Tuesday, January 08, 2019

Durham--Texas Confederate Pension file Abstracts

Abstracts of information from Confederate pension applications of soldiers or widows. These applications were viewed from the microfilm collection of Wallace State College's Genealogy Collection (located on the 5th floor)at the campus in Hanceville, Alabama. I previously had these files on my Freepages Genealogy Website that was hosted at Rootsweb. You can now access some Confederate Pension index and in some cases, files at Familysearch.org (Log on required for some portions of the site but it is free) This post should give you an idea of the type of information found in those files. Please check out the digital images of the originals at FamilySearch for these and other pension applications.

Confederate Pensions were paid by the States not the Federal Government. Also, keep in mind that they were filed in the state of residence which may or may not be the state in which they served. Eligibility requirements vary from state to state. The states which paid Confederate Pensions were Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

The Texas Confederate Pension Index is online for free.  Ancestry has the Texas Confederate Applications available to subscribers in the Alabama, Texas, and Virginia, Confederate Pensions, 1884-1958 database.  Check with your local library.  If they have an Ancestry subscription you should be able to access it while visiting your local library.

Louisa York Durham--Bell Co. TX Widow's Pension # 8219

Confederate Pension Application
Louisa Durham
Bell Co. TX
Post Office Belton Texas
Comptroller's File # 8219

I have carefully examined the within application for pension, 
together with the proof in support thereof, and I recommend that the application be approved this 
18th of September A. D. 1901  E. A. Bolmes Pension Clerk

I hereby Approve the within application for pension 
this Sep 18 1901(stamped date) R. M. Love Comptroller

The State of Texas
Co. of Bell
To the Honorable County Judge of Bell Co. TX.

Your Petitioner, Mrs. Louisa Durham, respectfully 
represents that she is a resident citizen of Bell Co. in the State of TX, that she is the widow of W. G. Durham 
deceased, who was a Confederate soldier, and that she makes this application for the purpose of obtaining a 
pension as the widow of said W. G. Durham deceased, under the act passed by the Twenty-sixth Legislature 
of the State of Texas and approved May 12 A. D. 1899, the same being an act entitled "An act to carry into 
effect the amendment to the Constitution of the State of Texas, providing that aid may be granted to disabled 
and dependent Confederate soldiers, sailors and their widows under certain conditions, and to make an 
appropriation therefor." and I do solemnly swear that the answers I have given to the following questions are 
true.  (Numbers were added for clarity--orig. doc. shows  
Q. and then Answer before each)
1.  What is your name?  Louisa Durham
2.  What is your age? Sixty Eight Years
3.  In what County do you reside? Bell Co. Texas
4.  How long have you resided in said County and what is your 
post office address?  
Lived in Bell Co. 28 yrs--Post Office is Belton
5.  Have you applied for a pension under the Confederate 
Pension Law Heretofore, and been rejected? 
If so state when and where. I have not.
6.  What is your Occupation if able to engage in one?  House Keeping
7.  What is your physical condition?  Worn out with age and have rhemutism
8.  What was the name of your deceased husband? W. G. Durham
9.  Are you unmarried, and have you so remained unmarried since the death of 
your said husband for whose services you claim a pension?  I have not remarried.
10.  State in what company and regiment your deceased husband for whose services 
you claim a pension enlisted in the Confederate Army, and the time of his service 
therein?  Think it was Dibrell Co. Wheeler? Corps Sparta Tenn Served about 3 yrs.
11.  If your deceased husband served in the Confederate navy, state when and where, 
and the time of such service?  Did not serve in Navy
12.  State whether or not you have received any pension or veteran donation land 
certificate under any previous law, and if you answer in the affirmative state 
what pension or veteran donation land certificate you have so received.  Have 
received none.
13.  What real and personal property do you now own, and what is the present value 
of such property?  Give list of such property and value.   I have no property.
14.  What property, and what was the value thereof have you sold or conveyed within 
two years prior to the date of this application?  Have sold no property
15.  What income if any do you receive? None whatever
16.  Have you transferred circumstands; that is, are you in actual want, and 
destitute of property and means of subsistence?  I am
17.  Are you unable by your labor to earn a support?  I am
18.  Have you transferred to others any property of value of any kind for the 
purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law? I have not
19.  Did your deceased husband for whose services you claim a pension, ever 
desert the Confederacy? No
20.  Have you be continiously since the first day of March, 1880, a bona fide 
resident citizen of this State?  I have

Wherefore your petitioner prays that her application for pension be approved 
and that such other preceedings be had in the premises as are required by the 
law.  (Signature of Applicant) Louisa Durham Sworn to and subscribed before 
me this 13th day of June A. D. 1901  G. M. Felts County Judge Bell Co. TX

Affadavit of Witness
State of Texas County of Bell
Before me G. M. Felts County Judge of Bell Co., State of Texas, on this day 
personally appeared A. M. Montieth and R. L. Gully who are personally known 
to me to be credible citizens, who being by me duly sworn on oath, state that 
they personally know the Mrs. Louisa Durham, widow of the said W. G. Durham, 
deceased, and that they further know that Mrs. Louis Durham, widow of the 
said W. G. Durham is unable to support herself by labor of any sort.

Signature of Witness A. M. Monteith
Signature of Witness R. L. Gully
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13th day of June A. D. 1901
G. M. Felts County Judge of Bell County, TX

Certificate of County Judge
The State of Texas County of Bell 

I G. M. Felts county judge of Bell County, State of Texas, do hereby certify 
that on the 15 day of June A. D. 1901, before me came on to be heard the 
application of Mrs. Louisa Durham, widow of W. G. Durham, deceased, for a 
pension under the Confederate Pension Law of this State, approved May 12 
A. D. 1899; that the answers of said applicant to the questions propounded 
were made under oath as the same appear in writing in the foregoing application; 
that the affidavits of the witnesses who are credible citizens were made before 
me as the same herinbefore appear.  I also certify that the said 
applicant Louisa Durham is not disqualified under any of the provisions of 
Section 12, of the Confederate Pension law.  I further certify that after 
considering all of the proceedings had before me relative to the said application 
for the pension by the said Mrs. Louisa Durham, as widow of W. G. Durham 
deceased, I find the said applicant is lawfully entitled to the pension provided 
for by the Confederate Pension Law of this State, and I hereby approve said application.

Witness my hand and seal of office at Belton this 28th day of August A. D. 1901
G. M. Felts
County Judge Bell County State of Texas

Certificate of County Commisioner
The State of Texas, County of Bell  We, the undersigned members of the 
Commisioners Court of Bell Co. Texas, hereby certify that the foregoing 
application of Mrs. Louisa Durham widow of W. G. Durham deceased, for 
a pension together with the proof in support thereof, was duly submitted 
by Hon. G. M. Felts County Judge of this Bell County, to the Commissioners 
court of this Bell County, at a regular term thereof on the 15 day of June 
A.D. 1901, after a careful consideration of the same we find the 
said applicant is lawfully entitled to the pension provided for by the 
Confederate Pension Law of this state, and we hereby approve said application.
Witness our hands and seal of office at Belton this 28th day of August A. D. 1901.

N. B. Vernon
M. H. Franklin
G. W. Walton Jr.
H. N. Banks

Comptrollers Department State of Texas Austin  August 2nd 1901

I, R. M. Love, Comptroller of Public Aaccounts of the State of Texas, 
do hereby certify that the records of this office show the following facts:

1st  The application of W. G. Durham for Confederate pension(see file 269) 
was duly approved September 21st, 1899 by J. R. Curl Acting Comptroller.

2nd  The proof on file with said application shows that said W. G. Durham 
served in Company "A", 8th Tennessee Calvary, serving about ten months, 
being conscripting officer prior to his regular service in the army.

In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and caused the seal of 
said office to be affixed on this 2nd day of August A. D. 1901.

Signature of R. M. Love
Comptroller.

For Mrs. W. G. Durham

W. G. Durham Bell Co. TX Soldier's Confederate Pension Application #269


W. G. Durham Bell Co. TX 
Post Office Belton TX
Comptroller's File # 269
Approved 22nd Day of Sept A. D. 1899
Wm. J. Swain Pension Clerk(signature)

I hereby approve the within application for 
pension, this 21 da yof Sept A. D. 1899 
J. R. Curl(signature)
Acting Comptroller

The state of Texas
County of Bell

To the Honorable county Judge of Bell County, Texas
Your petitioner, W. G. Durham respectfully represents that he is 
a resident citizen of Bell County, in the state of Texas, and that
he makes this application for the purpose of obtaining a pension 
under the act passed by the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State
of Texas and approved May 12, A. D. 1899, the same being an act
entitled "An act to carry into effect the amendment to the Constitution
of the State of Texas, providing that aid may be granted to disabled
and dependant Confederate soldiers, sailors, and their widows, under 
certain conditions, and to make an appropriation therefor." and I do 
solemnly swear that the answers I have given to the following questions 
are true.

1.  What is your Name?  "W. G. Durham"
2.  What is your Age?  "Seventy one(71)"
3.  In what County do you reside?  "Bell"
4.  How long have you resided in said County and what is your post 
office address?  "since 1873 Belton Bell County"
5.  Have you applied for a pension under the Confederate Pension Law 
heretofore, and been rejected?  "If so state when and Where. I have not."
6.  What is your occupation if able to engage in one? "Not able to engage in any"
7.  What is your physical condition?  "Very low"
8.  If you physical condition is such that you are unable by your own
labor to earn a support, state what caused such disability.  
"a cancerous offection(sic)"
9.  State in what company and regiment you enlisted in the Confederate Army, 
and the time of your service.  "Company A 8th Tennessee Cavalry.  About 
July 1864.  Previously was conscripting officer & served about 10 months"
10.  If you served in the Confederate Navy state when and where and the 
time of your service.  "Did not serve in Navy"
11.  State whether or not you have received any pension or veteran donation 
land certificate under any previous law and if you answer in the affirmative 
state what pension or veteran donation land certificate you received.  "None"
12.  What real estate and personal property do you now own, and what is the
present value of such property? Give list of such property and value. "Own 
two mules worth about $75 One Cow worth $20 Farming Tools $10  Household 
furniture $25"
13.  What Property and what was the value thereof have you sold or conveyed within
two years prior to the day of this application?  "None"
14.  What income, if any, do you receive? "none"
15.  Are you in indigent circumstances that is, are you in actual want, 
and destitute of property and means of subsistence?  "yes"
16.  Are you unable by your labor to earn a support? "yes"
17.  Have you transferred to others any property of value of any kind 
for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law? "None"
18.  Did you ever desert the Confederacy?  "No"
19.  Have you been continously since the first day of January 1880 a 
bona fide citizen of this State?  "Yes"
Wherefore your petitioner prays that his application for pension be approved 
and that such other Proceedings be had in the premises as are required by law.
(signature of applicant)   W. G. Durham
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of June A. D. 1899
D. R. Pendleton County Judge Bell Co. Texas

============Affidavit of Witnesses==========

The State of Texas, 
County of Bell
Before me D. R. Pendleton County Judge of Bell County, State of Texas on 
this day personally appeared W. C. Durham and W. W. Drake who are personally 
known to me to be credible citizens, who being by me duly sworn on oath, 
state that they personally know W. G. Durham the above named applicant for 
a pension, and that they personally know that the said W. G. Durham 
enlisted in the service of the Confederacy, and performed the duties of 
a soldier as claimed by him in the above foregoing application and that 
they further know that he, the said applicant, is unable to support himself
by labor of any sort.
(Signature of Witness)W. C. Durham
(Signature of Witness)W. W. Drake
Sworn and subscribed before me this 13th day of July A. D. 1899
D. R. Pendleton 
County Judge Bell County, Texas

===========Affidavit of Physician=========
The state of Texas,
County of Bell
Before me, D. R. Pendleton County Judge of Bell County, State of Texas on 
this day personally appeared J. G Adams, who is a reputable practicing 
physician of this County, who being by me duly sworn on oath, states that 
he has carefully and thoroughly examined W. G. Durham applicant for a 
pension, and finds him laboring under the following disabilities which 
render him unable to labor at any work or calling sufficient to earn a 
support for himself  "_____ ulcer of the eye face one eye ____ destroyed"
(signature of physician) J. G. Adams M. D.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27th day of June A. D. 1899
D.R. Pendleton
County Judge Bell County, State of Texas

===========Certificate of County Judge=======
The state of Texas,
County of Bell
I D. R. Pendleton county Judge of Bell County, State of Texas, 
do hereby certify that on the 13 day of July A. D. 1899, before 
me came on to be heard the application of W. G. Durham for a 
pension under the Confederate Pension Law of this State, approved 
May 12, A. D. 1899, that the answers of said applicant to the 
questions propounded were made under oath as the same appear in 
writing in the foregoing application; that the affidavits of the 
witnesses who are credible citizens were made before me as the 
same hereinbefore appear, and that the foregoing affidavit of 
Doctor J. G. Adams who is a reputable practicing physician of 
this County, was made before me.  I also certify that the said 
applicant W. G. Durham, is not an inmate of the Texas Confederate 
Home, nor otherwise disqualified under the provision of Section 
12, of the COnfederate Pension Law.  I further certify that after 
considering all the prooceedings had before me relative to the 
said application for a pension by the said W. G. Durham I find 
the said applicant is lawfully entitled to the pension provided 
by the Confederate Pension Law of this State, and I hereby approve 
said application.

Witness my hand and seal of office at Belton this 19 day of 
August A. D. 1899.
D. R. Pendleton
County Judge Bell County, state of Texas


===========Certificate of County Commisioners=======
The state of Texas,
County of Bell
We the undersigned members of the Commissioners Court of Bell County 
Texas, hereby certify that the foregoing application of W. G. Durham
for a pension, together with the proof in support thereof, was duly 
submitted by Hon. D. R. Pendleton county judge of this Bell County, 
to the Commisssioners Court of this Bell County, at a regular term 
thereof on the 14th day of August A.D. 1899 and after careful 
consideration of the same we find the said applicant is lawfully 
entitled to the pension provided for by the Confederate Pension Law of
of this State, and we hereby approve said application.

Witness our hands and seal of office at Belton this 14th day of August
A. D. 1899
(Signatures of Commisioners)
M. H. Shanklin
N. B. Vernon
F. N. Lancaster
T. C. Stinson

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