Anthony Williams, Company L

Unable to work because of a gunshot wound to the foot, the veteran’s application based on invalid status was approved.

Invalid – 1,028, 945 / 785,758

Claimant’s Affidavit, Anthony Williams, 20 November 1891
56 years old; residence, Cartwrights, Nansemond County, Virginia
“was wounded in the left foot … it was at Chickahominy … unable to earn a living [illegible] by hard labor … Witness: Thomas Holland, Exum White“

Letter from Chas. Gary, Cartwrights Wharf, Nansemond County, Virginia to S.L. Wilson, U.S. Pension Agt., Washington, DC, 4 December 1895
“I endorse to you Mr. Anthony Williams pension papers unsigned as he died Oct 8, 1895. Mr. Williams lived with me at time of his death and had been for several years and I write to let you know the facts in the case and on yesterday in looking over his papers I found this one and thought it ought to be returned and do so at once.”

Read Full Post »

Robert Brown alias Isaiah Wright, Company L

A ‘recruiter’ encouraged his brother-in-law who lived in New Jersey to enlist under an alias in New York. A bridesmaid and groomsman from the couple’s 1857 wedding vouched for the widow’s application for pension benefits. Witnesses lived in Camden County, New Jersey and nearby Philadelphia, Pennsylvania located just across the Delaware River.

Invalid — 864, 877 / 616,988
Widow — 575,736 / 402,259, Sarah A. Brown

Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Sarah A. Brown, 3 May 1893
residence and post-office address, 1026 So 10th St, Camden, Camden Co., NJ;
“She was married under the name of Sarah Jubilee to said Robert Brown on the 25 day of Nov 1857 by Rev. W.D. W. Schuman, at Camden, NJ … neither of them previously married
“Also personally appeared Sarah L. Gibson, residing at Camden, County of Camden, State of New Jersey, and Mary E. Wright, residing at Camden, County of Camden, State of New Jersey”
[Note: “Jubilee” is a very unusual surname. Oscar Jubilee served in Company I, 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry (posted December 7, 2020) and his brother Samuel C. Jubilee served in Company K, 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry (posted November 30, 2020). Samuel settled in New Jersey but more research is required to determine whether these men had a connection with the widow Sarah (Jubilee) Brown — Leslie]

Deposition, Sarah A. Wright, 15 September 1893
59 years old; post-office address, 1026 So. 10th, Camden, NJ
“I exhibited to you the Discharge he received, but you can see it has been mutilated, the name Robert Brown was erased and the name Isaiah Wright inserted. He must have done that himself.”
“I was married to [the soldier] in this house in 1857 … We had a small wedding party. Wm. Sample, Comfort Pool, Lizzie Mitchfield were present at the marriage and my sister Elizabeth Weeks saw the marriage. I have the original marriage certificate which I exhibit to you.”
“I did not know that he was going to enlist. I was sick and he left me in the morning to go to his work. He did not return that night and I was worried and I did not know for about one week where he was and then Isaac Silvey (dead) my husband’s brother-in-law who was a ‘recruiter’ came and told me that my husband had enlisted in New York. My husband sent me a letter from Harts Island and in that he mentioned that his name was Robert Brown and he instructed me to address him by that name … I have no letters that he sent me … He was a Sergeant. No one around here enlisted with him. I heard him speak of a comrade named Zach Green, and he has been here since the war. I don’t know where he lived but I think in Philad.
“No I do not know Edward Moore, a comrade who was with him when he applied for pension. Isaac Selvy advised him to take the alias Robert Brown so he told me. He got a bounty I think of $600. Selvy gave me $200 and the balance he put in the bank for my husband, but I never got any of the balance nor did my husband, Selvy got it.
“Because he served under an alias he did not join the GAR on that account. The State has erected a tombstone with his name Isaiah Wright … there was a space between [her husband’s] two front teeth … I earn my living by washing and cooking. I just returned from Cape May where I have been working all summer.
“He owned this house. I suppose it’s mine. It is worth probably $1500 but is mortgaged for $600.”

Deposition, Caroline Selvy, 3 July 1894
48 years old; residence, 1126 Ohio Street, Philadelphia, Pennysylvania;
“I am a widow. My maiden name was Caroline Wright. I am a sister of Isaiah Wright, late husband of the claimant, Sarah A. Wright. I had two other brothers, George and William. George went to sea about 20 years ago. During that time I have never heard from him. I do not know whether he is living or dead. William lives at Yorktown, Salem Co., NJ. He works on a farm at that place.
“My brother Isaiah Wright died April 6, 1893 at No. 1026 S. 10 St., Camden, NJ. I was at his funeral. … He was married to the claimant several years before the war. I was not at the marriage but I was present at the ‘reception.’
“While he was at the Army he wrote one letter to me in which he described his army life. I think the letter was dated ‘Hilton Head.’ I remember he signed his name just ‘R.’ His full name was Robert Isaiah Wright. I answered that letter and addressed him at Isaiah Wright.
“After I mailed the letter my husband Isaac Selvey asked me how I addressed him. I told him and he replied that the letter might not reach him because that was not his name, that he enlisted under the name of ‘Robert Brown’ and that he was known by that name in the regiment. The letter was returned to me.
“My husband Isaac Selvy was a ‘recruiting man’ and enlisted my brother at New York … I never heard my brother give any reason for taking an assumed name at his enlistment.”
“He wa a short stout man, black, has a small moustache. I don’t remember that he wore beard on his chin. No special marks. His teeth were very far apart, so far that it would look to some people that he had lost some of them … I have not seen Zach Green since last Fall. I saw him then on a wagon. I do not know if he is still in the city.”

Deposition, John Brinkley, 3 July 1894
52 years old; occupation, laborer; residence, Paschallville, Church ___, Philadelphia, Pa.
“I enlisted in New York in March 1865 in Co L 1 USC Cavy. … I knew two members of the company named Brown — Isaiah Brown and William Brown. Isaiah Brown was from Camden, NJ. I tented with these men and of course was well acquainted with them — with Isaiah especially … I never saw him since our discharge until about four years ago. I met him in Camden, NJ. I hailed him as ‘Brown.’ He then told me that ‘Brown’ was not his name … and that his true and correct name was ‘Wright’ … there was considerable distance between his teeth … I often noticed that he could spit clear through them without parting them.”

General Affidavit, Wm T. Sample and Comfort White, 13 May 1899
[Sample] 62 years old; residence, Camden, Camden Co., NJ; post-office address, 10 S. Chestnut St
[White] 62 years old; residence, Mt. Ephron, Camden Co., NJ; post-office address, Mt. Ephron, Camden Co., NJ
“We was well acquainted with Isiah Wright alias Robert Brown, and with Sarah his wife. We was perseant [sic] at there [sic] marriage at Camden Nov 25th 1857 by Wm. L.W. Schumann and we acted as bridesmade [sic] and groomsman.”

Read Full Post »

Joseph Williams, Company L

Veterans (or their survivors) filed for pension benefits from their place of residence. Many who served in this regiment moved to Northern states immediately after discharge but others moved northward later.

Widow – 464,772 / —–

Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Hannah M. Williams, 20 August 1890
65 years old; residence, Lenovor [?], Chester County, Pennsylvania
“she was married under the name of Hannah M. Jackson to said Joseph H. Williams on the 13th day of April A.D. 1879 by Rev. Robt White at Black Horse”

General Affidavit, Solomon States and Marshall R. Miles, 7 February 1891
[States] 34 years old; residence, Parkersburg, Chester Co., Penn; residence, Parkersburg, Chester Co., Penn
[Miles] 37 years old; residence, Parkersburg, Chester Co., Penn; residence, Parkersburg, Chester Co., Penn
“They certify that Hannah M. Williams has not remarried since the death of Joseph H. Williams her husband. We have been acquainted with her for eight years — also that her means of support is on two wash places, at one place every week, the other every other week with 50 cts for each washing is all she has to live on. House & lot worth about $150 (one hundred fifty dollars, the furniture if at public sale would not bring even $50 (fifty dolls).”

Read Full Post »

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.”

Read Full Post »

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.”

Read Full Post »