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

More Tennessee Confederate Pension Application Abstracts

Abstracts of information from Confederate pension applications of soldiers or widows. 

• Mary Tennessee Acuff--Bledsoe Co. TN
• Leander P. Frizzell- Rutherford Co. TN
• James Fulks--Bedford Co. TN
• Rebecca Fulks-Bedford Co. TN
• Lawson H. Hillis-Van Buren Co. TN
• John Hitchcock-Van Buren Co. TN
• Mary Elizabeth King-Dekalb Co. TN
• W.R. King- Dekalb Co., TN
• J.H. Mahaffey-Dekalb Co. TN
• Florence Pitman-Warren Co. Tn
• James K. P. Robinson--Coffee Co. TN
• N.E. Stephenson-Bedford Co. TN
• Martha Walling-Warren Co. TN
• Shelby Walling--Van Buren Co TN
• America Ward-Warren Co TN
• Rufus Ward-Van Buren Co TN

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 the TN Confederate Pension 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.

Mary Tennessee Acuff--Bledsoe Co. TN Widow's Pension Application #7838

Mary Tennessee Acuff Filed May 13, 1922
widow of James Hamable Acuff(Note: notation along the side that Mary died March 3, 1934)Residence Pikeville Route 1 Bledsoe County Tennessee residents of the state of Tennessee since birth April 4, 1857, born in Roane County TennesseeHusband, James Hamable Acuff, was born January 5, 1845

We were married at my mother's home in Roane Co. TN by John H. Denton MG
Enlisted in the spring of 1862 near Cumberland Gap Oak Springs Post Office.
Co. F 2nd Reg Cal and served over two years
He crossed TN River with Gen John Wheeler on a Raid through Sequatchie Valley where
he burned a wagon train. He went by home and (rest is illegible)
He died Oct 30, 1921 at his home

9 Children 7 boys and 2 girls
Hon B. Dead Jas F.(40) Sarah J.(38) David H.(34) John S.(31) Robt B(27) Scott(20)
Albert Sidney(18)

James Acuff also borne as J. H. Acuff Pvt Co. F(Ashby's) TN Cav CSA
Enlisted Nov 24, 1862 at Pikeville Tennessee on Muster Roll Nov and Dec
1864(last on file) is shown Absent without leave no later record has been
found Robert C. Davis The Adj. Gen.
in Bledsoe County Tennessee

Leander P. Frizzell--Rutherford Co. TN Soldier's Pension Application #315

L. P. Frizzell Soldier's Pension S315

Carlocksville, Rutherford Co. TN
Co. A. 44th TN Inf Reg.
Wounded in battle at Chickamauga
Lost Right leg -- cut off just below the knee
Born in TN Aug 1835
Enlisted at Wartrace in Capt Haggards Co. 
Williamson Haggard
Col McDonald (1st col)
John Fulton (last col)
Where were you til close of war?
"Was in hospital most of the time"
Dr. Jackson
Married but wife is now dead.
Family consists of himself and 6 children
Oldest is 18.  Next is 17..15....13...11...8
All girls
What have you done to support yourself and family over 
the past 5 yrs.?
Try to Farm & mend shoes.

------June 11th 1891

Attorney is Sparks & Sparks
James R. Frizzell--witness  
[Marie's notes:--- this is James Ruben Frizzell, 
Leander's brother who was in the war in the same 
Co. A 44th Reg.]

Statement by J. B. Murphee
Loss of right leg caused by a gunshot wound received 
in service of the Confederate States Army.  Leg amputated
4 or 5 inches above the ankle.  For the past 3 yrs he has
suffered with a troublesome cough.  In my opinion he is 
unfit for manual labor and disability is permanent. 
J. B. Murphee..physician
Frank White ...clerk

[Marie's notes:----D. C. Taylor(Leander's brother-in-law
who was married to Mary Elizabeth Frizzell) is also 
mentioned on the statement which is given by witness' 
but that form only has their names and none of the 
questions answered.  Perhaps Leander's statements were enough. ]

James Fulks--Bedford Co. TN Soldier's Pension Application #10351

James M. Fulks 
Co. E. 4th Tenn Cav. (McLemore's)

Born Rutherford County TN Oct 1, 1841
Enlisted 1861
Fought at Chickamauga, Richmond KY and about all of the battles that
was involved in.  No disability or wounds
Was paroled at the surrender in NC
April 6 or 26th 1865

Family?
Self, wife and 3 children.
2 boys 1 girl
Wife 53 children 15, 19, 21

Engaged in farming

May 15th 1908
Note on Pension that J.M Fulks died Nov 22, 1918

Rebecca Fulks--Bedford Co. TN Widow's Pension Application #7096

Rebecca J. Fulks

December 26, 1918
Widow of J.M. Fulks
married August 27th 1882
Bell Buckle Route 1

Rebecca Fulks of Bell Buckle, Bedford County TN
How long have you been a Resident of TN? All of my life

Born Oct 25, 1853 Rutherford County Near Howen Gap
Maiden Name?  Rebecca Drake

Husband died Nov 22, 1918
5 children 3 girls and 2 boys
John 35, Mattie 33 yrs, Jessie 31 yrs, J. A. 29 yrs, B.B. 25 yrs

Property?
Some.  Small Farm that my husband owned when his pension was granted
valued at $400.  My only income is what this farm produces.

Have you a family?
My son J.R. Fulks; dau Jessie.  My son has bought piece of land on credit
and owes for it.  

Name of someone we can write to about your case.
T. F. Smalling

Dec 17, 1918

Marriage of Rebecca J. Drake & James M. Fulks
Solemized on Aug 27 1882 by J. M. Hoover
License taken out on Aug 26th 1882.

Lawson H. Hillis--Van Buren Co. TN Soldier's Pension Application #7356

Confederate Soldier Pension Application 7356

Lawson Hillis
Co. E. 38th Reg TN 
Lawson H. Hillis now a resident of 
Laurelburg, Van Buren Co. TN
Enlisted in Murray's Batallion afterwards consolidated
with John C. Carter's 38th TN Reg.
I was wounded in the battle of Chickamauga on the 19th day of Sept 1863.
Born in Van Buren Co. TN in 1841
Enlisted about April 1862.
T. B. Murray was colonel and M. P. Wood was captain.
I led my company in the battle in which I was wounded.
Murray & Wood were not there.
Lost no limb Wound in Arm cramps hands and prevents manual labor.
Wound in side very painful.
Were you incapacitated from army by reason of said wound of disability?
Yes
Were you discharged by reason of said wound?
No
Dr. Ausinburg treated him.
Family consists of a wife and four children
Wife is 52 yrs old  Children are 15, 13, 11 and 8.
There are 3 boys and one girl.
None of the children are able to support him.
In what business?
Farming as much as I can.  Barely a living.
No real estate.  Only a few household & Kitchen furniture
Wife's estate
53 acres of rough mountain side land valued at $250
How have you supported your family for the last 5 yrs?
By farming as best I could & from help from older sons who are now gone.
Do you use intoxicants?  No
Resident of the state of TN all of my life.
Attorney looking after this application
will be Jas. M. Brady, Spencer TN (signed Aug 1, 1904)

=============================================================

Statement by Dr. Titus Page give to A. J. Sparkman July 3, 1905
Lawson H. Hillis,
Weak worn out man, I have been his family physician for about
35 yrs and know him to be ruptured and is physically incapacitated
to do manual labor. 

=============================================================
J. C. Grissom & W. P. Hillis
make oath to the following facts touching on the applicants 
service in the Confederate Army. (Statements given to A. J.
Sparkman July 3, 1905)

J. C. Grissom states that he was with Lawson H. Hillis 
when the later was shot in the arm at the battle of 
Chickamauga, both being in the Confederate service.  
W. P. Hillis was with said applicant during the war 
both having engaged in the Confederate Service.

Grissom was within 10-15 feet of Hillis when the later was shot

=============================================================

Wounded in the battle of Chickamauga Sept 19, 1863 he went to his
kinfolk on the edge of GA but that before he was able to rejoin the
army on acct of said wound he Army had left and that he was
afterwards paroled at McMinnville, TN but doesn't remember the 
date. His parol papers are now mislaid and he is now unable to 
find.  After being wounded he was captured by the Federal soldiers
before he was able to catch up to Army which he belonged to.  The
best of his recollection, he was parolled in 1864 

=============================================================

Statements by James Mays(age 73) & Jasper Mayfield(age 68) of 
Scott Co. TN Post Office Oneida, TN that basically restate that
Lawson served in the Confederate Army.

=============================================================

Another Statement by Lawson Feb 23 1909
Painville, TN
Fought Battle fo the South my Blood was shed out of my body I tuck
command of Captain M. B. Wood's company at Chattanooga.  I led in
the Big Battle of Chickamauga on the morning of Sept 19, 1863 on 
that day I was wounded.

=============================================================

Nashville TN Nov 23 1906
Lawson H. Hillis
Woods Co. Murray Battalion TN Inf 38th Reg CSA
It is show by the records of this office that L. H. Hillis(not
borne as Lawson Hillis) served as a private Co. F. Murry's 
(also called 22nd) Battalion, TN Infantry CSA.  A muster roll
of the company dated April 30 1864(last on which borne)
shows him "absent deserted and ordered dropped from rolls
by the war dept."  No later record of him has been found nor has
his name been found on the rolls on fine in this Dept. of the 38th TN Inf. CSA.

=============================================================

April 18, 1914  Painville, TN
Message from L. H. Hillis
I am in the land that I found for and lost what I had for 
the lost cause.  I am 73 yrs old.  My Children all have 
families of their own.  I and my wife are living alone.  
She is also old and weakly.  I have no one to help me.  
My blood was shed for the lost cause.  There is men on 
the pension rolls drawing pensions that never did see a 
battle field that are on the Pension Rolls and  I no 
them.  It looks like that you could afford to grant me 
a pension.  A man that had any blood shot out of me for 
the lost cause.  I ask you to help me old brother.  I am 
not able to work for my living.

I am a member of the Christian Church.  Grace & Faith 
are the great words of the Gospel they are written on
two pillars which stand before the temple of the almighty.
Gentlemen, I was a member of the Van Buren Co. Court 33 yrs.
I got old and had to stept out on account of old age.  

---L. H. Hillis

John Hitchcock--Van Buren Co. TN Soldier's Pension Application #1240

John Hitchcock Cane Ridge TN

Shelton Hill near Corinth Miss.  May 18, 1862.
In head  & left side.  Minnie ball in head &
buckshot or pistol ball in side.

Wounded Shelton Hill in side and my head.
Chickamauga in hip.
Was not discharged could not of gotten home if I had been.

Dr. Watson(note:  hard to read)

7 children
Wife 44 oldest child 35 youngest 4 yr old
Boys 5 Girls 2

Some personal property 2 horses, 9 head hogs, 2 cows and
some household effects.
Wife inherited land valued at $600

Support?
By work of self and family.

Attorney
W.H. Head Cane Ridge TN   March 18, 1893
Witness
A.J. Parkes
John M. Johnson

Letter from John Hitchcock stating he wants
them to reconsider his application for pension.
Said that his earlier pension was denied because
of no funds.  He is now 64. His two children are
married & left and he is dependent upon self and has 
less property.

Jno. Hitchcock May 29, 1906 
Cane Ridge Van Buren TN
Member of the Thirty-fifth TN Regiment CSA
I was wounded in battle or battles at Shelton
Hill twist(sic) once in the head and once in 
left lung.  Battle of Chicamauga in left hip.

I was born on 23rd day of September 1838 in the
county of Warren state of Tennessee.

I enlisted of 25th day of Aug 1861
Marion Cumming was my Capt. 
B.J. Hill was my Col.

The ball entered at the eft of my spine passing
through my left lung.  I was also wounded in the top
of the head.  Also wounded in the left glutal region
I suffer a great deal from the wound through my lungs.
The ball is yet in my body.  My disability is permanent.
I get less able to do manual labor each year. 

No, I was not able for service for about 4 months
after I was shot through the lung.

Were you discharged? "No"

Surgeon who attended you? Woodward.

I was paroled at Sharlet(sic) NC in the year 1865.

Did you take the oath of alliegence to U.S. government?
"No, it did not suit me to take that oath."

Married? "yes"

How many in your family?
"4, one girl and one boy, my wife and myself.

My wife is 61, my girl is 19.  my boy is 17.

Are your children able to support you? No

What business are you engaged in?
Farming.  I can earn about 20 Cents per day.

I have 2 horses worth $40 and one cow worth $15
125 acres of land valued at $400.

How have you supported yourself and your family for
the last 5 years?
By farming.

Do you use intoxicants?
No

How long have you been a resident of Tennessee?
All my life.

Who is your attorney?
H. C. Cotton Cane Ridge April 24, 1906

Statement from Dr. J. C. Morgan M.D.
Telling of three wounds that John sustained while
in the Confederate Army.  Dr. says he can find no 
exit wound on the wound thru his lung.  Says that
John has a severe cough and that his disability is
equal to the loss of an arm and his disability is 
permanent.  April 24, 1906
Noterized by A. J. Sparkman Clerk

T.B. Sparkman & Lewis Shockley
Served with applicants April 24th 1906

Letter from H. C. Cotton Dec 10, 1906
Mr. Hitchcock says in regard to the place that he
was paroled that he gave up his gun at or near Charlotte
NC and he supposed that his parole would correspond with 
the place that he surrendered. He also states that after 
he gave up his gun that the army marched some distance to
Greensboro NC and he says it might be possible that they
never received his parole.  His recollection is not very
clear on this part.

Nov. 1st 1919
Makes request for increase of $5 extra to soldiers over
80 yrs of age.  I was born in Warren Co. TN Sept 23, 1838
and am therefore in my 82nd yr.  --- Creek Tenn

Letter from Jas. M. Brady--June 25th 1921
States that John Hitchcock died Jan 4th 1921 and
that Sam Hitchcock is the Admin. of his estate.

War Dept
It is shown by the records of this office that John
Hitchcock priv. Co. C 35th Inf CSA enlisted Sept 6, 1861
and is reported on roll for March & April 1864 last on
file as 5th Sgt present Prisonerof War records show he was
parolled as private Co. F. 3rd Consol. TN INF CSA Greensboro
May 1 1865

Mary Elizabeth King--Dekalb Co. TN Widow's Pension Application #7936

Mary Elizabeth King Dowelltown, Dekalb Co. TN

Born Mary Elizabeth Vanatta Near Alexandria TN 1853 Dec. 25th
Husband Born Wm. Robert King near Liberty Dekalb Co. TN.
Marr. at Liberty
Husband died March 4 1923 at Dowelltown, TN
They were married Dec 4th 1913 by R. L. Bell

Wm. R. King Co. A 24th TN INF CSA
Enlisted Aug 24, 1861 at Camp Trousdale for 10 months
Roll dated Aug 31, 1862(last on which he appears) is reported sick in
hospital at Tuscaloosa, AL.

The Records also show that one W. R. King was a member of Co. F. of said 
Reg. enlisted on Dec 14, 186_ in Bowling Green his final record is that of
a deserter.
Claim was not allow because she didn't marry the soldier prior to 1890
(dated 1924)

W.R. King--Dekalb Co. TN Soldier's Pension Application #4601

W. R. King applied Dec 22, 1902
A resident of Halesville, Dekalb Co. TN

Enlisted in Co. A. 24th Reg TN Vol Wounded at Shilough & after battle at Perryville was transferred to the Allison Squadron was wounded in the hip at Chikamauga and not had
good use of hip at no time since. At this time and for several years have almost lost use of that leg. 

Born in Canon(sic) Co. TN in year 1835 Enlisted sometime in 1861 

Married my family consists of 3 people--myself, my wife and one idiot boy 44 yr old. Wife is 67 yrs old My youngest child is abt 30 yrs old. I had seven children 4 boys and 3 girls. 

Are your children able to support you? "They are not. None of my children own any land except one and he's is worth about 4 hundred dollars. I live on his little farm. What little I do is on the farm. I cannot earn a respectable support. 

Do you use intoxicant? No Not tasted one drop in Ten Years. Sworn 

Affidavit I was sent to Rock Island, Ill prison in Nov 1863 and remained there until 17th day of April 1865. I was in barrack Number 7. I stubbornly refused to go out until after the surrener. I was informed the war was over and I could go out on my parole of honor which I did. --Aug 4, 1903 

Letter to Pension Dept by Wm. states that he was born on the 7th
day of Aug in 1832 and that he feels he is entitled to an increase in
pension under the Act of 1919 which gives pensioners over the age
of 80 yrs a $5 increase 

War Dept Records Statement The Records show that William R. King Priv. Co. A. Allison's Squadron TN Cal CSA enlisted June 15, 1863 at Alexandria TN to server 3 years and that he was captured at Rock Springs Church Georgia Jan 4, 1864(date of capture also stated as June 14, 1864) His name appears on an oath of allegiance subscribed & sworn to at Rock Island Barracks April 1, 1865.

J. H. Mahaffey--Dekalb Co. TN Soldier's Pension Application #4931

J. H. Mahaffey File April 30th, 1903

Resident of Citadel Dekalb Co. TN
Co. C. 23rd Regt Tenn INF

Wounded in Murfreesboro TN
I was struck by two part os a bombshell on both shoulders
My gun was on right shoulder and was torn to pieces.  The
Shell penetrated my blkt six fold deep causing much injury
to said shoulder from the effects of which I have never 
recovered also effecting my breast.

Born in Wilson Co. TN(date not given)
enlisted July 1861 in Co. "C' 22nd TN Inf Reg.

I was slightly wounded at Shilough and seriously wounded at 
Murfreesboro by the explosion of a bomb shell on both shoulders
and breast.  We had been fighting in the center of my command
was moving to strenghthen the left wing when I received the wound.

Precise Nature of Wound?
By the explosion of the shell I was hit with two pieces.  One on each
shoulder as above stated.  Lost no limb.  The disability caused by the
wound has been progressive.  The pains in my left shoulder are now severe
and I can scarely sleep at night.  I was not able for service for a period
of about 3 months.  Was not discharged but was paroled to go home in Sept.

Size of Family
Five
I have a widowed daughter and the two children.  My wife is 60 yrs old 

and their mother is in feeble health.  Age of one is 2 yrs old and the 

other is 2 months old. --April 28, 1903

Florence Pitman--Warren Co. TN Widow's Pension Application #11020

Widow's Confederate Pension Application

of Florence A. Pitman widow of David Pitman
Filed Sept 31 1938
Added to pension roll Oct 26, 1938
Rt #2 Rock Island TN Warren Co.

David Pitman & . F. A. Prater
united by R. E. Wright Evangelist.
Aug 14, 1906 Marr. Record Book 1904-5 Page 427

States that David died about 15 or 18 yrs ago
(Note:  he died Feb 11, 1922)

Records of this office show that one David Pitman Private
Company A 16th Reg. TN Infantry CSA enlisted May 18, 1861

Company muster roll dated at Chattanooga TN July 18, 1863,
last on which borne, show that he deserted May 5, 1863
No record of capture, parole or later record of him has 
been found.

Florence died 9:05  Jan 9th 1957
Avo Rille Pettie  
Route 1 Box 121 Harvest AL 

Jas. K. P. Robinson--Coffee Co. TN Soldier's Pension Application #7259

 Jas. K. P. Robinson

July 26, 1905
17th TN Inf Co. D
Chickamauga Chronic Diarrhea
Born Bedford Co. TN in yr 1845
Enlisted about 1863 in 23 TN IN Vol Co. "D"
Wound was a gunshot (spent ball) in arm
(left) my disability chronic diarrhea.
Lost no limbs but contracted chronic diarrhea.
I suppose it is perminant or at least has been.
Not all the time but periodically.

Wound partly disabled me but I stayed in service til close.
Was paroled at surrender of Genl R. E. Lee at Appomatox

Did you take the Oath of Allegience?  No

Married? "Yes"

Family?  "Wife and myself."

Wife's age 56 no children living with us.

Children's gender?
3 males and 4 females

Are your children able to support you?
Not and do justice to themselves.

Am a farmer but can't say that I make anything much.

I have a small farm worth perhaps $275

Property Accessment for Jas. K.P. Robinson & Mrs. E. E. Robingson
100 acres $275
July 17, 1908

J. H. Alderman signs an affadavit saying that J.K.P. Robinson 

was with the 23rd Reg.  and Co. D when paroled at Appomatox and on 

his way home was left at a farm house sick with comrade.  F. M. Kellen 

of Same Reg. and Company. Sworn to July 21 1906 Jno E. Justice

N.E. Stephenson--Bedford Co. TN Widow's Pension Application #59

Mrs. N.E. Stephenson

June 21 1905
Widow of Wm. H. Stephenson
7th TN Infantry
Beechgrove Bedford County TN

What is your name and where do you reside?
"N.E. Stephenson.  I reside in Bedford County
3/4 from Beechgrove Coffee Co."

How long have you been a resident of the state?
"All my life"

When & where were you born and what was your maiden name?
"Born in Coffee Co. in 1848 N.E. Porter"

When & Where was your husband born--state his full 

name, and where were you and he married and who performed the 

marriage ceremony? Born in Bedford County Tennessee; 

William Harrison Stephenson
Married in Coffee County Tennessee in 1865.  James Taylor."

[Note written on side of application--The Courthouse was burned in Coffee Co.
in 1868 and can not forseeably get marriage certificate.]

When and where and in what Company and Regiment did your husband enlist 
or serve during the war between the States?
"Enlisted at Millersburg, Rutherford County the first year of the war
2nd Tennessee Bates Reg. Co. F"

How long did your husband serve in said Company and Regiment?
"clear through the war"

When and where did your husband's Company and Regiment surrender?
"Can't say when and where they surrendered."

Was Husband present at the time and place with his Company and Regiment 

surrendered? "Yes"

If not whith his command at surrender, state clearly 
and specifically where he was when he left command for 
what cause and by what authority
"He was in prison; captured and put in prison."

When and where did your husband die?
"He Died in Bedford County in Feb. 1901"

At the time of your husband's death were you living with him as his lawful wife?
"yes"

Have you married since the death of your soldier husband? "No"

9 Children--5 girls and 4 boys
Ages:  38, 36, 34, 30, 28, 25, 20, 17

What property, real or personal, or income do you have or possess, and its gross value?
"I have a small place very little personal property.  Land accessed at $900"

Do you have a family?
"I have 5 children and 2 grandchildren"

Support?
"I have none except from the little farm.  Have no lands or other property."

June 13, 1905  N.E. Stephenson
H.R. Simmons Notary Public of Coffee Co. TN

Questions for Witnesses
Abe McMahon & R. L. Howland

How long have you known N.E. Stephenson?
Abe: "45 yrs"  Howland: "10 yrs"

Where does she reside and how long and since when has she been a resident 

of this State?
"Near Beechgrove all her life."

When and where was she born?
"She was born in Coffee Co. N.E. Porter" 

When and by whom were they married?
"married 1865"

Where you acquainted with her husband?
"We Were"

When and where was he born?
"Born in Bedford County 1st Dist"

When and where did W.H. Stephenson enlist in the war between the States,
and in what company and Regiment did he enlist, and how do you know this?
"Enlisted in Co. F 2nd Tenn Reg.(Bates Reg.) 1861 in May.  We were in the
same company"

When and where was his Company & Regiment surrendered?
"Captured in July '64.  The Company was all captured at Peach
Tree Creek in July 19, 1864 but one man."

Were you with the command when it surrendered?
"R.L.H was but Abe McMahon was not."

Was William H. Stephenson present?
"Yes he was"

When and where did he leave his command and for what cause?
"Captured and sent to Camp Douglas"

When and where did he die?
"Bedford County Tennessee near Beechgrove in 1901"

War Dept. Washington
March 26, 1906
The Records show that William H. Stephenson, sergent,
company F 2nd Tennessee Infantry CSA enlisted April 25, 
1861 and the he was released from confinement at Camp 
Douglas Illinois.June 17, 1865

Martha Walling--Warren Co. TN Widow's Pension Application #8270

Martha Walling Filed May 14, 1925
Widow of Shelby Walling 16th TN Inf
Martha Walling Campaign Warren County Tennessee

Resident of TN all my life except 3 yrs.

Born 1841 in Van Buren County Tennessee Maiden name Fleming.

Husband Born  1844 in White County Tennessee

How long was your husband a resident of Tennessee?
All of his life but 3 yrs spent in Texas

Married Shelby Walling in Van Buren County Tennessee
William Rhodes Solemized Dec 25, 1860

Husband enlisted Oct 1862 Co. I 16th TN Reg

How long did your husband serve in that Company and Regiment?
"Until close of war"

When and where did your husband die?
"April 2, 1925"

Children?  Eight
Five Boys and 3 girls
One died at age 22
63, 61, 59, 57, 54, 52, 43

Property?  House & Lot Value $500 no income

Do you have family?
Yes myself and my oldest daughter who is 63 with no property
or income.
What is the name and address of someone we can write about your case?
J.W. Elkins Campaign

May 11 1925

Shelby Walling --Van Buren Co. TN Soldier's Pension Application #1147

Shelby Walling Soldier's Pension Application #1147
Filed November 10, 1892

Citizen of TN and resident of Bone Cave in the County of Van Buren
in the state of Tennessee.

Member of Company "O" 16th Reg. TN Vol
Wounded at the Battle of Murfreesboro or Stones River
in the left side of the head with a minnie bullet

Said bullet remaining in my head & is there which
wound is unhealed & running, discharging mucus
at intervals until the present time.

Born:  White Co. TN 1842
Enlisted Sept 1862 
16th Reg. TN Vol.
John H. Savage Col 
Benjamin Randers Capt.
Jas. Worthington 1st Lt.

Wounded 31st December 1862
On the left side of my head with minnie bullet.
The wound still runs and is permenant.
Unable to do service afterwards.

Where were you at close of war?
"At home in White Co. TN"

Surgeon that attended you?
"T. H. Smith Now Dead"

Have you married?
"yes"

If so what is the size of your family?
"8 children"

Wife age 50 Oldest Child 30 Youngest Child 11

3 girls and 5 boys

What business are you engaged in
"Farming(my family is) ordinary support"

What is your own estate?
"$400 real estate and some personal property"

Wife has no property

How have you supported family for the last 5 yrs?
"farming"

How long have you been a resident of TN?
"All my life except for 5 yrs in Texas.
In '74 moved there--came back '79"

------------------------------------
(Note: next section filled out later)
Present size of family
"Six myself, wife 3 girls age 32, 21, 18 and one boy 12."

8 Children in all 5 girls 3 boys
32, 30, 27, 25, 23, 21, 18, 12"
(Note:  there are G's and B's under the ages given.  The boys
were age 27, 25 and 12)

Farmer making about $75 a yr.
Signed May 7th 1894 by W. E. Shockley & Nannie Shockley

April 14, 1925--Letter from J. A. Grissom of Campaign, TN
advising of Shelby's Death saying that Shelby left a widow who
is aware that she qualified for widow's pension & asks that they

send papers necessary to file for that pension.

America Ward--Warren Co. TN Widow's Pension Application # 5391

Widow of Rufus Ward W5391 Filed in Warren Co

America Ward Rock Island, Warren Co. TN

Resident of the State for 58 yrs
Maiden Name and birth info:
America Welsh  Dayton, Rhea Co. TN  Oct 16th 1856
Where and when was husband born and who performed the ceremony:
born 1834 in Van Buren Co. TN Rufus Ward,  Esq Wm Acuff
Enlisted in Co. G 16th TN  was in Co. about 1 1/2 yrs
When & Where did husband die   1905 White Co. TN
They have 5 children together
2 boys and 3 girls  Boys ages 32, 31  Girls 21, 17(might be 19 writing bad)
one girl deceased.

Name of a Friend that would be willing to have us write about your case
Sam Worthington, Laurelburg TN
signed America Ward 
Witness C. M(or W) Mooneyham
according to statement by C. W. Mooneyham
Rufus enlisted May 1861 Co. G. 16th TN
he knows because he was there when he enlisted.
Co. surrendered 1865 in North Carolina
Mooneyham wasn't at surrender as he was out on detail
Rufus left command 1862 in SC for disability for duty.

Signed Statement made on April 10 1914
Martain Odle
Sarha Odle (sic)
We were present at the Marriage of Amercia Walch to Rufus Ward

in April 1880 & Certify that she is now his widow

Rufus Ward--Van Buren Co. TN Soldier's Pension # 453

Rufus Ward
Cane Ridge, Van Buren Co. TN
Co. "I" 16th Reg. TN Vol.

Loss of eye sight and hearing from exposure and sickness 
contracted in the West Virginia Campaign around Huttonsville,
Huntersville and Big Sewell Mountain.

Born:  March 4th 1835 in Van Buren Co. TN

[ Note added by Marie birth would have been in one of 
parent counties of Van Buren]

Enlisted Mary 1861 Company I 16th Reg TN Vol
Col. John H. Savage Commanding Capt Harmon York
1st Lt G. B. Johnson Lt. A. T. Sultry & Mort Woods Co. Officers.
Was in Battle near of Huttonsville on the Tagerts Valley.
Discharged honorably on Surgeons Cert. in SC. 
Surgeon 16th Reg. Dr. I T. Reid Chattanooga
while in Army.  Dr. Huse Rodgers after coming out
of Army(Rodgers now lives in Illinois)
Rufus is married with wife and 1 children
Wife age 30 Children ages 9, 8 and 2 yrs old.
His Attorney who is taking care of his pension papers
is W H. Head Can Ridge TN------- July 17, 1891

Letters from Thos A. Head of Bone Cave (Aug 21 1898)
wanting to know why Rufus gets a pension & nothing is done
about the papers he is filed on "Ben" Paine.  States that Rufus
works daily and makes a good living and lives comfortably.

"He was born "squint eyed" and could feign blindness & admirably 
succeed deceiving the medical examiner.  He is able to work and does
so every day."

Rufus drew pension for several yrs and then there is a 
statement saying that Rufus is abandon by wife and children
who have "turned him adrift"

He has no means of support or property and is temporarily living
with his sister who is poor.

Statement that Rufus' sister has died and his wife and children 
have returned and are living with him on rented land on the 
side of Bone Cave Mtn.

March 24 1919
Change of Address
Mrs. America Ward, 
Old Address Rock Island Warren Co. 
New Address:  Graysville , Bledsoe Co. TN

War Dept Statement:

April 21 1914
The Records show that Rufus Ward Private Co. I 16th TN INF CSA
enlisted May 20, 1861 at Camp Harris to serve 12 Months
Roll of the Company dated July 19, 1863, last on which his 
name is borne shows him discharged Feb 22, 1862.
Nothing further found.

TN Confederate Pensions are grouped by Soldier, Widow, and Colored
Soldiers and then by Application Number. Before visiting the college
library, I consulted the online index of the TN State Library and
Archives for pensions of interest.

Tennessee Confederate soldiers' pension applications. TSLA (Nashville, TN) 113 reels Accessed at Wallace State College Library: Genealogy Collection, 5th-floor Microfilm F 436 .M55 S46 

Tennessee - Widows pension applications. TSLA (Nashville, TN) 60 reels. Accessed at Wallace State College Library: Genealogy Collection, 5th-floor Microfilm F 436 .M55 W52

Dunham and Fisher Confederate Pension Application 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 the TN Confederate Pension 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.

Drucilla Dunham--Dekalb Co. TN Widow's Pension Application #274

Drucilla Dunham
age 67
Born  Dekalb Co. TN Maiden Name Wilkerson
Husband Born in 1836 Dekalb Co. TN 
His full name was David Lafayette Dunham.
Married in Dekalb Co. TN Marriage License
issued on Jan 12, 1856. Married on Jan 17th 1856 by
Leonard Cantrell J. P. For Dekalb Co. TN

Enlisted in Dekalb Co. TN Capt Shields Co. 16th TN Reg. Inf.

Served nearly 4 yrs.  He served as long as he lived.  He died
in prison in Rock Island IL

He was captured near Chattanooga & carried to Rock Island and
died in prison.

3 Children--2 boys and 1 girl
Only one boy living 46 yrs old Nov. next
(application made June 4, 1905)

War Dept Statement
Enlisted May 21, 1861 at Camp Harris TN
Priv. Co. G 16th TN INF CSA
Captured Nov. 25, 1863 at Missionary Ridge.
Died at Rock Island IL Barracks Dec 23, 1863

Witness who was acquainted with Drucilla's husband(I missed their name)
as he served with him stated that he saw him in 
prison and while he had small pox.  Also saw his
grave after he was buried.  The head board had name
and regiment number.

Nancy Dunham--White Co. TN Widow's Pension Application #1215

Nancy Dunham
Belk,TN
Born in Dekalb Co. TN Feb 18, 1827
as Nancy Adcock
Husband Born in Alabama March 24, 1821
name:  William Ray Dunham
Married March 29, 1849 in Dekalb Co. TN
Enlisted Dec 9, 1861 in Capt Perry Adcock Combs' Battalion
Co. H. 50th TN
Served until Paroled
Surrender in Macon GA April 28, 1865

When and where did your husband die
Dekalb Co. TN Jan 24, 1884

Seven Children--3 boys and 5 girls(Marie Note:  yes I know that 3+5 doesn't = 7)
age ranging from abt 58 to 35 yrs of age Two Girls dead.

have 75 acres of land as dower on Homestead about tithable income $25 per annum
No personal.

I live with son W. R. Dunham my youngest child.
He has almost 30 acres of land and very little personal property.
application dated Oct 13th 1906

William R. Dunham & Nancy Adcock 
License issued March 29th 1849
Marr. Record Book "B"

War Dept Record Statement
Dec 11 1906
The name of William Richard Dunham has not been found on the rolls of Co. H. 50th TN Inf CSA

The records show however that one William R. Dunham a priv. of Co. K 50th TN Inf CSA is reported
on Roll of Co. Dated Apr. 30 1864 only roll on file as present.

It is also shown by the records that one William R. Dunham Private 50th TN INF(Co. was not stated) was
paroled April 28, 1865 & he subscribed to the oath of allegience May 4, 1865 at Chattanooga, TN.

Alfred Fisher--White Co. TN Soldier's Pension Application #11710

Alfred Fisher filed Dec 14, 1909
Alfred Fisher of Walling, TN was a member of Co. 8th TN Dibrells Calvary
Born in White County Tennessee 1825

Enlisted 1861 Dibrells G.G. Dibrell Col. Jeff Leftwell Capt.
Was not wounded but contracted Chronic Rheumatism and I
am still effected with it.

Paroled in May 1865 at the close of the war at Washington, GA

Size of Family?
Myself and my Wife
Wife is 76 years old
3 boys and 3 girls but none living with me.

Business engaged in?
Try to farm a little

Property? 
About 110 acres land valued at $380

Statement from V. B. Webb M.D. 
saying that Alfred has Vertigo & Chronic Rheumatism.

W. L. Dibrell writes to Pension board requesting blank forms for
Widow's Pension Application and informing them of Alfred's death.

Emily C. Fisher--White Co. TN Widow's Pension Application #23

Emily C. Fisher
Widow of Madison Lee Fisher

Marriage M. L. Fisher & Emily C. Hastey 
Oct 26 1867 in White County Tennessee

Records show that M. L. Fisher Private Co. B(also Co. C)
16th Inf CSA inlisted May 21 1861
to serve 12 months that(as Madison L. Fisher)
he was captured May 19 1864 at Cassville, GA
and that he was released at Rock Island, Illinois
May 16, 1865 after taking the oath of allegience.

Enoch Fisher--Smith Co. TN Soldier's Pension Application #7400

Enoch Fisher Aug 1908
Punch? TN
Co. F 25th & 28th TN Reg. INF
Born in Smith Co. TN 1830
Inlisted in later part of 1861 and went to Camp Myers in 
Overton Co. where Co. was drilled. I was in Co. F Capt Jeff Shaw
25th TN Reg. Col. S. S. Statton Later on at reorganization of army the
company was transfered to 25th TN.

Size of Family
Wife age 53
2 dau. 1- 20 yrs old and one 18 yrs old.

Priv. Co. F 25th TN Inf CSA enlisted Sept 23, 1861
on roll of company for May & June 1863 other records show
that he resigned July 16, 1863

Declined to appear before the board.

John Fisher--Dekalb Co. TN Soldier's Pension Application #4666

John Fisher 16th Inf
Enlisted in Capt Perry Adcock's Co. S.H. Combs Batt.
Fought at Atlanta and Jonesborough
Contracted Rheumatism, injury to feet and bloody piles.

Injured by fall in Atlanta disabled him for awhile
At Jonesborough a shell injured his head and hearing
has always injured him since above fall of 1862
At Vicksburg contracted pain in back and hips.

Born in White County Tennessee July 20, 1838
Enlisted in Fall of 1861
Injury to feet marching 6 days in cold weather

Married? "Yes"

Size of Family?
Wife and 4 children--Two children with us and two married.
Children all boys
Wife is 64 Oldest child born 1867 youngest is 20 yrs old

John P. Fisher--Dekalb Co. TN Soldier's Pension Application #4989

John P. Fisher May 9, 1903
Resides Belk in Dekalb Co. TN

Co. G. TN INF
I was wounded at Chickamauga.  The wound was in right leg not very serious.

Born in Dekalb County TN
Enlisted in Co. G 1st TN was transfered to Tom B. Maury Batt.
John Salvage's Col.

Was slightly wounded at Chickamauga was in the battle of Perryville, Chickamauga,
Missionary Ridge and in a subsequent battle of these Bentonville in April 1865.

Went to hospital and remained a short time.  I was paroled at Washington GA

Family?
Myself and my wife.  I am 66 wife is 62.

Sallie Fisher--White Co. TN Widow's Pension Application #3442

Sallie Fisher widow of Alfred Fisher
Sallie resided in TN for 77 yrs.
Born in White Co. TN with maiden name Sallie Hutson.
Alfred Fisher, her husband, was born 1824 in White
County Tennessee.  They were married 57 yrs ago last June

Husband died 7th Dec 1910 in White County.
He was a pensioner.

Children
3 Boys and 3 girls current ages 48-55 yrs 

Alfred Fisher married to Sarah Hutson June 17 1852 in White Co. TN

TN Confederate Pensions are grouped by Soldier, Widow and Colored Soldiers and then by Application Number. Before visiting the college library, I consulted the online index of the TN State Library and Archives for pensions of interest. Tennessee Confederate soldiers' pension applications.

 TSLA (Nashville, TN) 113 reels Accessed at Wallace State College Library: Genealogy Collection, 5th-floor Microfilm F 436 .M55 S46 

Tennessee - Widows pension applications. TSLA (Nashville, TN) 60 reels. Accessed at Wallace State College Library: Genealogy Collection, 5th-floor Microfilm F 436 .M55 W52

Reading thru some Cook(e) Confederate Pensions filed in Louisiana

In my efforts to find more on my Cook cousins I've started reading thru the Confederate Pension applications to see if I could locate any cousins from the lines of those that my brother most closely matches thru YDNA.  I started with Louisiana though I don't know if any of the Shem Cooke lines ended up there or were in the area for a time.  FamilySearch has the Louisiana Confederate Pension Applications at their site.  While they aren't searchable in the normal fashion they are listed alphabetically in groups and you can navigate to the surname of your choice within the group.  The Cook pension applications start on image 544 of 1454 in the section that covers
Como, Angie-Desire ------ Corley, Jackson S

Confederate Pensions Applications were State pensions and there are differences in the pension applications for each state that paid these as well as within each state over time.  Confederate pensions were applied for within the state of residence which many times wasn't the state where they had been living at the time of service or where they had enlisted.  Requirements for drawing a pension varied as well.

In the Louisiana Confederate Pension Applications, there were files for 26 Cook/Cooke soldiers.  Of those 26, 14 were filed by the widow.  If you are searching for the place of birth and birthdate for a soldier, and the soldier as applied you will likely find that info in his application along with the name of his wife and children if he married and had a family.  While widow's applications aren't as great for finding the place of birth or birthdate for the soldier, they do contain the marriage date and death date.
Less than half of the Cook/Cooke soldiers who applied in Louisiana were born there,   The image below is a list of the Places of Birth given for the files I read in which the POB was not in Louisiana.

The most interesting application was a widow's application where the soldier had begun filing for a divorce but had died before it was finalized.  The widow got her pension.  This file was full of information about the filing of the divorce and also many letters detailing a change of address for the widow after she had begun drawing the pension.

Researching Confederate Records of the Civil War.

If you have family who was in the United States during the Civil War Period(1861-1865) you need to at least find out if they served on either side.  Even if you do not have a direct line who served you may be able to find out more about your lines by researching a sibling of your direct line who did serve.  With southern research finding pension records may be the only way which you will find some of your ancestors maiden names and date of birth or date of death recorded.  During the war between the states many courthouses were burned and/or records destroyed.  Confederate Soldiers Pension applications were handled on a state level and were filed in the state of residence at the time of application.  While your ancestor may have enlisted and fought in an AL unit however, if he was living in the state of Texas when that state began processing confederate pension applications then his application will be found in Texas states records. There is not ONE exact date in which all states board of pension began processing the applications.  The dates and eligibility requirements varied from state to state.   NARA's Confederate Pension Applications site.  has more info on that.  The states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia had pension boards which processed these Confederate Pension Applications.

The Confederate Soldier's Pension Applications tend to contain information about the soldiers unit:

• When and where he enlisted
• Did he sustain any injuries?
• Was he injured during service?
• Family size & dependents
• His means of support

If he preceded his wife in death, be sure to check to see if she applied for a Widow's pension. Widow's pension files normally contain copies of information pertaining to the marriage of the soldier.  You may find a copy of their marriage certificate or sworn statements from person(s) who witnessed their marriage.   To get an idea of what can be found you might want to check out my confederate pensions page which contains information abstracted from some of the Confederate Pension Applications of persons who are in my family(direct or indirect) or who lived in the same area as my direct lines.

FamilySearch has a great deal of Confederate info scanned and on line.  Most of it is not indexed.
Below is a list of what I have noticed was available.  Mainly Pension Applications and POW/Prison records from the different Civil War camps that housed captured Confederates.  While there is no index for the Pension Applications many of the southern states who paid out Confederate pensions have an index online and you can consult the index and then find the application by navigating to the appropriate section and number at the FamilySearch site.

To find the Confederate Pension Applications you will need to look for the applicants state of residence. You can find the US Military  files that are available at this part of FamilySearch
Be aware that this will include files from any of the wars that are available thru FamilySearch.  To narrow it down to confederate records you will need to use CONFEDERATE  as your search term in the Filter By Collection section located in the upper left panel of the page.


United States Records of Confederate Prisoners of War 1861-1865
Below is a basic outline of what is available at the above link at FamilySearch

• AIDE: Index to Volumes
• AK, Little Rock, Military Prison
• DC, Washington, Old Capitol Prison
• DE, Ft. Delaware, Military Prison
• Department of Missouri
• Department of the Gulf
• Department of the Ohio
• District of West Tennessee, Provost Marshal's Office
• Division of West Mississippi
• IL, Alton, Military Prison
• IL, Camp Butler, Military Prison
• IL, Camp Douglas, Military Prison
• IL, Rock Island Barracks, Military Prison
• IN, Camp Morton, Military Prison
• KY, Louisville, Military Prison
• LA, New Orleans
• MA, Ft. Warren, Military Prison
• MD, Ft. McHenry, Military Prison
• MD, Point Lookout, Military Prison
• MO, St. Louis, Gratiot & Myrtle Streets Prisons
• MS, Ship Island
• NY, Elmira, Military Prison
• NY, Ft. Columbus, Military Prison
• NY, Ft. Lafayette, Military Prison
• NY, Hart Island, Prison Camp
• OH, Camp Chase, Military Prison
• OH, Cincinnati, McLean Barracks
• OH, Johnson's Island, Military Prison
• SC, Hilton Head, Prison Camp
• TN, Knoxville
• TN, Memphis, Military Prison
• TN, Nashville, Department of the Cumberland
• VA, Bowling Green, Provost Marshal's Office
• VA, Newport News, Military Prison
• VA, Richmond

Records Relating to All Prisoners

• Applications for release & decisions, 1863-1865, v. 7-9
• Confederate prisoners and deserters released, 1861-1865, v. 10-13
• Prisoner deaths, 1862-1865, v. 5
• Prisoner deaths, 1862-1865, v. 6
• Prisoner deaths in AL, GA, SC, 1862-1865, v. 21
• Prisoner deaths in AR, MS, TN, 1862-1865, v. 17-18
• Prisoner deaths in FL, KY, LA, MD, MO, NC, TX, VA, 1862-1865, v. 19-20
• Prisoner financial records, prisoner lists, supplies, 1862-1865, v. 14-16
• Prisoner registers, 1863-1865, v. 1
• Prisoner registers, 1863-1865, v. 2
• Prisoner registers, 1863-1865, v. 3
• Prisoner registers, 1863-1865, v. 4

Prisoner registers of various locations
DE, Ft. Delaware,  MD, Ft. McHenry, NY, Ft. Lafayette, 1863-1864, v. 424
Prisoner registers of various locations in DE, FL, IL, IN, KY, MD, MO, NY & OH, 1861-1865, v. 425-427

Your ancestor may have lived in the south....but did he fight in the Confederate Army or the Union Army?  Be sure to check both.  Occassionally I have found where a soldier has fought on both sides.  Cyndi Howell has a page with info on how to go about ordering Military & Pension Records for the Union Civil War Veterans from the National Archives

Hope this has given you some new ideas for your research.

Confederate Widow Pension Application #2074 --S. R. James(Widow of T. H. James)

While working through the Descendants of my King/Manire 2nd Great Grandparents I found that their oldest daughter Susannah Rebecca King who married Thomas H. James had filed a Widow's claim on Thomas' Confederate Service.  I had the date of their marriage but I didn't know that they were married by Rev. Jessie C Lamb.  This tells me they likely attended Cumberland Presbyterian church.  They were married in 1862 but didn't have children until 1866(after he was home from the war)  The application mentions that Thomas was captured with his company(Company F 17th TN Regiment) at Chickamauga and was in Camp Chase(Ohio) or Camp Douglas(Illinois)

Also among the info in the Pension Application was a listing by age and gender of their 10 children.
6 sons(ages:  24, 10, 8, 7, 5, 3) and 4 daughters(ages"  25, 22, 20, 18)  I just imagine the oldest son was more than ready to have a brother by the time it actually occurred.

The ages of the children do not match what they should be for the time of the application.
The question is phased as follows and is asked immediately after the question asking the for the husband's time of death.

"13.  How many children did you have by your said husband?  Give sex and age at this time?"

I believe she took that to mean at the time of his death( which was 17 yrs prior to her application.  If you add 17 yrs to the ages she lists it will be the ages each of her children should be in 1908 when the application was filed.

When you find a document read through it and see if the information "jives"  Record what info is given but you should also note when the information given doesn't match with known info.  If you can come up with an explanation write that up in your notes but identify it as your explanation...not that of the person who created the document.

  Tennessee established it's Pension board to handle Confederate Solder Pension Applications in 1891.  They did not begin accepting Confederate Widows Pension Applications until 1905.  Complete requirements for each of these as well as an example of each form can be found at the Tennessee State Library and Archives website.

J. H. Hale TN Confederate Pension Application--It's almost a book(66 images)

I intended to read through a few of the TN Confederate Pension applications today.  I checked the TN State Library & Archives Confederate Pension Index and found one for a J. H. Hale(S2278) who applied in White Co Tennessee(a county near the area where my Hales lived)  Logged onto Familysearch.org and selected the TN Confederate Pension Applications---Applications by Soldiers and then the link for Pensions by Soldiers covering 2242-2292.  This section had 686 images typed in 500 and ended up right in the middle of pension S2278.  Talk about luck...or was it.  A check soon told me the pension files contained 66 images(images 462-528 of 686).  I read through the documents. This application process started in 1899 and goes on for 12+ years.He states that he lives in Putman Co TN but his Post Office is in White Co.  He had enlisted underage as a member of Co K 25th TN Conf. and served for a year and then was released in 1862.  J. H. Hale was born in Jackson Co TN in Aug 1844.  Apparently after being released he still wanted to fight so he followed Dibrell and fought "bearing my own expenses".  He had numerous people who offered sworn affidavits about his character --neighbors and those who served with him.   They can't seem to find his records.  Then it appears they find one that shows him serving but doesn't show his release.  He tells of his wife and invalid daughter in the files. Over the course of the correspondence there is some mix up with his pension and it appears they start noting 5911 as his pension number(I checked this one and it is a J. H. Hale of Rhea Co TN who applies in 1908)   There are obvious differences in these soldiers identities ...different household sizes, counties of residence and application dates as well as dates of service.  The White Co. J. H. Hale's application is Rejected after letter upon letter to the pension board from people in the community who have known him for many years and know his circumstances.  The Rhea Co J. H. Hale's pension is approved.  It is a good read and lets you see the human condition.

I keep on noticing in many pension applications, people wrote using paper with informative letterheads.  All of these were from the J. H. Hale application  I have snipped a few of these with the dates below as it shows occupations and dates.  I have also included the 1900 & 1910 Census Records for J. H. Hale of Putnam Co TN.  Click on the images for larger views.

Source Citation

Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 4, Putnam, Tennessee; Roll: 1592; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0064; FHL microfilm: 1241592

Source Information

Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

Source Citation

Year: 1910; Census Place: Civil District 4, Putnam, Tennessee; Roll: T624_1516; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 0082; FHL microfilm: 1375529

Source Information

Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA.

O.K. Holladay Cookeville  

Senator for counties of Clay, Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Pickett, Putnam

Senate of Tennessee--Nashville    3/16/1911

J. T. Pointer--Trustee--Putnam County  

Cookeville Tennessee 

Oct 2nd 1905

E, L Ferrell, Cookeville
Superintendent of Public Roads
March 21 1912  Putnam Co Tennessee

Tennessee Central Railroad Company
H. B. Chamberlain, W. K, McAlister, Receivers
Office of the General Agent
Rutledge Smith General Agent--Cookeville Tenn.
Nashville Tenn, April 27 1916

Pennock-Walter Manufacturing Co.
Manufacturers of White Oak & Hickory Wagon Spokes
Algood, Tenn.
J. A. Efferson President
J. L. Efferson, Vice- President
C. B. Rickman, Secretary
T. J. Clark, Treasurer
April 11 1914 

In Search of Confederate Pension Records

I read an article from the Terre Haute News entitled GENEALOGY: Confederate pension records out there for the asking written by Tamie Dehler.

It has some good information for those researching Confederate soldiers but one section in particular caught my attention.

Dehler writes:

"However, the National Archives has no Confederate pension records in its files. To order these, one would have to contact the state from which the Confederate soldier served."

The last statement is not correct. To order PENSION files a researcher would contact the state in which the soldier or widow was living when they applied for pension. This wouldn't necessarily be the state in which the soldier served since the majority of states that granted Confederate pensions did not do so until 20+ years after the war(on average).

I've done a bit of research using Confederate Pension Records mainly with Tennessee & Texas pensioners. Most of the TX Pensions I have worked with were for soldiers who had served in TN.

See my Confederate Pension Abstractions for an idea of what is on the TN & TX applications. These application did vary in the questions that they asked even within the same state and year to year.

My favorite question that they asked the Soldier is:

Do you use intoxicants?