Today, 22 September 2000, I received the Pension files on my great-great grandfather, William A. Black. Nothing was in any order and it took me several hours to place the different communications in chronological order. It appears that a couple of the letters from the Pension Board to J.R. Dudley, Notary Public and representative to W.A. Black’s application, are not in this file, but from the correspondence to the Board, it is apparent what was said previously.
The parts start with W.A. Black’s application in Apr of 1908 and end with a letter dated 29 May 1913. That’s 5 years of waiting for an answer to whether he was entitled to a Pension or not! Many of these soldiers were elderly already by the time these pension applications became available. William A. Black was 64 yrs. old when he applied for the pension, yet he didn’t die until 1921 and did he have an answer then? Read on and find out….
Enjoy!
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"*"denotes William's answers to the questions
"##" my notes
Soldier's Application for Pension
I, W.A. Black, a native of the state of Tenn....reside at McKenzie in the
County of Weakley, Route #7...and who was a soldier from the State of
Tennessee, in the war between the United States and the Confederate States,
do hereby apply for aid under the Act of the General Assembly of Tennessee,
entitled "An Act for the benefit of the indigent and disabled soldiers of
the late war between the States, and to fix the fees of attorneys or agents
for procuring such pensions and fixing a penalty for the violation of the
same". And I do solemnly swear that I was a member of Bells Brigade,
Bufords division, Wilson's Regiments, Dudley's Company Forest Command in the
service of the Confederate or United States; and that by reason of
disability or indigence I am now entitled to receive the benefit of the Act.
I further swear that I do not hold any National, State, or County office,
nor do I receive aid or pension from any other State, or from the United
States and that I am not an inmate of any soldier's home, and that I am
unable to earn a reasonable support for myself and family. I do further
solemnly swear that the answers given to the following questions are true:
In what County, State, and year were you born?
*Rockingham County, North Carolina borned Jan 20th 1844.
When did you enlist and what command? Give the names of the regimental
and
company officers under whom you served.
*In April 1863. Forest Command Wilson's regiments- Captain Dudleys
Company.
In what battle or battles were you engaged, and, if not wounded, state what
disabilities did you receive, if any?
*Harrisburg; none
What was the precise nature of your wound or disability, if any?
*None
Were you incapacitated for service by reason of said wound or disability
incurred?
*no
Were you discharged from the army by reason of said wound or disability?
*no
If discharged from the army, where were you and what did you do until the
close of war?
*Paroled at Paducah at close of war
What was the name of the surgeon who attended you?
*none
How did you get out of the army, when and where?
*Paroled at Paducah at close of war
Were you ever in prison?
*never
Were you paroled? If so, when and where?
*Yes, at Paducah at close of war.
Did you take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government?
*no
If so, when and under what circumstances?
*no
Are you married, or have you been married?
*yes
If so, what is the size of your family living together?
*myself and wife
What are the respective ages of your wife and the children living with you?
*wife age 60
To what sex do your children belong?
*2 Boys and 2 girls
Are not some of your children able to support you?
*No, all they can well do to support their own families
In what business are you now engaged, if any, and what do you earn?
*Farming. A scant living.
What estate have you in your own right, real and personal, and what is its
value?
*60 acres of land. $750.00
What estate has your wife in her own right, real and personal, and what is
its value?
*none
How have you derived support for yourself and family for the last five
years?
*by farming
Do you us intoxicants to any extent?
*No, never did.
How long have you been an actual resident of the State of Tennessee?
*58 or 59 years.
Have you an attorney to look after this application?
*no
Witness my hand, this 20th day of April 1908
W.A. Black (his mark)
S.W. Dunlap, Witness
W.A. Dunlap, Witness
###There is then certification by Z.W. Grooms, Trustee of said County, that
W.A. Black own 60 acres, valued at $750.00. This is dated 12th May 1908
and
signed by Grooms.
State of Tennessee, Weakley County. Personally
appeared before me, J.R.
Dudley, Notary Public of said County, the above named W.A. Black, the
applicant, with whom I am personally acquainted, and having the application
read and fully explained to him, as well as the statements and answers
therein, made oath that the said statements and answers are true.
Witness my hand and seal of office, this 20th day of April 1908.
(Signed) J.R. Dudley, Notary Public.
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State of Tennessee, Weakley
County, Personally appeared before me, J.R.
Dudley Notary Public of said County, the above named W.R. Moore, one of the
subscribing witnesses to the foregoing application, and who is a physician
of good standing and being duly sworn says that he has carefully and
thoroughly examined W. A. Black, the applicant, and finds him laboring under
the following disabilities:
Cronic cortorch(sp) of the bowels and from cancer on the face which when he
gets warm the symptoms returns as he has been treated twice for same.
(Signed) W.R. Moore, M.D.
(Dated) 20th of April 1908
###The two witnesses, S.W. Dunlap and W.A. Dunlap, were also certified by
J.R. Dudley, Notary Public as "to be citizens of veracity and standing in
this community, and who make oath that they are personally acquainted with
the foregoing applicant, and that the facts set forth and statements made in
this application are correct and true, to the best of their knowledge and
belief, and that they have no interest in this claim, and that said
applicant's habits are good and free from dishonor... Dated 20th April 1908.
Z.W. Grooms
Trustee Weakley County,
Dresden, Tenn.
(Dated) May 30, 1908
(To) Pension Board,
Nashville, Tenn.
Gentlemen:-
Allow me to say for Mr. W.A. Black, who has his application with you for
pension, that he is in every way a model citizen, a true Southern Democrat
and was a faithful Confederate soldier.
He never would have asked for help it not been for a cancer on his face.
Has had it removed several times at a considerable expense and loss of time.
It has returned again, and he being affected in this way is unable to work
out in the sunshine.
We have but few of the old guards left and I want to see each and all of
them cared for, especially under such conditions as Mr. Black is at the
present time. It is a credit to the Old Volunteer State. God speed
the day
when they will all receive aid. I can freely say I want to pay a tax for
such a cause.
Very truly,
(Signed) Z.W. Grooms
Trustee Weakley Co.
=====================================================
(From the office of) J.R. Dudley
Justice of the Peace
and Notary Public
McKenzie, Tenn., July 27th, 1908
State of Tennessee, Weakley County} This is to certify that W.A. Black was
taken sick in Mississippi and was not able to go with his regiment at the
time they was paroled.
(Signed) S.W. Dudley
=====================================================
(From) County Court, Weakley County
H.L. Hill, Judge
(Dated) July 28, 1908
(To) W.H. Coby, Esq,
Nashville, Tenn.
Dear Sir,
I enclose (___?) affidavit in support of W.A. Black pension claims which I
hope will be sufficient to place him on the rolls. I also sent to (___?)
Hickman on yesterday affidavit supporting the claim of J.H. Rhodes both
affadivits (___?) requested by your board where I was before it last week.
Please look after these claims personally and see that these 2 old soldiers
are put on the rolls at your present session as they are both deserving
subjects.
(Signed) Your Friend, H.L. Hall
Please advise me at your (___?) convenience the action of the board on these
claims.
=======================================================
(From) J.R. Dudley
(Dated) Mar 3rd 1909
(To) Mr. John Hickman, Nashville Tenn.
Dear sir,
Mr. W.A. Black of McKenzie, Tenn., Route #7 has requested me to write you in
regard to his application for pension he made as thought all necessary proof
before me some time last fall and has never herd anything more from it; so
now if there is any further proof the pension board desires let him know at
once and he will try and make same satisfactory. I know Mr. Black
personally and think him worthy of due consideration as his health is very
bad.
Respectfully,
(Signed) J.R. Dudley
(From) Jno. P. Hickman,
Secretary, Nashville, Tenn. (of the Board of
Pensions, apparently)
(Dated) Mch 5 1909
(Re:) W.A. Black, No. 10182
McKenzie R7
Dear Sir:
The Board of Pension Examiners have considered your application, and it
stands disallowed with these endorsements by the Board on the specifications
following:
Service in Army.
Prooven.
Wound received, injury sustained, or disease contracted while in line of
duty:
Prooven.
Indigency.
Prooven.
How applicant got out of the army.
Not satisfactory. War Records have no report of you later than June '64.
Why paroled at Paducah? Your regiment was paroled at Gainesville, Ala.
Character as a soldier.
Prooven.
Must Return this Statement With Proof.
The specifications not satisfactory to the Board may be corrected by proof,
but no proof will be considered unless taken before an officer using a seal.
Board meets second Tuesdays in February, May, August and November.
Let him show by proof (of others) why he was not paroled with his regiment
at Gainesville, Ala. If it is claimed that he was at (____ __?) for
service
let him establish that fact by the testimony of (___?) who knew him at that
time.
(From the office of:) J.R. Dudley, Notary Public
(ToThe Board)
(Dated) March 16th 1909
...This is to certify that I am personally acquainted with W.A. Black the
applicant and to my personal knowledge he was in the army all during its
time until he was taken sick in Miss. and he was not able to follow any
longer and was advised by his officers to take care of his self or go to the
Hospital which he preferred the former. This occured just before the
close
of the war and why he was not parolled at Gainsville, Ala is he was sick at
home at that time and later he was ordered to Paducah to be parolled by the
Federal Commander.
(Signed) S.W. Dunlap
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(From) The Tennessee Board of
Pension Examiners
(Dated) March 18, 1909
(Re:) W.A. Black, No. 10182
(To) J.R. Dudley, McKenzie, Tenn.
Dear sir-
The affidavit of Mr. S.W. Dunlap in this case is received and filed but I
think does not quite cover the case. With all due respect to the affiant
I
want to call attention to the fact that the affidavit seeks to cover both
ends of the line. If the affiant was with the army he could of course
know
the fact, if it is a fact, that the applicant left the command by permission
of his officers, but I can't see how the affiant, if with the army, could
know the condition of the affiant at home at the same time.
What the case needs I think is the affidavit of someone who was at home at
the time applicant came and can, of his or own knowledge, testify to
applicants physical condition from the time he came home till the close of
the war. We find so many cases where soldiers dropped out of the army
toward the close of the war without supposed cause or authority that we are
compelled to exercise great care to find out the real facts.
(Signed) Yours Truly,
(name unreadable)
(From the office of) J.R. Dudley, Notary Public
(Date) March 30th, 1909
(To) Pension Board
...This is to certify that I know of my personal knowledge that W.A. Black
who has applyed for pension was in a verry low state of health when he come
home from the army which was in the winter before the war closed in the
following spring and he remained so for some after the was closed.
Affected
with malarial and rheumatism which rendered him totally unfit for anything
as he looked almost like a skeleton so far as flesh was concerned.
(Signed) P.H. Black (his mark)
========================================================
(From) J.R. Dudley, Notary Public
(To) John Hickman, Nashville, Tenn.
(Date) Mar 24, 1910
Dear sir:
Yours of Feb 1st in regard to Mr. W.A. Black's Pension No. 10182 McKenzie,
Tenn. You stated the records have no account of his servises after June
1864. If I am not mistaken he made proof before me by S.W. Dunlap and
P.H.
Black that he was taken sick in the winter of 1864 and got a furlow to come
home and remain sick until after the war closed and then was carried to
Paducah to be parolled and was when he was still not able to make the trip
and do himself justice. This proof is what he made to the best of my
knowledge and if anything else is lacking please let me know as he is verry
desireous of getting a pension and needs it.
(Signed) Very Respt.,
J.R. Dudley
=====================================================
(From) J.R. Dudley, Notary
Public
(To) Mr John Hickman, Nashville, Tenn.
(Date) Jan 31, 1910
Dear sir;
Mr. W.A. Black of McKenzie, Tenn request me to write you again in regard to
his Pension which he made application for some time ago. The proof was
sent
back for correction which was made but have never herd anymore from it so
hoping to have early reply from you and let me know what is needed.
(Signed) Very respectfully,
J.R. Dudley
(From) J.R. Dudley, Notary Public
(To) John Hickman, Nashville, Tenn.
(Date) 2-23-1911
Dear sir,
Mr. W.A. Black are sending you further proof of his services while in the
army as follows.
Job Shankle made oath in due form of law that W.A. Black was in the army
with him and made a good and faithful soldier until the fall of 1864 when he
was taken sick after the battle of Harrisburg when he come home on the
advice of Lutenant Brooks and from all information of (____?) he remained
sick until after the war ended, then he was parolled at Paducah with many
others.
(Signed)
J.W. Shankle
======================================================
(From) J.R. Dudley
(To) Pension Board
(Date) April 17th 1911
Mrs. Maggie Montgomery, Sister of W.A. Black made oath in due form of law that to the best of her knowledge and belief that her brother W.A. Black came home from the war in the fall of 1864 sick and disable from doing anything and remained so for twelve months or more after the war closed and further states that from her information that he went to Paducah and was parolled in due form.
(Signed) Mrs. Maggie Montgomery
(J.R. Dudley further states:)
Gentlemen. I will say that the applicant W.A.Black is a s honorable and upright citizen as we have and them that know say he made a good and faithful soldier while in service and no one doubts his statement. (Signed) J.R. Dudley
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(From) J.R. Dudley, Notary Public
(To) Pension Board
(Date) May 28th 1913
We, R.L. Mitchell age 83 and Eliza Mitchell age 76 of Gleason Tenn and
(Weakley) county...do testify that we lived adjoining farms of W.A. Black
during the latter part of the late war and do testify that he (W.A. Black)
when he come home out of the army was wholly unfit for any kind of service
and looked like he could not live long unless there be a change for the
better and he remained in that condition until some time after the war
between the States closed.
(Signed) R.L. Mitchell (his mark)
Eliza Mitchell (her mark)
(From) J.R. Dudley, Notary Public
(To) John Hickman, Nashville, Tenn
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(Date) May 29th 1913 (LuAnn notes that this was sent with the May 28th
letter above apparently)
Dear sir:
You will find enclosed further proof as to why W.A. Black did not go back in
the war after he came home sick with the measels. The witnesses are two
of
our counties foremost citizens and are entitled to full credit to what they
may say, and if there are any further proof necessary advise me. You told
me in April when I was in your office that you thought such proof as I am
enclosing was all that was needed now. Hoping to have as early reply as
convenient after the Board passes on this.
(Signed) J.R. Dudley
P.S. You will please advise me as to what further proof is needed in Mrs.
Carline Mitchell application of McKenzie, Tenn. J.R.D.
============================================================
Epilogue
Epilogue
I learned that Pension files can be filled with invaluable information! I
know now that he served with the Confederacy; that he was born in 1844 (per
him) and probably not 1845 as his headstone reads. (Yes, he could have
forgotten what year he was born, but this is from his own mouth as opposed
to a third party saying when he was born after his death as a source. I
learned he was from Rockingham, NC. I learned he had 2 girls and 2 boys
still living (one boy died in 1859 before his application). I learned
some medical history
about him; that he had cancer of the face because he was a farmer (as we know
nowadays about such things) and out in the sun a lot.
I learned more too, but that is
enough for now.
Perhaps the whole file was not sent to me. What I do know is that there
are
a lot of years missing from the last letter of 1913 to William A. Black's
death in 1921. I still don't know if he was entitled to the Pension or
not!
Perhaps William A. Black tired of "the back and forth" correspondence
or was
he too ill to deal with it? Or was it just a simple matter that I did not
receive the entire file?
LuAnn