“I knew the soldier during the last five years of his life as a depraved and worthless vagabond …. I have thought it not necessary to lose and incur an additional expense of $3.00 to confront the guardians with the adverse testimony obtained. I thereby recommend the rejection of the claim as it now stands.”
Letter from H.P. Maxwell, Special Examiner, to Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, DC, 31 March 1897
Minor — 597,473 / —–,
Marriage License [copy] Stephen Balentine & Cynthia Jones, 11 May 1865
Norfolk, Va.; both, 21 years old; both, single; both born, Princess Anne Co., Va.; husband resided, 1st US Cavy (Cold), Co. G; wife, Norfolk; husband’s parents, Stephen & Cloe Balentine; wife’s parents, Jack & Charlotte Jones; husband’s occupation, Private, Co G, 1st U.S. Cold Cavy; officiant, John M. Brown, Pastor, St. John AME Chapel, Norfolk, Va.
Death Certificate, Steven Ballentine, 30 June 1894
” … departed this life on the 21st day of September 1890, aged 50 years; that the cause of death was gangrene; That the death was reported by J.E. Riddick and occurred at the Almshouse …”
Declaration for Children Under Sixteen Years of Age, Daniel Smith, 16 June 1894
58 years old; post-office address, 262 Church St., Norfolk, Va.
“[He] is the legal guardian of Mary F., Joseph, Magzner, Lucinda and Rosetta … [Stephen Ballentine] died Sept 22, 1890. That he left no widow surviving him, she having died April 16, 1890. That the names and dates of birth of all the surviving children of the soldier under sixteen years of age are as follows:
| Mary Frances | March 16, 1878 |
| Joseph | Dec 21, 1880 |
| Magzener | Oct 9, 1882 |
| Lucinda | Mch 4, 1884 |
| Rosetta | Aug 16, 1886 |
“That the mother was married under the name Sarah Smith to Stephen Ballentine … Also personally appeared, Abraham Elliott, residing at Norfolk, Va., and Thomas Willie, residing at Norfolk, Va. …”
General Affidavit, Daniel Smith, 14 July 1894
post-office address, 262 Church St., Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va. …
“Sarah Jane Smith, which was her maiden name, was married to Stephen Ballentine after the custom of slaves on the 15 day of January 1876 by a Rev. William Lewis of Norfolk, Va. and the said William Lewis who performed the ceremony and [illegible] Anna Fentress the midwife who attended the births of the children of Sarah and Stephen Ballentine are dead. And there is no public nor church record of the births nor baptisms of the said children in existence. And it is not in my power to furnish the testimony of but one who was an eyewitness to the ceremony. Some have died and others have moved off to parts unknown to me but I offer the testimony of two who were not immediately present at the marriage of Sarah and Stephen Ballentine but they were intimately acquainted with [them] and lived near neighbor to them. And visited them soon after they were married and to the day of her death.
“And I further certify that the above statement was written by J.A.H. Armstead in my presence and only from oral statements to him on this 14th day of July 1894 at his office #251 Bank St., City of Norfolk, Va. … ”
General Affidavit, Lucinda Smith, 16 July 1894
60 years old; residence, Princess Anne Co., Va.; post-office address, 262 Church St., Norfolk, Va.
“I have known and I have been intimately acquainted with Sarah Jane Ballentine from her childhood to her death …. I lived near neighbor to her all the time. I was also well acquainted with Stephen Ballentine for 35 years before he died. He died … at the Almshouse at Norfolk, Va. …. I am well and intimately acquainted with this family and I do well remember the dates of the births of the children….”
General Affidavit, John E. Bonney, 25 August 1894
54 years old; residence, Princess Anne Co., Va. near Kempsville
“I have known Stephen Ballentine for 40 years previous to his death, lived near neighbor to him all the time in Princess Anne County, Virginia.”
General Affidavit, Manda Hodges, 24 July 1894
45 years old; residence, corner Scott & Jefferson sts., Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I have been intimately acquainted with Sarah Jane Smith and Stephen Ballentine from 1870 to the day of their deaths … [hers, 16 April 1890] … [his, 21 September 1890] at Norfolk, Va. and that they left surviving the following named children: Mary Frances Ballentine born on the 16th of March 1878; Joseph Ballentine born on the 24th of December 1880; Magline Ballentine born on the 9th day of October 1882; Lucinda Ballentine was born on the 4th of March 1884; Rosetta Ballentine born on the 16th day of August 1886. I was present at each of their births in the capacity of nurse…. They are all living and I see them frequently.”
General Affidavit, Daniel Smith, 16 February 1895
60 years old; residence, Princess Anne Co., Va.; post-office address, 262 Church St., Norfolk, Va. … “that he was well acquainted with Stephen Ballentine … all of his life to the day of his death”
Affidavit As To Family Record Entries, Daniel Smith, 25 August 1895
58 years old; post-office address, 262 Church St., Norfolk, Va., 12 June 1894
“Their births and baptisms was recorded in the Smith St. Methodist Church in the City of Norfolk, Va. Said records was in the possession of Wm. Smith, Elder of said church and after his death on the 17th of September 1890, they were misplaced or destroyed, therefore there is no church record in existence. The name of Maglene are spelt wrong by the Clerk of the Court. It should have been spelt Maglene & not Mageline and Maglener….”
[Note: The birth dates in this document are the same as those reported above in Declaration for Children Under Sixteen Years of Age … 16 June 1894 except Joseph’s which appears in the Affidavit … 25 August 1895 as December 24th — Leslie].
General Affidavit, Daniel Smith, 10 December 1895
60 years old; residence, Princess Anne Co., Va.; post-office address, 262 Church St., Norfolk, Va. … “The said Stephen Ballentine was born and raised in Princess Anne Co., Va. His age when enlisted was about 23 years. His occupation was a farmer. His height was about 5 feet and 4 or 5 inches. His complexion was dark. His hair and eyes was dark. There was no marks or scars on his body that I know of. His discharge certificate was destroyed by fire by his house being burned down. Stephen Ballentine was admitted in the National Soldiers’ Home at Hampton, Va. on the 28th day of August 1890 and he died at the said home on the 21st day of September 1890.”
General Affidavit, Philip Bagman and Willis Quickmore, 10 December 1895
[Bagman] 52 years old; 26 Cumberland St., Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
[Quickmore] 64 years old; 62 Chapel St., Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
Bagnam “has known Stephen Ballentine for 25 years and he was he was the first sergeant of Company G with the said Stephen Ballentine … Quickmore was acquainted with the said Stephen Ballentine since 1856 and that he was a private in the company with said Stephen Ballentine …. {and they know that while in the service] Ballentine was frequently treated by Dr. Manley and Dr. Gray in the Regimental Hospital for misery in the head and shortness of breath….”
Deposition, Daniel Smith, 24 March 1897
65 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, 402 Church St., Norfolk, Va.
“I am the guardian of the minor children of Stephen Ballentine. … I knew [Ballentine] from his boyhood. He belonged prior to the late war to a Mr. Land. I think Bennett Land although it may have been Horatio Land and he used to drive a dray in Norfolk, Va. prior to the war. And I knew him well both before he went to Norfolk to work and when he was in Norfolk. … he was not married prior to his marriage to my daughter… They were married in Norfolk, Va. but I have forgotten the date. Rev. Wm. Lewis married them but he is dead. I do not know in whose house they were living at the time of their marriage. Nor do I know of anyone that was present at their marriage.
“[The five children] are all under my care and custody as their guardian but I cannot give the date of birth of either of the said children as they were born in Norfolk, Va. about five miles from where I live and from where I have lived all my life. …. My wife Lucinda Smith was present when each of them was born. …
“Q. What is the correct name of the minor whose name appears as Magzner.
A. Her name is Magdalene Ballentine.
q. Have you had the care and custody of said minors continuously since the death of the soldier Stephen Ballentine?
A. Yes, sir, I took charge of them before he died as he was unable to take care of them on account of his physical condition.”
Deposition, Lucinda Smith, 24 March 1897
55 years old; occupation, housekeeper; post-office address, 402 Church St., Norfolk, Va.
“I am the wife of Daniel Smith, the guardian of the minors of Stephen Ballentine. The said Stephen Ballentine married my daughter Sarah Jane Smith in 1867 or 1868. They were married in Norfolk, Va. in my presence but I do not remember the date. They were married by license by Rev. Wm. Lewis now dead. The wedding took place on James St. near Queen St. but I have forgotten the no. of the house in which they were married. I knew the said Stephen Ballentine since his youth … Joseph was born in Rogers Ct., Norfolk, Va. on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1880. He was 16 years old the 24th of last December. Magdalene was born in October 1881. She was 15 years old her last birthday. Lucinda was born March 4th 1884, the very day that Grover Cleveland was inaugurated President of the U.S. the first time and Rosetta was born, also in Rogers Ct. August 16, 1896 …. I give said dates from memory. Manda Hodges of Norfolk, Va. was present when said children were born. She staid right with my daughter when they were born and she ought to remember when they were born.”
Deposition, Harriet Bearman, 24 March 1897
43 years old; occupation, housekeeper; post-office address, Kempsville, Princess Anne Co., Va.
“I have knows [Daniel Smith] for about 35 years. I also knew his daughter Sarah Jane Smith from her early childhood. She and I were near of an age. I lived right by the family and was very intimate with the said Sarah Jane Smith from her childhood until she died … [I knew Stephen Ballentine] from 1866 until he died. I was not present at their marriage but I remember very well when it took place but I cannot give the date.”
Deposition, John E. Bonney, 25 March 1897
58 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Broad Creek, Princess Anne Co., Va.
“I have known Daniel Smith … for the past 35 years …. I knew the said Stephen Ballentine for 40 years before his death. I knew him as a neighbor and as an associate from before he was grown until he died. I also knew his wife Sarah Jane from her early girlhood until she died …. They lived in Norfolk and I lived about four miles distant but I visited them frequently.”
Deposition, Henrietta Jones, 25 March 1897
70 years old; residence and post-office address, 190 St. Paul’s St., Norfolk, Va.
“I do not know Daniel Smith …. but I did know Stephen Ballentine who died in the Norfolk City Almshouse. I got acquainted with him on his return to Norfolk after his discharge from the army in the Spring of 1866.
Q. Under what circumstances did you make his acquaintance?
A. He visited next door to where I lived for a while and then he visited my house. He was then a single young man. When I first made his acquaintance he was visiting a girl named Lucinda Jones, my cousin who lived next door to me on East Main St. in this City and about two years thereafter he married this girl Lucinda Jones. I was not present when they were married as I had moved to Church St. and was living some distance from them when they were married. I do not know who married them nor do I know who saw them married. No, I don’t think they lived together but he used to visit Lucinda and she had three children by him viz. Alexander, James, and Eva — all living. No, Stephen Ballentine did not support said children. Their mother supported them until she died eleven or twelve years ago and then I took said children and raised them. The child Eva was only about a month old when the mother Lucinda died.
Q. Where was Stephen Ballentine when Lucinda Jones died?
A. He was living on St. Paul St. this city with another woman by whom he had the children for which Daniel Smith is the guardian.
Q. Can you refer me to anyone from whom I may obtain the fact of Stephen Ballentine’s alleged marriage to Lucinda Jones?
A. I don’t know for certain but I think Rosa Sparks and Susan Perry knew all about the marriage. They lived right by Lucinda when she and Stephen Ballentine were said to have married. They live on Suffolk St. near James in this city. Stephen Ballentine did not live and co-habit with his Lucinda Jones as a husband should do by his wife but he visited her occasionally and she had the abovenamed children by him. Yes, sir, Stephen Ballentine owned and recognized said children but he never provided them with any part of a support.”
Deposition, Henrietta Jones, 25 March 1897
70 years old; residence and post-office address, 190 St. Paul’s St., Norfolk, Va.
“I became acquainted with the late Stephen Ballentine in the Spring of 1866 on his return from the army. I was then living on Church St., this City. Prior to that time I had lived on East Main Street, this City, and a young girl, a cousin of mine named Cynthia Jones, not Lucinda, lived next door to me. Her parents were Jack & Charlotte Jones and were from Princess Anne Co., Va. This was about the close of the late war that Cynthia Jones lived next door to me, about the time Richmond, Va. fell, and I occasionally saw this man Stephen Ballentine visiting her (Cynthia’s) house but I did not make his acquaintance for a year later. Yes, he, Ballentine was in the U.S. Army when I saw him at the house and I heard that they were married but I have no personal knowledge of that fact. … The night his wife died, my daughter (Rachel Jones) went after him and found him in bed with the Smith woman in a house in Rogers Ct. this City. He was not married to the Smith woman nor was he ever divorced from his wife Cynthia Jones. Yes, sir. Cynthia was known as Cynthia Ballentine, the wife of Stephen Ballentine until she died about 14 years ago. …. Cynthia Ballentine died at the corner of Hawk and Willoughby sts., this CIty.”
Deposition, Willis Quickmore, 27 March 1897
67 years old; laborer; residence and post-office address, 62 Chapel Street extended, Norfolk, Va.
“I knew [Stephen Ballentine] for at least five years before the beginning of the late war. He followed draying here in the city prior to the war and up to the date of his enlistment … He and I enlisted about the same time [and served together through discharge and muster out] and came home to Norfolk, Va. together and we lived right here in the city together from the time we left the service until he died in Sept 21, 1890. I visited him at his home and knew him well. ”
Deposition, Phillip Bagnall, 27 March 1897
52 years old; laborer; residence and post-office address, 380 Cumberland St., Norfolk, Va.
“I knew [Stephen Ballentine] for ten years before he enlisted. He and I used to work together before the war. … If his name appears on the company roll as Stephen Ballenting it is a clerical error, as his name was spelled and pronounced Ballentine. There was no other man of the name of Ballentine or Ballenting in said company.”
Deposition, Phillip Bagnall, 27 March 1897
52 years old; occupation, laborer; residence and post-office address, 380 Cumberland St., Norfolk, Va.
“I served in Company G … I knew Stephen Ballentine of said company well, for ten years before his enlistment. … I do not know of my own knowledge where [Ballentine was born and reared] but I have heard that he came from Princess Anne Co., Va. not far from the Norfolk Co. line. I do not know who he belonged to nor do I know the names of his parents…. He married just before we started to Texas in the Spring of 1865. I saw the woman during service that he claimed to have married while in service but I do not know her maiden name. I also saw her after our discharge from service and they lived together from some years and had some children and then he left her and took up with the mother of the children for whom Daniel Smith is guardian. He lived with said woman in an old house in Rogers Court and was living with her when his wife died. I think Jim Langley, Joseph Cornick, and Willis Quickmore will know of Stephen Ballentine’s marriage during service and will know of their separation. No, sir, he was not divorced from the woman he married while in service but just got wrong after the Smith woman.”
Deposition, Jasper Cornick, 27 March 1897
66 years old; occupation, laborer; residence and post-office address, 42 5th St., Norfolk, Va.
“I served in Company G … and [I knew Ballentine well]. I first met him at enlistment and knew him well from that time until he died nearly seven years ago….. He married in May 1865 Cynthia Jones, whom I knew prior to my enlistment. She was from Princess Anne Co., Va. and was owned by a Mr. Morris. At the time of said marriage our company was camped out in the edge of Portsmouth, just across the river from Norfolk, and Stephen Ballentine got a furlough to come over to Norfolk to get married and he did not return that night and when he returned the next day Capt. Wm. H. Carter put him in the guardhouse. I have seen the father of Cynthia Jones whom Stephen Ballentine married but had no particular acquaintance with him. His name was Jack Jones…. I do not remember the date of [Cynthia’s] death but she died here in Norfolk on Hawk st (St. Paul’s) near Willoughby st. She died about 12 years ago. I heard that Stephen Ballentine was living with another woman when Cynthia died but I have no personal knowledge of the fact.”
Deposition, Isaac Brower, 31 March 1897
60 years old; occupation, laborer; residence and post-office address, 45 Newton St., Norfolk, Va.
“I knew the late Stephen Ballentine from his childhood. He was the son of Stephen Ballentine and Chloe Ballentine, late of Princess Anne Co., Va. I also knew his wife Cynthia from her early childhood. Her parents were Jack & Charlotte Jones, also of Princess Anne Co., Va. I was not present [when they married] but I know that he lived with and acknowledged her as his wife for several years next after he came home out of the U.S. Army. No, I didn’t serve with him as I was in the Navy. …. They lived together for a number of years and then he got careless about her and took up with another woman whom I did not know and would not notice his wife. I heard that he married the woman he took up with and I am sure he was never divorced from his wife Cynthia. Cynthia has been dead 14 or 15 years now. ”
Deposition, Isaac Kellum, 31 March 1897
74 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, 165 Newton St., Norfolk, Va.
“I knew [Stephen Ballentine] well. We enlisted at the same time and place. … I also knew his wife Cynthia, whose maiden name was Cynthia Jones. I know that he married her while he was yet in the army, and just a short time before our regiment went to Texas in June 1865. They had been married about a month before we started to Texas. The said wife visited him frequently while we were in camp in Portsmouth, Va. just across the river from Norfolk …
Letter from H.P. Maxwell, Special Examiner, to Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, DC, 31 March 1897
“I knew the soldier during the last five years of his life as a depraved and worthless vagabond…. I have thought it not necessary to lose and incur an additional expense of $3.00 to confront the guardians with the adverse testimony obtained. I thereby recommend the rejection of the claim as it now stands.”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 