Nelson Elliott contracted smallpox in 1864. He survived but the disease impaired his ability to fulfill his duties e.g. he was unable to stand night guard. Elliott named many comrades who vouched for him and he named those for whom he had witnessed. He worked as a shoemaker when he returned to civilian life. You might be interested in what he reported about his parentage.
Invalid — 525, 284 /335,088
Widow — 875,854 / 686,398, Martha Elliott
Affidavit for Commissioned Officer or Comrade, Wm. T. Pitt, 8 March 1886
Took sick with diarrhea and sent to hospital at Newport News, Virginia, never returned to his regiment, discharged from general hospital at Portsmouth.
Deposition, Nelson Elliott, 5 June 1890
“I am 48 years of age, by occupation a shoemaker, Post office address Godwin St. bet Queen & London St. Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Va. … I took smallpox and was put in a Pest House at Buckroe near Old Pt., Va, I do not remember how long I was in Pest House as I was unconscious a good part of the time while there … I came out of there and joined my company. While in said Pest House I was exposed to the light and my eyes became weak but after I returned to my company, my sight did not trouble me much, until in the summer of 1864, when up in front of Petersburg Va. my sight failed me at night so that I could not see to stand guard, and was relieved from night duty on that account. … Squire Bright of my company was in Pest House with me, and can tell about my having small pox. … [After I left Howard Elliott’s] I went home to my father, Josiah Elliott, then living near Portsmouth, and I remained with him several years. I suppose nearly two years.”
Deposition, Henry W. Elliott, 6 June 1890
“I am 38 years of age, by occupation an oysterman. The claimant and I are cousins and I have known and associated with him all my life except while he was in the army during the late war. When he was discharged from the hospital and the service in the early summer of 1865 he came to my father’s house (Howard Elliott), and he remained there about two months.”
Deposition, Howard Elliott, 7 June 1890
“I am 65 years of age, by occupation an oysterman. I am the claimant’s uncle … he was discharged from service from Balfour Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia, in June 1865 … he got so bad that I sent him to his father who was living a short distance from Portsmouth, where I was living.”
Death Certificate, Sydney A. Elliott, 1 June 1895
Died Portsmouth; 29 years, 5 months, 5 days; married; born Beaufort, N.C.; father’s name was Nelson Elliott, born in North Carolina; mother’s name unknown; was a schoolteacher; buried in Wilsons Cemetery, 5 June 1907.
Marriage License, Nelson Elliott & Martha Turner, 4 February 1899
[Two marriage dates are reported on this record — Leslie]: the marriage took place Portsmouth, Virginia, on 6 February 1899. Husband was 57 years old, wife was 45 years old. Husband was born in Norfolk County, wife was born Warren County, North Carolina. Husband lived in Norfolk, Va., wife lived in Norfolk County. Husband’s parents were Josiah Elliott and Mary Elliott; wife’s parents’ names were not reported. The officiant was F.C. Campbell in Portsmouth, Virginia, on 5 February 1899
Deposition, Nelson Elliott, 23 November 1901
“Of course I drink some, but I cannot say how many times I have been drunk. I have been arrested only once so far as I can recollect for being drunk.
“Dr. Kenny got my pension for me. He charged me nothing. Milo B. Stevens were or was my attorney in Washington. He received from the Government twenty-five dollars. I also paid J.C. Depuyton twenty-five dollars when I got my increase.
“My witnesses were Thomas Pitt, Squire Bright, Howard Elliott, Joseph Jones, Albert Jones, William Young. I had others whose names I cannot recollect. My witnesses charged me nothing.
“I made an affidavit for Thomas Pitt. He got wounded in the leg.
“I also made an affidavit for Squire Bright. He had rheumatism and disease of the eyes in service.
“I also made an affidavit for Howard Elliott. No, I did not make an affidavit for Howard. You misunderstood me on that point.
“Joseph Jones was not in the army. I do not recollect whether or not I testified for Albert Jones. I cannot recollect whether or not I made an affidavit for William Young.
“I cannot say how many affidavits I have made in pension cases for my memory is not very good.
“Mr. Hannon executes my voucher; charges twenty-five cents. He swears me and I never execute voucher before the 4th.”
Deposition, Nelson Elliott, 23 November 1902
“I am about 60 years of age; shoemaker and I reside at corner of County and Pine Sts., Portsmouth, Va. I cannot explain just why I have my mail sent to Norfolk when I reside in Portsmouth.
“I was born in Norfolk County, Va., and was always free … I was born on Western Branch, Norfolk County”
“… Two of the Jones boys were Sgts. Squire Bright and Johnson were corporals.
“James Smith, Jesse Ford, Richard Holt were my tent mates.”
[Note from 1863: Per the Special Examiner: “He says his father was a Frenchman and his mother an Indian. My father was Josiah Elliott.”]
Death Certificate, Nelson Elliott, 5 January 1907
Died Norfolk County, 66 years old; married; born Norfolk County; father’s name was Jas. Elliott, born in Virginia; mother’s name was Mary Dean, born in Virginia; was a shoemaker; buried in Mt. Olive Cemetery, 7 July 1907, by A. Copeland Undertakers
Declaration of a Widow for Original Pension, Martha Elliott, 11 February 1907
“[The soldier] was born at Isle of Wight County, Va. … [she] had been once previously married but first husband had died; soldier had been twice previously but both wives had died … her post-office address is 1003 County St., Portsmouth”
Claimant’s General Affidavit, Martha Elliott, 27 November 1907
“Her first husband was named Benjamin Turner, who died insane in the County Jail, in Warren County, North Carolina, about 25 years ago; that her husband, Nelson Elliott, the soldier had been married twice previous to his marriage to the claimant. His first wife was called Polly, his second wife was named Sydney Ann, both died in the City of Portsmouth, Va. The date of the death of the first is not now known to this claimant, the second died on the 1st day of June 1895.”
General Affidavit, Amanda Whitfield & Lillian Aytes, 20 December 1907
“1422 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, Va. and 908 Columbia St., Portsmouth, Va., [respectively] . . . [45 years old and 29 years old, respectively], affiant Amanda Whitfield is a sister and affiant Lillian Aytes is a niece of the claimant and were living in what was then Warren but now Vance County, N.C. …”
General Affidavit, Eliza Bell & Sarah Bell, 20 December 1907
“[about 60 years old and about 62 years old, respectively], [both of] 712 Columbia St., Portsmouth, Va. . . . Polly Elliott, the first wife of Nelson Elliott, died on Glasgow St. between Washington & Green Streets, in the City of Portsmouth, Va. About twenty years ago; affiants have no way of fixing the date exactly he was married to his second wife, Sydney Ann.
“The affiants were related to the said soldier, being his first cousins, and lived on the same street with him and in the adjoining lot at the time of the death of his said wife Polly.”
Letter of John G. Teicher, Special Examiner, Bureau of Pensions, U.S. Department of the Interior, 14 April 1909
“I examined the index to the marriage records of Norfolk Co., Va., the same do not show any marriage of claimant under the name Martha Turner, from 1876 to Feb. 5, 1899 the date of her marriage to the soldier. Said records show that Nelson Elliott was married to Sidney Ann Peebles, Oct 21, 1887, but no record could be found of his marriage to Polly, who it is shown, was his first wife. Original affiant Jos. Jones is dead.”
Death Certificate, Martha Elliott, 24 December 1924
@ 1203 Effingham, Portsmouth, Norfolk County; widower; 69 years old; domestic; [birthplace] N.C.; father Daniel Dunston born N.C., mother Elizabeth Dunston born N.C.; [informant] Mary E. Stokes, 1203 Effingham St … buried Mt. Calvery [sic], Dec 28, 1924… W.M. Grogan, 823 London St. [undertaker]”
Letter from Mary E. Stokes, Portsmouth, Va., to Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, DC, 20 April 1926
“Dear Sir:
“My mother, Martha Elliott, widow of Nelson Elliott … was drawing pension at the time of her death; that after her death I filed a claim for funeral expenses and the money due her as pensioner at the time of her death.
“I have been patiently waiting to hear from the said claim but up to the present time I have heard nothing.
“Please let me hear from you with regard to the same and oblige.
“I am Very truly yours,
“Mary E. Stokes”
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The book Inscriptions in Triumph: Tombstone Inscriptions from the African American Cemeteries of Mt. Calvary, Mt. Olive, Fisher’s Hill, and Potter’s Field, Portsmouth, Virginia by Mae Breckenridge-Haywood and Dinah Walters (Author House, 2001) lists hundreds of interments and transcriptions from Portsmouth’s early African American burial grounds. It includes a selected number of photographs. Many burials were published on USGenWeb Archives Virginia.
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 