BENY KATHERINE BLACK

WIDOW’S PENSION APPLICATION

William BLACK’s initial application was dated April of 1908 and the last
communication to the board (that I have) was dated 29 May 1913. He was
never granted a pension, but nor was he rejected as far as I could tell.
William died in Oct 1921 having never received any monies for pension.
 
The Widow's Pension Law, passed by the Tennessee Legislature, provides for
the widows of soldiers only, and they must have been residents of the State
of the Tennessee for three years if widows of Tennessee soldiers; if widows
of soldiers of other States, ten years before making application.
There is only one class of Widows pensionable.
Widows must have married prior to 1890.
To be eligible the applicant must have remained a widow after the death of
her soldier husband, and must be indigent.
 
**=denotes her response
 
1. What is your full name and where do you reside?
**Beny Katherine Black, Weakley Co., TN, McKenzie
 
2. How long and since when have you been a resident of this State?
**since childhood
 
3. When and where were you born and what was your maiden name?
**Beny Katherine Foster born Feb. 4th 1847 in North Carolina
 
4. When and where was your husband born-state his full name, and where were
you and he married, and who performed the marriage ceremony? (Attach
certified copy marriage license in every case.) {{The copy was attached}}
**Jan 20th 1845 in North Carolina. William Anderson Black married Weakley
Co., TN.
 
Questions 5-10 are left blank having to do with Company and Regiment
husband
enlisted with and where and/or served with during the war between the
States; how long he served; when and where husband's Company and Regiment
surrendered; Was husband present at time and place surrendered; If not with
his command at surrender, where was he, why and by what authority?
(I assume these were not answered because all these had been answered in
W.A.'s application.)
 
10. Was your husband a pensioner or an applicant for pension, under the
laws of Tennessee?
**SA 10.182 (A file number for them to refer to)
 
11. Have you heretofore applied for a pension in this State?
**No.
 
12. When and where did your husband die?
**Oct 8, 1921
 
13. At the time of your husband's death, were you living with him as his
lawful wife?
**Yes
 
14. Have you married since the death of your soldier husband?
**No.
 
15. How many children did you have by your said husband? Give sex and age
at this time.
**E.F. Black, male, 47
**Delola Baker, about 43, female
**Foster Black, 41, male
**Ethel Neal, 38, female
 
16. What property, real or personal, or income do you have or possess, and
its gross value?
**Small farm of 10 acres, 2 cows, one pony, 2 hogs, (rest unreadable)
 
17. What property, real or personal, did you possess at death of husband or
did he leave you, and what disposition, if any, by sale or gift, have you made of the same?
**none but the above named ___ and not sold anything.
 
18. Have you a family? If so, who compose such family? Give their means of
support. Have they any lands or other property?
**no
 
19. Name some friend giving his name and post office address, who will be
willing to have us write to him about your case if necessary.
**Sam McCracken, McKenzie, Tenn R4
 
Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 18th day of October 1921
Signed by the Notary Public of Carroll County, TN with Beny Katherine
Black's mark. (x)
 
 
The following is titled:
Questions for Winesses
 
State of Tennessee
Carroll County
 
J.F. Crabtree and W.R. Foster of said State and County having been presentd
as a witness in support of the application of Mrs. Beny Katherine Black for
a pension underChapter 202, Acts of 1905;hapter 108, Acts of 1907; Chapter 18, Acts of 1909; Chapter 7, Acts of 1911,and after being duly sworn true
answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows:
 
**=denotes responses to questions
 
1. What is your name and what is your postoffice address?
**J.F. Crabtree, R4 McKenzie, Tenn
**W.R. Foster, R4, McKenzie, Tenn
 
2. Are you acquainted with the applicant, Mrs. Beny Katherine Black? If
so, how long have you known her?
**50 years and 25 years
 
3. Where does she reside, and how long and since when has she been a
resident of this State?
**Have known her as a resident of Weakley Co, Tenn 50 and 25 yrs.
 
4. When and where was she born?
**North Carolina
 
5. Were you ever acquainted with her husband?
**yes
 
6. When and by whom were they married?
(blank)
 
7. Were either or both of you present at the marriage?
**no
 
8. How long did you know him?
**all of our lives or 50 and 25 yrs.
 
9-16 are crossed out as the questions have to do the company, regiment,
enlistment date, surrender date/where, etc. But these were all answered in
William A. Black's application.
 
17. When and where did William Anderson Black die?
**In Weakley Co., Tenn, Oct 8, 1921.
 
18. Where did he reside at his death and how long had he been a resident of
Tennessee at his death?
**Weakley Co., Tenn. We have known him as a resident of the State 50 and 25
yrs.
 
19. Do you know of your own knowledge that applicant is the lawful widow of
William Anderson Black?
**We do.
 
20. Has she remained unmarried since her soldier husband's death, and is
she now his widow?
**yes
 
21. What property, effects or income has the applicant, if any, and how do
you know this or your own knowledge?
**We know of none except the 10 acre farm and stock are named.
 
Signed by J.F. Crabtree and W.R. Foster and the Notary Public 18th day of
Oct 1921.
 
Also enclosed is a Certificate of the County Trustee, J.W. Eames(?) of
Weakley County, Tennessee, certifying that the property assessed on the tax
books of this County to Mrs. Beny Katherine Black the widow of W.A. Black
is 10 acres and amounts to $500 real estate and personal.
 
Also enclosed in these papers is a document from the War Department,
Adjutant General's Office, Washington, to the Tennessee Board of Pension
Examiners, Nashville, dated 21 May 1908:
The records show that W.A. Black, private, Company K, (Dudley's) 16th (also
called the 12th) Regiment (Wilson's) Tennessee Cavalry, C.S.A., was
enlisted March 1, 1864. On the roll of the company for the months of May and in the June 1864, last roll on file, he is reported present. No later record of him
found.
 
Last, but not least, Beny K. Black did receive a Widow's Pension. No where
in here does it say how much; just a note on one paper that says ACCEPTED
and Pd to Dec 1, 1921. Beny Katherine Black lived until May 1928.
 
A note from a cousin:

LuAnn: His pension was not approved because he developed pneumonia in the

winter before the war was over in the spring and was sent home. Therefore

he was not with his unit when it was parolled in the spring and was

considered a deserter. I have about 20 letters written on his behalf

stating that he was a gentleman, the last of the old guard, had 60 acres "a

scant living", a recurring cancer on his face, etc and "deserved a pension".

I'll try to locate these for you. Larry Black

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