The soldier survived a gunshot wound to the head at the Battle of the Crater in Petersburg, Virginia where he’d been detailed to the Ambulance Corps as a stretcher-bearer. He outlived one wife, was divorced from the second, and separated from the third. His cousin Peter McCoy also served in 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry, Company B and his brother Moses McCoy served in the 36th U.S. Colored Troops, Company E. Dozens of witnesses deliver robust profiles of the soldier and his widow and their struggle to persevere through the chaos.
Invalid — 635,663 / 671,117
Widow — 1,075,219 / 821,546, Delia McCoy
Chancery Suit, Corporation Court of the City of Norfolk, Mary Jane McCoy by her next friend Edmund Ferebee vs. Humphrey McCoy, 11 April 1888
“… the court being of opinion that the charges of desertion and adultery are fully proved doth adjudge order and decree that the marriage heretofore solemnized Humphrey McCoy and Mary Jane McCoy formerly Mary Jane Wilson be and the same is hereby dissolved and the said Mary Jane McCoy be forever divorced a vinculo matrimonii from the said Humphrey McCoy.
“And the court doth further adjudge order and decree that the said Humphrey McCoy do pay to the plaintiff her costs by her expended in the prosecution of this suit.”
Affidavit for General Purposes, Isaac Kellum & Armstead Tucker, 16 July 1888
“[They know him, were in same company with him] and were engaged in the same action at the Crater when he was wounded, they state while they did not see the wound when he received it, they saw him in the hospital and know of the fact that he was wounded in the right side of the head by gunshot, that he was sent with us as invalid to Texas … we live close neighbors to said McCoy … both of these affiants were detailed as stretcher-bearers and it was their duty to carry wounded from the field of action … [Kellum and Taylor] carried him to the rear so as to be treated by Surgeon. Lt. Bradford S. Manley was surgeon of the regiment and attended the claimant in field hospital …”
Isaac Kellum, Deposition, 22 July 1889
63 years old; post-office address, 65 Queen St., Norfolk, Va.; occupation, laborer … “He enlisted the same time that I did … I have known him ever since the war. I have seen him every day. We have worked together a part of the time.”
Sworn Statement, James Langley & James Woodhouse, 23 July 1888
“[Humphrey McCoy] while at the battle of the Crater and acting as stretcher-bearer and help to wounded at or near [Petersburg, Virginia on or about 30th July 1864] received a gunshot wound in right side of the head … we were in the same company as said McCoy, James Langley being 2nd Sgt in Co B 1st Reg and Jas. Woodhouse being a private in said company, that they live close neighbors to said McCoy and have known him since the war, that he is very much disabled from said wound and unable to support himself, they also testify that McCoy was treated in the field hospital and said wound affected him until his discharge and also until the present time.”
Deposition, Armistead Tucker, 25 July 1889
45 years old; post-office address, 22 Kent St., Norfolk, Va.; occupation, laborer … “I have known the claimant ever since 1863 … He received a wound in the temple. I think the right temple in front of Petersburgh, Va. July 1864 at the battle of the Crater … I saw him the next day after he was wounded. I saw the wound … It did not appear to be a very bad wound.”
“I have known Humphrey McCoy ever since his discharge. I have seen him very often, sometimes every day or so, and sometimes once in six months. He lives about a half a mile from me now.”
Deposition, James Woodhouse, 26 July 1889
“about 38 or 39 years old, I don’t know exactly”; residence, 300 [?] Queen St., Norfolk, Va.; occupation, laborer …. “I have known the claimant ever since 1862. He was in the service with me. … I think he received a ‘lick’ from a bombshell in front of Petersburg, Va. It was somewhere about his head … I was on detailed duty at the battle of the Crater. I don’t remember which duty I was on.”
“I have known McCoy ever since discharge. He has lived within a quarter of a mile of me ever since the war.”
Deposition, James Langley, 27 July 1889
54 years old; post-office address, 17 Brickers Ave., Norfolk, Va.; occupation, laborer … “[Langley said that he asked McCoy how he had been hurt and McCoy said] that while he was with the ambulance corps, removing the dead and wounded, the rebels came upon them and he was burnt by powder about the eyes. I did not see him [illegible] as I was on detached service with the post commissary.”
Deposition, Humphrey McCoy, 31 July 1889
40 years old; occupation, porter in store; post-office address, 326 Church St., Norfolk, Va. “… I was struck by a minie ball. I think George Whitis was with me, carrying the other end of the stretcher but he is dead. No one else was with me at the time. My company was stationed in the rear.
“When I was struck I fell to the ground. Someone stood me on my feet and walked beside me to the surgeon who belonged to some other regiment. I never knew who he was.
“About the next day I was treated by the surgeons of my regiment, Dr. Manley and Dr. Gray. I did not go to hospital. I was off duty only two days. Captain McIntyre commanded my company at the time.
“Q. What members of your company knew that you had this wound at the battle of the Crater?
A. Isaac Kellum, Armstead Tucker, and Jim Langley of Norfolk, Va. Edmund Jones at Hampton. and Jim Woodhouse of Company D, I think … while at Brazos I went blind. I was blind for about three months … I took pneumonia from swimming my horse across the Chickahominy Swamp, Va. about Mar or April 1863 …
“I was kicked on the left foot while drilling at Hampton, Va. about three months after I enlisted. It does not hurt me now.”
Deposition, Lewis Dawley, 2 August 1889
53 years old; post-office address, 379 Church St., Norfolk, Va.; occupation, truckman … “I was a sergeant of company B … [Humphrey McCoy] was a member of my co. … I did not know him before enlistment. I have known him ever since. … I was not at the battle of Deep Bottom or the Crater. I was on detailed duty at Warrenton Junction at that time.”
Deposition, Israel Armstrong, 7 August 1889
58 years old; 49 St. Paul’s St., Norfolk, Va.; occupation, laborer … “I did not know [McCoy] before he enlisted… I was present at the battle of the Crater. I was detailed as stretcher-bearer in the ambulance corps, at that time but I do not remember hearing of McCoy being wounded or injured at that time. I remember seeing him in camp. We were encamped on the left side of Petersburgh …”
“I have known him ever since discharge. He lives near me …. I have seen him about once or twice a week ever since discharge.”
Deposition, Isaac Moseley, 13 September 1889
44 years old; post-office address, 13 Wise St., Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; occupation, truck farmer … “I had been acquainted with him two years when he enlisted. … I lived at that time at Sewall’s Point, Norfolk Co., Va. and he lived ten miles from me at Great Bridge, Norfolk Co., Va. and I used to meet him often at church. We enlisted about the same time and were discharged and came home together.”
“I was on detailed service a good part of the time cooking for the brigade butchers and in the commissary department.”
“I was not present at the battle of the Crater near Petersburg, Va. I was on reserve picket duty.”
“I have seen him about once a week ever since discharge.”
General Affidavit, Cornelius Gray, 1 May 1890
49 years old; residence, 80 Henry St., Norfolk, Va.; post-office address, 80 Henry St., Norfolk, Va. … “I was in line of duty at the same time when [McCoy] got struck with a piece of a shell … [McCoy] was carrying wounded men off the field on stretchers … I was a corporal of the ambulance corps at the time … he was under my command … ”
Marriage License [copy], Humphrey McCoy & Delia Cargo, 13 July 1892
Norfolk, Va.; husband, 44 years old; wife, 28 years old; both, widowed; both born, Norfolk Co., Va.; both resided, Norfolk Co., Va.; husband’s parents, H. and Hannah McCoy; wife’s parents, [blank]; husband’s occupation, driver; officiant, Rev. J.E. Lovitt
Deposition, Humphrey McCoy, 8 May 1893
45 years old; residence, 70 Willoughby St., Norfolk, Va.; occupation, express wagon driver “… my attorney was a man named Brown … I don’t know where Brown is now; he left here five or six years ago; I then made a contract with A.M. McCormack & Sons of Washington, DC … then Mr. W.R. Drury was my attorney …”
Deposition, John Binford, 9 May 1893
55 years old; residence, 31 Scott St., Norfolk, Va.; no occupation
Q. Do you know Humphrey McCoy?
A. I only know one Humphrey McCoy. He belong to the 36th USCT, I believe….”
Deposition, Anderson Beasley, 12 May 1893
about 49 years old; no occupation; “I live at the new turnpike road at the Richard Oden‘s place …
“Q. Do you know Humphrey McCoy?
A. Yes, sir. 20 years.
Q. How long have you known him?
A. For more than 20 years …”
General Affidavit, Louis Dawley & Isaac Armstrong, 29 November 1893
[Dawley] 51 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 379 Church St., Norfolk, Va.
[Armstrong] 61 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 49 St. Paul’s St., Norfolk, Va.
“… Dawley says that he has known pensioner for 30 years … Armstrong has known pensioner for 40 years …”
Deposition, Humphrey McCoy, 8 May 1901
54 years old; post-office address, 506 Princess Anne Ave, Norfolk, Va. … “I am a member of the Hampton Va. Home. I have never had any other name. My father’s name was Humphrey McCoy. My mother’s Hannah McCoy. Robert Casson was my owner. I had 4 brothers … Charles, William and Moses. Moses and I were the only ones in the Army. I was born in Norfolk Co., Va. and have resided in this county all my life. ”
“Garrard was my Colonel. Brown and Seip were Majors at different times. McIntyre was my Capt. Cass and Vandervoort were Lts. Lawton, Sayles, Langley, and Pearce were Sgts. Anthony James, Henry James, Enos Dennis were Corpls. Henry McCrea, James Pool, and Peter McCoy were my tentmates.
“We were in a skirmish at Chickahominy Swamp. I was then dismounted and made a stretcher-bearer and so continued until we went to Texas …. Armstead Tucker and Isaac Kellam were witnesses in my claim.”
“Delia is the name of my wife. We were married in 1891 in Norfolk by Rev. Goodman Bray…. My present wife had a former husband Shack White. They separated about 1885 and I don’t know whether he is living. They were never divorced to my knowledge.”
“My vouchers are executed at the Hampton Home. My pension certificate and discharge are at the Hampton Home.”
“I was only 16 when I enlisted and had been working on a farm when I enlisted.”
General Affidavit, Robert Mosley, 14 July 1908
68 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 67 Star St., Norfolk, Va. … “That I am a cousin of Humphrey McCoy. That Humphrey McCoy’s first wife Mary Etta McCoy contracted smallpox during the epidemic of that disease in Norfolk about the year 1870, and died of said disease. I did not see her after she died but went to the house before she was buried and know the circumstances concerning her death …”
General Affidavit, Amanda Perry, 14 July 1908
52 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 16 Bonnetts Ct., Norfolk, Va. … “That I was well and personally acquainted with the late Humphrey McCoy and his first wife Mary Etta McCoy, and at time Mary Etta McCoy died, I was living less than one block from her. She died during a smallpox epidemic at Norfolk, Va. on Willoughby St. with smallpox not very long after the Civil War, not later than 1870 I think. I did not see her after death but know well the day she was said to have died also the night she was carried out to be buried but did not see her carried out; and have never seen her since so she must have died as reported.”
[NOTE: According to the 1908 City Directory, page 472, Amanda Perry lives at 384 Charlotte St. and Andrew Perry lives at 16 Bonnott.
But in the directory’s reverse address index, page 770, Andrew Perry lives at “16 Bonnot [ — north from 18 Wilson’s av]. The entry just above is for “Bonney’s Court [ — north from 238 Charlotte]. The reverse address index (on page 772) shows that the dwelling at 384 Charlotte St. is occupied (or owned) by Edith A. Halstead. Time to get a map! — Leslie]
Transcript from Record of Deaths, Department of Health, Norfolk, Virginia, Humphrey McCoy, 22 June 1908
Date of death: June 15, 1908 … Age: 62 … Social condition: Married … Occupation: Teamster … Cause of death: Cerebral apoplexy … Place of death: Norfolk Co., Va. … Place of burial: Soldiers Home … Attending physician: [illegible] … Undertaker: Jas. E. Jones”
General Affidavit, Teney Gray, 20 July 1908
58 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 412 Princess Anne Ave., Norfolk, Va. … “… well and personally acquainted with Mrs. Delia McCoy since well before she was 14 fourteen years [sic] old … claimant and soldier were never divorced but did not continue to live together during last seven years of soldier’s life … owing to soldier’s cruelty in many ways to claimant. Claimant was with soldier when he died, helping to nurse him. I live a close neighbor to soldier’s home …”
General Affidavit, Catharine Wilson, 20 July 1908
63 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 89 Goff St., Norfolk, Va. … “I have known Delia McCoy all of her life …”
General Affidavit, Delia McCoy, 20 July 1908
44 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 10 Wise St., Norfolk, Va.; “That the marriage of the soldier and myself was my first and only marriage and the third marriage of soldier … I was unable to continue living with soldier as he was a very cruel man, he whipped me and he was also living in adultery in same house with me … ”
General Affidavit, Randolph Green, 30 July 1908
58 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; “That I first knew Humphrey McCoy when he came home from Civil War in 1866 as near as I remember. I lived about 50 yards from him and know he was not married prior to his marriage to Mary Etta Land. This wife only lived about a year or two and died with smallpox on Willoughby St., Norfolk, Va. That he remained unmarried from her death untill [sic] his marriage to Mary Jane McCoy his second wife & that he did not again marry from her divorce from him untill [sic] he married the claimant Delia McCoy with whom he lived as husband and wife until about seven years ago when they separated. They were never divorced.”
General Affidavit, Tiney Gray & Sarah Jenifer, 28 October 1916
[Gray] about 70 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va; post-office address, 1002 Princess Anne Ave., Norfolk, Va.
[Jennifer] 50 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 713 Princess Anne Ave., Norfolk, Va.
“That they have been well and personally acquainted with the claimant Mrs. Delia McCoy for 30 years and 25 years last past; that they were personally acquainted with her husband Mr. Humphrey McCoy for 35 and 20 years before his death in June 1908 …”
Form 3-289c, Delia McCoy, 3 February 1917
51 years old; post-office address, 713 Princess Anne Ave., Norfolk, Va. …”[Humphrey McCoy] was buried at the Soldiers’ Home.
“I was married to him in this city under my then name Delia McCoy, by Rev. _____ Bray of St. Luke’s Church, at the home of Rev. Bray over 20 years ago. I don’t know the exact date. I cannot remember dates much.
“Q. A copy of the public record of the marriage shows that Rev. J.E. Lovitt married Humphrey McCoy and Delia Cargo, how do you explain that.
A. I was married to Humphrey McCoy by Rev. Bray, I have my marriage certificate given to us shortly after we were married. [The Special Examiner noted that she produced the marriage certificate — Leslie]. … He was in the Soldiers Home for a while but died in his home on Maltby Ave., ext’d on Ocean View R.R. I was not legally separated from him … but we were good friends and I visited him, and if there was anything I could do for him I would do it. We simply could not get along, he was very cross. I worked out with white people, work out now, till I got sick last September. I was right there when he died. He fell in the street, they took him to his home, I was sent for, when I got there he was dying, did not recognize anyone after I got there, died in about a half-hour.
“I was born near North West, Norfolk Co., Va., close to a church called Bethel. I do not know the date of my birth or year. I think I am 51 years old …. My parents were Eli and Sylvia Cargo. I think my mother said I was born the year before the war ceased…
“When I was a small child I was brought to Deep Creek by my mother, my father died before I could remember. She cooked for a Mr. _____ Roper, about 5 years then my mother moved to Norfolk City, I came with her. I was about 8 years old when I came to Norfolk … I do not know where I lived in 1870 and in 1880. I had the following brothers, Charles, died when I was a child; James Cargo, do not know where he is. Eli Cargo, lived near Burden Station, was there when last heard from, and Dan Cargo who is dead. All my sisters are dead. They were named Martha Ann, Caroline, Mary Jane, and Sarah. I lived with my mother on Freemason Street till she died, when I was about 12 years. After that I lived with Harriet Gould, on Newton St., she is living, on Wilson Ave. I was with her until I was grown. She took in washing and I helped her.”
“Q. Did you have any children [before your marriage to Humphrey McCoy]?
A. Yes, I had one child Chas. White by Shack White. I don’t know if he is 30 or 27. He is away, went to New York 8 years ago. I don’t know his address.”
“Q. Where is Shack White? I don’t know, sir. he is living here in town somewheres. … [When Humphrey McCoy died] I lived at 10 Wise St., with a family, Fenton and Harriet Roberts, rented a room from them. I lived there about four years, when Harriet Roberts died, Then I moved here to this house with Jane Clark, now dead, and her daughter Nannie Young. Fenton Roberts is living at same house. Tiney Gray and Sarah Juniper have known me 25 or 30 years …. Humphrey McCoy has one brother living, Moses McCoy and one sister, Caroline Hodges.”
Form 3-289c, Lizzie Bright, 5 February 1917
50 years old; post-office address, 728 Princess Anne Ave., Norfolk, Va.; wife of Wm. Bright, works on wharf … “I have known the claimant Delia McCoy since she was a young girl … No, sir, she was never married to Shack White … No, sir, she was never known as Delia White… I know her brother, I called him Eli Cowan. His name may be Cargo, but I called him Cowan.”
“Q. Has she lived with any man as his wife since she separated from [Humphrey McCoy]?
A. No, sir, she has lived as an honest widow since her husband’s death, has worked hard and supported herself by her own work, worked for white people stayed with them at night at times. She first had a room with Harriet Roberts and when she died she took a room with Jane Clark, and has been there ever since, across the street from here. Jane Clark is dead, and now her daughter has her house. All these people are and were respectable people.
“I knew Humphrey McCoy from my girlhood days, but know nothing about his wife or wives before he married Delia. I knew him from his driving on the streets. I knew he had children, lawful children, from what I heard before he married Delia …. I know Shak White when I see him, but I do not know where he lives or works, he told me last summer he worked at Ocean View.”
Form 3-289c, Caroline Hodges, 6 February 1917
about 62 years old; post-office address, 912 Dolphin St., Norfolk, Va.; widow of Alonzo Hodges, occupation, housework … “Humphrey McCoy was my own brother. He was married three times …. His first wife, Mary Etta, died at my father’s house on Willoughby Street, this city, many years ago … His next wife was named Jane, we called her Jane, not Mary Jane … she died long ago on Princess Anne Ave. I went to her funeral. His last wife is the claimant Delia McCoy … She was at his burial, was buried at the Soldiers Home, I saw him buried.”
Form 3-289c, Fenton Roberts, 6 February 1917
about 66 years old; post-office address, 1112 Wise St., Norfolk, Va.; occupation; working in planing mill … “I have known Delia McCoy for over 15 years. When I first knew her she was the wife of Humphrey McCoy … After he died she moved to this house, then No. 10, and rented a room from me about 4 years, can’t say just how long, soon after my wife died she moved on Princess Anne Ave., where she is now… She supported herself while in my house by working in service, she paid her room rent herself regularly.”
Form 3-289c, Moses McCoy, 7 February 1917
about 74 years old; post-office address, National Soldiers’ Home, Va.; no occupation … “Humphrey McCoy was my brother, he was about 2 years younger than I was.
“He was married three times only. His first wife died long ago, in my father’s house in Norfolk, Va …. He next married a big yellow woman named Mary Jane. They were divorced I heard. His last wife is the claimant Delia. He was separated from her, was over here in the Home, I brought him here, he was sick, but he died in Norfolk, Va., on Maltby Ave., ext’d. He was buried over here.
“I knew the claimant before her marriage to my brother ..she has a son by [Shack White], I think Shack’s name was White, Iknow his given name was Shack, a big fat fellow.
“I don’t know anything about claimant since my brother’s death, I have been in this Home all the time, and when I go to Norfolk I don’t go near her. Her reputation was not good before my brother married her….”
Form 3-289c, Teeny Gray, 8 February 1917
70 years old; post-office address, 1002 Princess Anne Ave., Norfolk, Va.; occupation, housework …”I have known Delia McCoy since she was wearing short frocks, over 30 years ago. I knew her mother, but forget her name, nor can I think of claimant’s maiden name. … She lived close to me nearly all the time I have known her. I am sure that she never married any man but McCoy. I was invited to the wedding when she married him … [At one time] she lived just around the corner with the Roberts family, after Mrs. Roberts died she moved with Jane Clark on this street, and has lived there ever since. She visits me, and I know nothing wrong of her since she married McCoy.
Form 3-289c, Randolph Green, 8 February 1917
nearly 63 years old; post-office address, 76 Courtney Ave., Norfolk, Va. … “I knew Humphrey McCoy from the time he came out of the civil war, about 1866 or 1867. I knew all of his marriages. He was married 3 times only. I waited on him when he got married the first time, to Mary Etta Land. She died in Norfolk, Va., of smallpox I heard on Willoughby street, years ago, I was boarding near there. I cannot think of his next wife’s name, but I knew here. I do not know if he was divorced from her, she is dead too. His last wife was the claimant, Delia. He was parted form her, but not divorced, not that I ever heard of. … I think Mary Jane was the name of his middle wife. She did get a divorce from him, I heard, I think.”
Form 3-289c, Shack White, 8 February 1917
nearly 62 years old; post-office address, 937 Winter St., Norfolk, Va., … “I have known Delia McCoy for 30 years…. She was single when I first met her. … I was never married to her, never lived with her as her husband. I visited her and she has a son Charley White said to be my son. … I have been married but one time. My wife was named Molly White, she is dead. I married her years ago, when I was a young man. …. I have not been visiting [Delia] since before she married McCoy. Her maiden name was Carver or Cargo. She was living with her brothers when I went to see her. They were nice people. She has lived in Norfolk ever since I have known her … She lived in Norfolk when her son was born.”
Form 3-289c, Eli Carver, 10 February 1917
about 49 years old; post-office address, 4508 Powhatan Ave., (Lamberts Point), Norfolk, Va.; occupation, butcher
“The claimant Delia McCoy is my sister. I do not know her exact age. She is about 51 years old, was born shortly after the Civil War closed, I think. The names of her parents were Eli Carver and Silvia Carver. … [At the time my sister’s son Charlie White was born]she was living in this city, on Princess Anne Ave., with my brothers James and Dan Carver, now dead…. Claimant’s son Chas. White is along about 29 or 30 years old.”
” … A. Either McCoy or the clerk made a mistake. The name is Carver not Cargo, and claimant never had any husband named Cargo. She never had but one husband and that was McCoy. I think McCoy is the one who made the mistake about the name. I did not know McCoy till about the time he married my sister.”
Form 3-289c, Delia McCoy, 8 February 1917
“Q. You gave your maiden name Delia Cargo in your declaration and before me, but it would appear that it was Carver, please explain.
A. Humphrey McCoy gave it in as Cargo, when he got the marriage license, it was so on the certificate, so Mr. Savage, now dead, told me and he said it had to go that way. I told him it was a mistake. I gave you my maiden as Cargo too because it was that way on the certificate, but my correct name before my marriage was Carver. My parents were named Carver, not Cargo, and my brothers were always known as Carver not Cargo. McCoy went with me long enough to know my right name .. .He knew all about my child, I told him about the child and who is father was before I married him. My child was about 4 years old when I married McCoy, but I am not certain.”
Form 3-289c, Harriet Gould, 10 February 1917
near 80 years old; post-office address, 1213 Bolton St., Norfolk, Va.; widow of Essex Gould, not able to work … “I have known the claimant since she was between 11 and 12 years old, I had not known her long when she came to live with me, and she stayed with me till she was grown. I lived on Newton St., then, this city. I have known her all the time since she left my house.
“Q. What was her name when you first knew her.
A. Delia Carver, her mother was Silvia Carver, she died before the claimant came to my house.
….
“Q. Said Humphrey McCoy stated in his lifetime that the claimant Delia, had a former husband, Shack White, what have you to say to that.
A. She never had a husband before she had McCoy. She had a son by White but was not married to him, never lived with him as his wife. I saw her when her child was about a week old, and I know she was not living with White.
…
“A. Her brother Eli Carver also came to live with me when she came. She helped me to wash. I could work at that time.”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 