Daniel Youngs, Company L

The soldier lived in Jamaica, New York when he applied for a pension. He claimed he sustained a gunshot wound in June 1863 — except the regiment wasn’t established until December 1863. He also claimed that he served in 4th Ohio Infantry. If true, was he injured in that regiment? How did he come to serve in the cavalry?

Invalid — 412,318 / —–

Declaration for an Original Invalid Pension, Daniel Youngs, 23 October 1880
50 years old
“enrolled on the 8 day of March, 1864 in Company L of the 1 regiment of U.S. Cavalry (Colored) commanded by Captain Ricker and was honorably discharged at City Point, Va. on the 4 day of March, 1866 that his personal description is … height, 5 feet 6 1/2 inches; complexion, black; hair, black; eyes, black. That while a member of the organizaiton aforesaid … in the line of duty at Sheeps Mountain in the State of West Virginia on or about the first day of June, 1863, he received a gunshot wound of the right shoulder & head.
“Also personally appeared Samuel Fleet, residing at Jamaica, Queens County, New York, and Samuel H. DeWitt residing at Jamaica, Queens County, New York”

Original Invalid Claim, Daniel Youngs, 9 January 1888
Post-office address, (last known) Jamaica, Queens, New York
Rank, Private
Company, L
Regiment, 1 USC Vol Cav & 4th Ohio Vols Inft (alleged)
Recognized Attorney, Joseph P. Kelly, 58 Broadway, NY City
[Note: There’s a handwritten statement that reports ‘Not recognized on grounds of neglect’ — Leslie]
Re-reviewer, [illegible], Dec 20, 1887
[Note: There’s a handwritten statement that reports ‘Clmt does not write.’ This is followed by another brief but illegible statement — Leslie]

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Nelson Young, Company I

The soldier was killed in action at Fort Pocahontas, Virginia. His wife re-married and her second husband was appointed guardian of the soldier’s son, his only surviving child.

Widow – 105,405 / 84,935, Nancy Young
Minor -158,406 / 116,387, Rufus Young

Oath of Allegiance, Nancy Young, 1 December 1865
“I, Nancy Young, do solemnly swear in the presence of God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of States thereunder, that I will in like manner abide by and faithfully support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the existing Rebellion with reference to the emancipation of of slaves so help me God.”
“Nancy Young — a resident of Norfolk County … aged 28 years … doth on her oath … in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress appeared July 14, 1862, that she is the widow of Nelson Young who killed on picket duty on Wilson’s Landing on James River on or about … Sept 1864 … she was married … January 1864 by the Rev. William Knott a regular minister of the Gospel of the MP Church and has had five children … whose names and ages are as follows: Claudius, dead; Mary Anne age dead; Angenetta dead; Rufus aged five years; Elton dead … [Nelson Young] was a free person at the time of enlisting … and had been free … of his being freeborn … I hereby constitute and appoint Leopold C.P. Cowper of Portsmouth, Va. as my true and lawful attorney.”
“And personally appeared Southall Bass and Mary Bass residents of Portsmouth … they were personally acquainted with Nancy Young … they have known the said applicant and her said husband for 20 years”

Sworn Statement, Southall Bass and Alinzo Elliott, 31 December 1866
“they have known Nancy Young … for more than twenty years … they lived within five miles of [Nelson and Nancy Young] for twenty years … [Rufus Young] is now living with his mother in Norfolk County, Virginia … that said child is now is his 7th year being born in 1859 Nov … they have often been to to their house and seen the mother since said child was an infant.”

Sworn Statement, Nancy Ridgeway, 5 September 1867
“mother of Rufus Young, only surviving orphan child of Nelson Young … born on the 18th day of November 1860”
“Also personally came before me Mary Bass aged twenty seven years and Susan Elliott aged fourteen years, residents of Norfolk County, … they knew well the late Nelson Young and Nancy … that they lived within two miles of them … they saw the mother and child in its first infancy, that they often have seen the mother and said child within a few days after its birth

Sworn Statement, Thomas Ridgeway, 28 February 1868
residence, Norfolk County, Virginia
“that he is the legal guardian of Rufus Young his ward whose father Nelson Young now deceased … guardian of the minor child of Nelson Young who died at Wilson’s Landing, Va. being killed on picket on James River while on duty … Nancy Young [soldier’s widow] and mother of the child aforesaid, Rufus Young, again married being now the wife of the said Thomas Ridgeway … the parents of his ward Rufus Young were married at the home of Jesse Watts in the county of Norfolk, Virginia on or about … Jany 1855 by the Rev. William Knott, a minister of the M.E. Church and that I do constitute and appoint Leopold C. P. Corprew of Portsmouth, Virginia my attorney”
“Also personally appeared Alonzo Elliott and Josiah Elliott, residents of Norfolk County, State of Virginia … that they were personally and intimately …. Nancy Young widow of the said Nelson Young did on the 9th day of January 1867 intermarry with one Thomas Ridgway … now the legal guardian of said Rufus Young, that they were present and witnesseth the said marriage … [the couple] were married by the Rev. Jeremiah Thomas, a minister of the [illegible] Church in the County of Norfolk, State of Va. “
“Also personally appeared before me the Rev. William Knott, a minister of the [illegible] Church”

Court Decree, County Court of Norfolk County, Virginia, 3 March 1868
“The Court doth appoint Thomas Ridgeway, Guardian to Rufus Young orphan of Nelson Young dec’d: and thereupon the said Thomas Ridgeway, appeared in court and together with Wm. H. Elliott and Josiah Elliott his securities, who justified on oath as to their sufficiency, entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of One Thousand Dollars with condition according to law, which bond is ordered to be recorded.”

Sworn Statement, Nancy Ridgeway, 22 April 1868
“Her child Rufus Young was never baptized, that the children of colored persons were never submitted to this rite as she knows or believes.”
“Also personally appeared Venus Bivins by calling a midwife, aged fifty-five and Elizabeth Elliott, aged thirty-five years, residents of Norfolk County, Virginia … that they both were present at the time of the birth of and delivery of the above named Nancy Ridgeway when she was Nancy Young and the legal wife of Nelson Young … in the 18 day of Nov 1860 of her child Rufus Young”

Memorandum by Thomas M. Vincent, Assistant Adjutant General, 23 March 1868
“He is reported ‘Killed in action when on a search near Fort Pocahontas, Va. Augt. 1864. On Muster Roll dated Feby 4/66. ‘xx Was killed while skirmishing Augt. 28/64, where not known.’ Original Statements on file in this Office signed by the Co., Capt. He is reported ‘Killed August 18, 1864”

Sworn Statement, Dempsey Nash, Court Clerk, 13 July 1868
“It appears from the record in my office that on the 5th day of January 1867 a license was issued according to law to solemnize the marriage of Thomas Ridgeway and Nancy Young, a widow, both colored, and it further appears from the said record and the return of J.R.V. Thomas, a minister of the Gospel that he did on the 10th day of January 1867 duly celebrates the wrights [sic] matrimony.”

Declaration of Guardian of Minor Children for Increase Pension Under Act of July 25, 1866, 9 December 1876
“Thomas Ridgeway, aged about 45 years … mother of the child has remarried and that the date of birth of said ward is as follows 17th Nov 1860 … the maiden name of his mother was Nancy Elliott.”
“Also personally appeared Southall Bass and Thomas Riddick, residents of Portsmouth”
[Note: The word “increase” was handwritten and inserted before the word “pension” — Leslie]

Sworn Statement, Thomas Ridgeway, 30 June 1888
“Thomas Ridgeway, guardian to Rufus Young, orphan of Nelson Young … says that his post-office address is Portsmouth, Virginia”
“Also personally appeared Venus Bivins and Elizabeth Elliott”

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Hiram Yerby, Company C

Hiram Yerby served honorably and suffered greatly. Unable to work because of injuries sustained during a skirmish, Yerby and his wife (also infirm) became destitute. The couple’s basic needs were met by support from friends, neighbors, and the benevolent society of which Yerby was a member. 

 

Widow – 622,330 / 479,74, Charlotte Yerby

Neighbor’s Affidavit, Sallie Jubilee, 30 April 1889 
“I, Sallie Jubilee, a resident of Newport News in the county of Warwick State of Virginia on oath depose and say that I was well acquainted with Hiram Yerby….

“I first became acquainted with claimant in 1860 before his enlistment & I saw him in 1866 after his discharge he was then affected with an old injury to right side received at Chickiahominy [sic] River in the state of Virginia. While in the military service of the US army in the line of his duty and without fault or improper conduct of his own on or about the 21st day of April 1864 at Chickiahominy [sic] River in the State of Virginia in charging the enemy of or at the above named place he was thrown from his horse upon his right side. And he was so afflicted throughout his term of service with injury to right side.

“He has been living adjoining neighbor to me ever since he has been discharged from the U.S. Service. I see him very often by calling on him at his residence. He are [sic] down in bed sick with a pain in his above name side more than half of his time. He has been using Michican [sic] oil of which he usually rub with an among other liniments. He is not able to earn a living for hisself [sic]. Notwithstanding his family have [sic] to undergo a very hardship oweing [sic] to his disability.

“He has in family the number of four all depending on their mother for a support. Said Hiram Yerby has been complaining of injury to right side for about 23 years or more. He came home claiming his right side was so afflicted that he could not get along well when out walking.”

 

Employer’s Testimony, A.B. Gaines, 30 April 1889 
“[I] do hereby certify that Hiram Yerby worked for me in 1886 and he was not able to earn full wages. Therefore I paid him half wages paid to that of an able bodied man of which I paid an able bodied man who was able to earn full wages around of $1 50c per day. And I noticed Hiram Yerby at work and he seems to have a pain in right side. I notice him press his hands to his side as the had a striking pain and would have to stop work. And whenever he felted [sic] any ways able to work he would come back again and keeped [sic] so until he finally stopped work on account of being disabled with injuries to right side. I told him to get Michican [sic] oil and rub himself with it and it give him a little easy. Since then his disability has gotten worse.”

 

Sworn Statement, Hiram Yerby, 30 April 1889
“I Hiram Yerby do herby testify that I am disabled and cannot do any manual labor. I am afflicted in my right side from the affects [sic] of the War of 1861 Battle at Chickiahominy [sic] River in the State of Virignia. I was thrown from my horse upon my right side and was injured and was affected [sic] throughout my term of service. And is to this present time werser [sic] I am not able to earn a living for myself and my family are suffering from my disability with injuries to my right side.”

 

General Affidavit, Nellie Allen & Sallie Latimore, 8 August 1898
54 years old and 50 years old, respectively; [both] residence, Newport News, Warwick County, Va.; post-office address, Newport News … they were present and saw Rev. Wm. Thornton marry Hiram Yerby to Charlotte Yerby (whose name till then was Charlotte Grimes) at Old Point, Va. in the latter part of the year 1862; that from that time till he the said Hiram Yerby died, June 22nd 1895, they lived together as husband it at times said wife; and that said Charlotte Yerby has not remarried but still remains the widow of the said Hiram Yerby; that neither the said Hirma Yerby nor the said Charlotte Yerby was every married before; that this was their first and only marriage; that all the property possessed by the said charlote Yerby is a few scanty pieces of furniture and some clothes, bedding and a bedstead; that she supports herself by washing and ironing when able to do so and picking up lumps of coal and bits of wood about the street and chips and shavings around buildings in process creation; that they were formally acquainted with the said Hiram Yerby and Charlotte Yerby before either married each other.”

 

General Affidavit, Sallie Latimore, 30 March 1899
55 years old; residence, Newport News, Warwick County, Va.; post-office address, Newport News … “I was a near neighbor of Mr. Hiram Yerby and his wife Charlotte and know that he died June 22nd 1895 in Newport News, Virginia, and a day or two afterwards was buried. I became acquainted with them before their marriage which took place at Old Point, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Wm Thornton at which said ceremony I was present. This marriage was celebrated in December 1862. There is no record I believe of this marriage because at that time because the clerk’s office and the courthouse had been burnt and most if not all of the churches also.  Mrs. Charlotte Yerby supports herself by washing and ironing when able to do so and picking up cinders and coal on the streets and other places to make fire. She is in poor circumstances. She has no homestead, no property except the clothes she wears and some inferior bed clothes.”
[Note: Nellie Allen, 52 years old; resident, Warwick County, Virginia and Sallie Latimore gave identical statements on this date — Leslie]

 

General Affidavit, Charlotte Yerby, 30 March 1899
56 years old; residence, Newport News, Warwick County, Virginia … “I was married to Hiram Yerby by Rev. Wm. Thornton at Old Point, Virginia, in December 1862; we lived together as husband and wife till the death of my said husband which hapened in June 22nd 1895 at Newport News, Va. I have no property of any kind beyond my bed clothes, wearing aparel and a few scanty pieces of house furniture, no income, no bonds, no stocks; by washing and ironing & picking up coal and cinders from the various ash piles and streets in town I make my living and am often too sick to do that.”

 

General Affidavit, William Thornton, 8 April 1899
75 years old; residence, Phoebus, Elizabeth City County, Virginia … “I William Thornton do certify that I know Hiram Yerby and Charlotte Yerby. I married them in December 1862 at Old Point, Virginia. There were no public or private records kept at that time and I being a minister of the gospel married them according to the laws of VIrginia. Everything were disapeared [sic] by the war.”

 

Sworn Statement, Gabriel Golden, 23 August 1900
68 years old; post-office address Hampton, Virginia … “Hiram Yerby and I were woodchoppers together two years before the War of the Rebellion; my master hired him two years before the said War; I was acquainted with him, Hiram Yerby, three or four years before the said War: we came here together; he joined the Army, I did not; when he came out of the War he farmed a little; he was a sober, peaceable man of good habit and that the injury to his right side was not caused by vicious habits; yes, from my first acquaintance with him about three or four years before the War of the Rebellion, I can say with truth that he was a sober, peaceable man of good habits; yes, a better man never lived; he was sober, peaceable and upright to the time of his death; by the injury to his right side he was disabled to perform manual labor from July 29th 1890, to the time of his death, June 22nd 1895; he could do little or nothing and was almost if not entirely supported by his friends and neighbors; and after lingering a long time and suffering terribly, he died.”

 

Sworn Statement, Charles Henderson, 23 August 1900
60 years old; post-office address, Hampton, Virginia … “we were fellow servants and slaves on the same plantation … during all that time I can say he was a sober, peaceable man of good habits; the injury to his right side was not caused by his vicious habits; and by this injury he was disabled to perform manual labor from July 29th 1890 to the time of his death, June 22, 1895; he could do nothing by way of support, and but for the goodness of his friends he would have died in the Poor House.”

 

General Affidavit, J.J. Booker, 14 January 1901
40 years old; resident, Newport News, Warwick County, Virginia …”For a period of 18 years previous to the death of Hiram Yerby I was acquainted with him he having been a member at same order of Galilian [sic] Fishermen with me. From Feby 1890 till his death June 22nd 1895 he suffered with rheumatism and was not able to make support for his family or himself…. and very frequently the lodge to which he belonged gave him the means to buy food for his wife and to pay his rent. I say the lodge gave him the money to pay his rent and support his wife and they never would have done it if he but for this disease could have done it himself.”

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