, James Brooks, 28 April 1894
53 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va; post-office address, 38 Bottimore St., Norfolk, Va.
“I was a Corporal … I was well acquainted with William Turner … we came home to Norfolk together. I lived within three blocks of William Turner in Norfolk for the first five years and see him daily, and after the first 5 years afoesaid we lived in the same house together.”

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Calvin Jackson alias Henry Tripp, Company A

There’s virtually no personal detail in this pension application. When that happens, the researcher has to seek out other sources.

Mother – 259,960 / —– , Caroline Jackson

Letter from John A. Vann, Belvidere, North Carolina to Chas W. Dey, Herndon, Virginia, 13 August 1885
“Will you please give me the name of the man who was killed at Chicakhominy Swamp at the time you had ordered your men to lie down & this man having raised himself up on his knees was shot through the head? One of your men ‘Gilbert Felton‘ by name, tells me that he was near the man when he was shot & saw him fall.
“I want the name of the party who was killed at that time & you will greatly oblige me by referring to your papers & giving me proof of his identity. Gilbert Felton thinks the man enlisted under the name of Henry Tripp. It seems there was one man killed at the time so you can easily identify him.”

Letter from Charles W. Dey, Herndon, Fairfax County, Virginia to General Black, 27 August 1885
“Henry Tripp of my company was from North Carolina but I am of the impression that he told me that he only had a sister as nearest relative and as he was only twenty years of age I fail to see how his sister could be the ‘poor old decrepit colored woman’ Rev. Faun describes. Of course twenty two years will somewhat dim the distinctions of memory. And I may be mistaken. And it might have been a mother instead of a sister. In which case Rev. Faun’s adjectives would all prove correct.
“Will you make a special case of this and thereby protect the Govt from fraud? And also do justice to the relative of any of a brave soldier?
“Will you be kind enough to indicate what course in your opinion I should pursue in regard to the matter and greatly oblige
“Yours very, truly,
Charles W. Dey
Late Capt Co A 1st USC Cav”

Letter from RW Browne, Attorney at Law, Room 18 Wiggins Block, Take Elevator, Cincinnati, Ohio to Commissionr of Pensions, 3 June 1893
“I was present as 2d Lt of Co A 1st USCC at the fight at Jones Ford on the Chicahominy, May 5, 1864. We had one man shot dead and I believe one or two wounded. I remember the names Laster & Tripp perectly well, but do not remember whether that was the name of either the man killed or of the one of ones wounded. The officer in command of the company on that day wass Capt. Chas. W. Dey now residing at Herndon, Fairfax Co., Va.”

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John Tuttle, Company UNA

Items in this pension application are inconsistent with facts pertaining to service in the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry. The officers’ names don’t appear on the regiment’s roster and this soldier was discharged far from the regiment’s field assignments. This person’s application was incorrectly catalogued — possibly years ago — and interested parties might never locate the file. When this has happened, I’ve reported the discrepancy to National Archives staff and continue to hope the situation can be rectified.

Invalid — 1,254,215 / ——

Declaration for Invalid or Additional Pension, 3 September 1900
75 years old; residence, Johnson County, Kansas
“commanded by Captain Purfur [sp?] and Captain Hucklebone and served at least 90 days in the war of The Rebellion, and was honorably discharged at Pulaski, state of Tennessee … Close of War, 1865 … unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of entire blindness of left eye, hernia of right side, and general disability including weakness of mind.”
“Does not remember date of discharge. His discharge was lossed [sic] at Lawrence, Kansas when he was sick”
“Also personally appeared W.D. Morrison residing at Olathe, Kansas and James Hammond residing at Olathe, Kansas”

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John Thompson, Company K

“John Thompson” or “John Thomas” or “John Tompkins”? Company K or Company L? Infantry, Cavalry, or Artillery? Conflicting facts call for additional research and careful analysis.

Invalid — 793, 596 / —–

Letter from Andrew Davidson, Acting Commissioner, Bureau of Pensions to J.F. Kearney, Esq. 13 East Thrid St., Cincinnati, Ohio, 14 August 1890
“It will be necessary for you to state whether the regiment referred to was Infantry, Cavalry, or Artillery.”

General Affidavit, John Thompson, 26 September 1891
“citizen of the town of Cincinnati, County of Hamilton, State of Ohio
“I am the identical person who enlisted in Co K 1st Regt US Cold Cavalry. My name may appear on the rolls of said Company as John Thomas as I was called by that name sometimes. I enlisted in Cincinnati, Ohio with Henry Triplett & reported to Provost Marshall Jones who assigned us to the aforesaid Company & Regiment. Triplett & I joined our company at Gallatin, Tennessee. Triplett was killed at the Battle of Nashville. I was discharged at Louisville, Kentucky. I lost my discharge right after I was discharged by having my valise stolen from me at Sycammore [sic] Indiana. This is the best identification I can give of myself.”
[Note: The endorsement on the back reads “John Tompkins was a private in Company K, 1st Regt, USC Cavalry, Respectfully returned with the information called for J.F. Kearney. Aug 18, 1890″ — Leslie]

War Departement, Record and Pension Division, 23 October 1891
“The rolls show that John Thompson Co L 1 USC Cav mentioned in the preceding endorsement, was enrolled Dec 28, 1864, and deserted as pvt Oct 20, 1865.
“Henry Trip, Co A said Regt killed in action at Jones Ford, Va.
“There is a John Thomas in Co K 1 USC Inf enrolled in Va.
“No other John Thompson or Thomas in either Regt.”

[Note: according to C.R. Gibbs’s Black, Copper, & Bright: The District of Columbia’s Black Civil War Regiment, there was a John Thomas, born in Prince George’s County, Maryland, who enlisted at Mason’s Island, Virginia on June 30, 1863. Thomas was 23 years old. — Leslie]

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