The Mother Load - Tennessee Historical Committee Civil War Questionnaire

It has taken me forever but I have -finally- transcribed a document I have had a year or two. This is part of my Re-Do project that is taking me way too long. Way too long! So I did it.. I picked up William Franklin Duncan's file to add to the new database exactly what I have as documentation. Once done with this new database project I will then compare it to all the information I "know" and don't have proof for it and I will go find it, then start on the holes! Phew. I am exhausted!

Here is a lesson about letting documents sit too long without transcribing. Can we say missing out on a lot of information??

   

George Washington Duncan and Jane Elizabeth Edwards will be fun to sort out. Looking at dates, he could have been in the Mexican War if I have his birth date right, abt 1820. The death information I have for him from the book "North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865, A Roster" compiled by Weymouth T. Jordan, Jr. has him listed dying at 29 years old during the Civil War. And, truthfully, do you know how many George Washington Duncan's there are? The North Carolina State Archives sent me this tidbit photocopy of George's death when I was tracking down Jane Edwards Duncan pension claim.

   

This is a very long post, my apologies….

 

State of Tennessee

Tennessee Historical Committee

Department of Libraries, Archives and History

John Trotwood Moore, Director

   

NOTE – Should this Questionnaire fall into the hands of one who is not a Veteran of the Civil War, or who did not live during those days, you will confer a favor on this Department by giving it to some Solider who has not received a copy, or return to us.

   

The chief purpose of the following questions is to bring out facts that will be of service in writing a true history of the Old South. Such a history has not been written. By answering these questions you will make a valuable contribution to the history of your State.

In case the space following any question is not sufficient for your answer, you may write your answer on a separate piece of paper. But when this is done, be sure to put the number of the question on the paper on which the answer is written, and number the pages on the paper on which you write your answer.

Read all questions before you answer any of them. After answering the questions here given, if you desire to make additional statements, I would be glad for you to add just as much as you desire.

• State your full name and present post office address: William Franklin Duncan, Tasso Tennessee.
  
• State your age now: I am Eighty years and four months old.
  
• In what State and county were you born? In Ashe now Alleghany County, North Carolina.
  
• Were you a Confederate or Federal soldier? Federal Soldier, Civil War.
  
• Name of your Company? M? 4^th Tenn Cav (B) Number of Regiment? 4^th Regiment Tennessee Cavalry Volunteers. I was credited to Washington County Tennessee.
  
• What was the occupation of your father? Farmer
  
• Give full name of your father: George Washington Duncan Born at Sparta in the County of Ashe now Alleghany State of North Carolina. He lived at in Ashe County, NC and Washington County, Tennessee. Give also any particulars concerning him, as official position, ware services, etc., books written by, etc. He was a farmer and ex Mexican Volunteer Soldier.
  
• Maiden name in full your mother. Jane Elizabeth Edwards. She was the daughter of William Edwards and his wife Nancey Edwards. Who lived at Near Gap Civil, Ashe County, North Carolina.
  
• Remarks on ancestry. Give here any and all facts possible in reference to your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc., not included in the foregoing, as were they lived, offices held, Revolutionery or other war services; what country the family came from to America; first settled, county and State; always giving full names (if possible), and never referring to an ancestor simply as such without giving the name. It is desirable to include every fact possible, and to that end the full and exact record from old Bibles should be appended on separate sheets of this size, thus preserving the facts from loss: (answer) John Duncan great grandfather a soldier of Revolutionary War 1776. John Duncan Grandfather soldier of 1812. George W Duncan father volunteer Mexican War. William Edwards great grandfather an Englishman first settled in New York. William Edwards grand father first settled in Penn and then in N.C. Nancy Edwards and Duncan was from Ireland.
  
• If you owned land or other property at the opening of the war, state what kind of property you owned, and state the value of your property as near as you can: Father owned a farm.
  
• Did you or your parents own slaves? If so, how many? No, did not own slaves.
  
• If your parents owned land, state about how many acres: About 100 acres.
  
• State as near as you can the value of all the property owned by your parents, including land when the war opened: About 100 acres worth $500.00.
  
• What kind of house did your parents occupy. State whether it was a log house or frame house or (can't read)…the number of rooms it had. (Can't read) Country Log House.
  
• As a boy and young man, state what kind of work you did. If you worked on a farm.. (copy blacked out): As a boy I worked on the farm… public and private school… (copy blacked out)
  
• State clearly what kind of work your father did, and what the duties of your mother were. State all kinds of work done in the house as well as you can remember, that is, cooking, spinning, weaving, etc.: Father George W Duncan was a farmer, owned land and mill worked on the farm and run the mill at times. Mother done house work cooking spinning and weaving making our wearing apparel.
  
• Did your parents keep any servants? If so, how many? No slaves, only domestic white girls.
  
• How was honest toil – as plowing, hauling and other sorts of honest work of this class – regarded in your community? Was such work considered respectable and honorable? Yes respectable by every body.
  
• Did the white men of your community generally engage in such work? Yes.
  
• To what extent were there white men in your community leading lives of idleness and having others do their work for them? No idleness was not tolerated.
  
• Did the men who owned slaves mingle freely with those who did not own slaves, or did slaveholders in any way show by their actions that they felt themselves better than respectable, honorable men who did not own slaves? In verriable did associate together as friend and citizens.
  
• At the churches, at the schools, at public gatherings in general, did slave-holders and non-slave-holders mingle on a footing of equality? In verriable so without (can't read) up to 1860.
  
• Was there a friendly feeling between slave-holders and non-slave-holders in your community, or where they antagonistic to each other? Naborly and friends up 1860.
  
• In a political contest in which one candidate owned slaves and the other did not, did the fact that one candidate owned slaves help hire in any winning the contest? I think not.
  
• Were the opportunities good in your community for a poor young man, honest and industrious, to save up enough to buy a small farm or go in business for himself? It was and enough (can't read) person takin advantage of the opportunity.
  
• Were poor, honest, industrious young men, who were ambitious to make something out of themselves, encouraged or discouraged by slaveholders? Every body was encouraged to work and be honest.
  
• What kind of school or schools did you attend? Public schools 3 to 5 months and private schools after public schools expired.
  
• About how long did you go to school altogether? More or less each year to 1860.
  
• How far was it to the nearest school? Four to Five miles.
  
• What school or schools were in operation in your neighborhood? Public and private subscription schools.
  
• Was the school in your community private or public? Public and private.
  
• About how many months in the year did it run? Three to five… months.
  
• Did the boys and girls in your community attend school pretty regularly? They did
  
• Was the teacher of the school you attended a man or woman? Men.
  
• In what year and month and at what place did you enlist in the service of Confederacy or of the Federal Government? I William F Duncan was enlisted for Company M. 4^th Regt Tenn Cavalry United States Army May 6^th 1864 and Credited to Washington County Tenn. I was offered $750.00 to be credited to New York City as substitute for New York.
  
• After enlistment, where was your Company sent first? To Nashville Tennessess to Camp Catleft(?).
  
• How long after enlistment before your Company engaged in battle? Stoneman Raid into Georgia in June or July 1864. Sherman Campaign.
  
• What was the first battle you engaged in? I was on Detached service at a block house guarding a R R Bridge near Decatur Ala. Until Battle of the Gulphen(?) (?) and capture of the 3^rd Tenn Cav
  
• State in your own way your experience in the War from this time on to its close. State where you went after the first battle – what you did, what other battles you engaged in, how long they lasted, what the results were; state how you lived in camp, how you were clothed, how you slept what you had to eat, how you were exposed to cold, hunger and disease. If you were in hospital or in prison, state your experience here.: While on Detached service sergeant in charge of 100 one hundred men having to occupy to Block House contracted fever and bowel trouble and was in a rail road and injured treated in hospital at Nashville Tennessee and AL Jeffersonville Ind(?)
  
• When and where were you discharged? July 12^th 1865 at Nashville Tennessee
  
• Tell something of your trip home: I landed at home in Jonesboro Washington County Tennessee in July 1865.
  
• What kind of work did you take up when you came back home? Work on the farm (?) corn for a nabor for one peck of corn per day.
  
• Give a sketch of your life since the close of Civil War, stating what kind of business you have engaged in, where you have lived, your church relations, etc. If yo have held any office or offices, state what it was. You may state here any other facts connected with your life and experience which has not been brought out by questions.: I began work on the farm farming merch clerking in a county store in Washington County Tennessee I have lived in Bradley County Tennessee 40 years was Census Enumerator in 1890, 1990 and 1910 Justice of the Peace Member of County Court(?) Notary Public for years Depot and express Agent seven years Pension agent or Attorney. Clerk in store and assist Post Master at Tasso Bradley County Tennessee for last ten years up to the present time. A Master Mason Chatatta Lodge F&H M(?wondering if this means Free Mason, David W, his son, and John Foster Duncan, his grandson, were Masons as well -- transcribers comment). Member of the Christian Church,
  
• On a separate sheet give the names of great men you have known or met in your time, and tell some of the circumstances or meeting or incidents in their lives. Also add any further personal reminiscences. (Use all the space you want.): (2 attached sheets but had to do with both of his wives, not this question.)
  
• (can't read this question but it is about the Roster of his company and when people died. I will try to transcribe at another time, there is a lot of black copy to try to read through).
  
• Give here the NAME and POST OFFICE ADDRESS of living Veterans of the Civil War, whether members of your Company of not; whether Tennesseans or from other States: (In this space William writes.. Isn't it fabulous!?) I, William F Duncan Co M 4^th Regt Tennessee Cavalry that is living that I know any thing of at present time. When I left Hospital I was sent to Vicksburg Miss and to New Orleans La there to Fort Barrancus Florida thru to Mobile Ala then marched by (?) to Baton Rouge La then to Nashville Tennessee by boat. Excuse me for taken up so much time, yours very truly, Wm F Duncan, Tasso Tennessee. My own hand writing, age 80 years old.
  

 Attached Sheet 1:

   

Honorable John Trotwood Moore

Director Nashville Tenn

   

1,1 1923 Dear Sir

In reply to yours of (?) date I give you further history of myself after the Civil War. I was 1st Lieut of Co E 2nd Regt NC State Troops and (?) of the Regt and was elected Lieut Colonel of same. I married Martha Jane Hensley Sept 28th, 1865. She was mother of one sone David Washington Duncan borned March 24th 1867. He was a member of lower house of Tennessee Legislature. He was killed by Rail Road train near Cleveland Tennessee March 24th 1922. On his birthday on a crossing. He was stock inspector for Tennessee appointed by Capt Peck and Governor A A Taylor. I am yours truly,

William F Duncan

Tasso Tennessee

 

Attached Sheet 2:

   

Honorable John Trotwood Moore

Nashville Tennessee

   

1, 1 1923 Dear Sir,

   

On March the 12th 1871 I was married to Malissa Christina Briggs she was the mother of Martha E Duncan borned 8, 13 1873 now living John Thomas Duncan born January 21 1877 living William L Duncan 1, 17, 1879 living Marvin D Duncan 11, 22, 1881 died 7, 6, 1902 Isham F Duncan 1, 1, 1884 living. Oscar L Duncan 2, 16, 1886 died at Donelson Tenn 3, 31, 1921 Fredric R Duncan April 8, 1889 died 6, 8, 1890 Evan P Duncan 2, 12, 1892 now living.

 

My wife Malissa Christina Duncan died Nov. 5 1921. Member of the Christian Church

I am yours William F Duncan

Tasso Tennessee

  

Neglect and Paying it Forward - Find a Grave

I have taken a few months off of research. Yet again. What was a couple of weeks has turned into quite a while but I tend to do that with everything I do. I knit like a fiend for a couple of weeks, spin like a fiend for a couple of weeks, research like a fiend for a couple of weeks, rinse and repeat. At one point I thought I should give up a hobby to balance myself out but I have come to accept my "cycle of life".
 
With that comes some guilt. I have gotten some leads from some very nice people. Emails and posts on Ancestry boards and one on this blog even! Blogging, people! If you are not a blogger, you should be. I had no idea what or why I wanted to do a blog but you know, I don't have anything important to say and I am not a teaching type blogger but I have gotten some very significant leads on my research from those Googling my ancestors! And there have been a few inquiries on my Duncan surname and ugh, I feel so bad because last week I wanted to sit at my spinning wheel, not here. One gentleman I let know I haven't been working on my research and was taking a short break, I can just imagine him scratching his head and looking at his other half and saying, "Whatta mean she is taking a break?" Do researchers do that? It boggles the mind.
 
I will say it is the research community on blogs and Facebook that keep me inspired and chomping at the bit to get back at it. I see some very productive people on my Facebook feed and many times sigh and say, "Gosh, come on Lighthouse, let's get moving here already!" Please don't look at my feed, it is all Frontierville. (Hangs her head in shame.)
 
To, my redo project is stalling me. I have posted on this project before. Brand new data base, the only thing going into this database is what I -actually- have as documentable proof in the new data base. I have gotten to the heavy material files and there came the …. Errrch… stall, let's go do something else mode. If I could train myself to even do a half hour a day when I get home from work to get these documents into RM4 and sourced, I would be so much farther ahead. Do I hear a New Year's theme coming? 2011 is going to be "Lets improve a little bit of everything", not a resolution but lifestyle enhancement. I really think I need to clean up the old information before I go for new information so… that is my plan even if it is taking months longer than I expected or allowed myself. I am very distracted by shiny. I need supervision.
 
All is not lost to the research community, however. For the time not spent at this desk researching, and or goofing off online, I have been running about my county as a Find a Grave volunteer. I can't tell you how much joy and pleasure I get from doing this. It is something I do with my 20 year old daughter, she enjoys it just as much and she is very good at finding the headstones we are looking for. I am sure she finds them more than I do. Her friends think I am "cool" because I hang out at cemeteries. College kids think I am cool!! It is good quality time with her and we have fun. We have stories that make us laugh and some day she will look back on these days and remember, and smile, while maybe, just maybe, doing this with her future daughter. And, it is good therapy, when I step into a cemetery on the hunt, the world goes away and family stress can be forgotten for a little while. The holidays this year is turning out to be very difficult so there has been a lot of Find a Graving!

For those of you that might be thinking about doing Find a Grave picture requests, you should! It is fun and a wonderful way to pay it forward. I have had some very nice people collect headstone pictures for me in Tennessee, only one of my original eight requests is still there unfulfilled and you learn the cemeteries in your area.
 
Yesterday we went to a very small cemetery that is no longer taken care of. I couldn't find the stone that was requested and I will report to the requester what I found. It saddened me that a cemetery could be so overgrown and neglected it. It is right behind a house, in some trees and very overgrown with thorn bushes, it is a mess and it shouldn't be that way. The majority of the stones are broken, laying in pieces or no longer readable.

So now after my word purge, I am going to work on the Briggs a bit I think! Woot for research!
 
Current leads:

Delothe "Dolly" Briggs may be the daughter of Frederick Briggs hung in 1789 in Virginia for horse thievery. It could be, I have her birth figured to be about 1785. I have her 1860 census saying she is 75 and her 1870 census were it looks like it says she is 80 so one or the other census is incorrect. I am still looking for more censuses. I have guessed she died in 1885 (per information of another family researcher in my family) but have not found her on the 1880 census as yet. She has been a mystery ancestor of mine and I wish I could have known her. Never married and with 5 children I think it is without looking at my records. How did a woman in the early 1800's not marry like that and what was her life like. I am dying to know.

Elizabeth "Betsey" Stockton. A very nice man from the Stockton family has contacted me with some valuable information. I had a bit of the information but no documentation. This documents my line, always a good thing; she is of the Stockton family of Virginia. They were very wealthy in their time.

And the Duncan clan. I have been contacted by other Duncan researchers also descended from my John Duncan to George Washington Duncan of North Carolina line. There is a reunion every year for ancestors of John Duncan; he had a lot of wives during his time. I have asked my sister to think about it and I think we may plan a trip to NC in 2011 for this reunion, which means, I better get some more work done on this line so I can walk into this reunion sounding like I know what I am doing when it comes to my Duncan's!! :)

Happy Holiday's to you and yours, whatever your Holiday of choice may be!!

Some pictures of that cemetery I mentioned above, Benham Cemetery, Ontario County NY:

 

Marriage - William W Baldwin & Elizabeth "Betsey" Luttrell

This was sent to me from Knox County in 1983. The paper it was printed on faded badly over the years so I photo copied on the darkest settings. I will just reorder at some point but I wanted to put it in a post. I have never seen a marriage record like this.

State of Tennessee
County of Knox

Know all men by these Presents, That we William Baldwin and
Elijah Harris
all of the county and state aforesaid, our heirs, &c, are jointly and severally held
and firmly bound unto His Excellency the Governor, and his Successors in Office,
in the Penal sum of Twelve Hundred and Fifty Dollars, void on condition there be
no lawful objection why William Baldwin and
Betsey Luttrell may not be joined together
as man and wife in the holy estate of Matrimony.

Witness our hands and seals, this 25th day of March 1809.

(signed) William Baldwin
(signed) Elijah Harris

----------

State of Tennessee
Knox County

To any Regular MINISTER of the Gospel, have the cure of Souls, or JUS-
TICE of the PEACE for said County, GREETING:

By the virtue of the full power and authority in me vested, I hereby authorise and
empower you, or either of you, to celebrate and perform the rites of Matrimony
between William Baldwin and Betsey
Luttrell and join them together as man and wife in the holy
estate of Matrimony, he having given bond and security as the Law directs.

Given at Office, the 25th day of march in the
Year of our Lord, 1809 and in the XXXIII Year of our Independence

(signed) can't read

Transcript of Pension File - Hugh Wilson Baldwin - Part 1

Page 1

State of Tennessee } In the Pension claim
County of Bradley } No 282.217 of Deborah
L Baldwin wido of Hugh W Baldwin of, Co. I
10th Tennessee Cavy personally appeared before me
an acting justice of the Peace in and for the
afforesaid County and State. Marshal Lawson
a citizen of Bradley County and State of Tennessee
well known to me to be Reputable and Entitled
to credit and who being duly sworne, declares in
relations to the afforesaid case as follows that I
was a first Lieut in Co. I of the 10th Regt of
Tennessee vol cavy age 39 years and my Post offis address
is Climer Tennessee and that I was personally and
Intimately acquainted with the said Hugh W Baldwin
for the last twentyfive years and from all apperance
the said Hugh W Baldwin was a sound man prior to
or at the time of his Enlistment. affiant futher states
that on or about the spring of 1865 the precise date
not remembered while at Natchez Mississippi the
said Hugh W Baldwin claimed to be suffering very
much with hemorrhoids or diorhea I advised the said

Page 2
Hugh W Baldwin to report to the Doctor for treatment
and by so doing that likely he would be able for duty
in a few days. affiant futher states that since and
after his discharge the said Hugh W Baldwin has
not been able physically to do manual labor and I
make this affidavit with full knowledge of the facts
from personal observation while in the servis and
also for a period of five years since his discharge
before he moved to Rhea County Tennessee. affiant
futher states that I have no itnerest in the above
case nor am not conserned in its prosecution.
(signed) Marshal Lawson

Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 7th day
of february 1889 and I herby certify that the contence
of the above delcaration were fuly maid known to
him before swearing and that I have no interest
in this case nor am not conserned in its prosectuion.
(signed) W N N Baker J P For
Bradley County Tenn

Page 3
State of Tennessee } In the Pension claim
County of Bradley } No 282.217 of Deborah
L Baldwin widow of Hugh W Baldwin of Co I
10th Tennessee cavy personally appeared before me
an acting justis of the Peace in and for the
afforesaid county and state. E. S Broyles a
citizen of Bradley Count and State of Tennessee
well known to me to be Reputable and Entitled
to credit and who being duly sworn declares in
relation to the afforsaid case as follows that his
age is 37 years and his Post offis address is Stamper
Bradley County Tennessee and that he was a privet
in Co I 10th Tennessee cavalry and has ben intimately
acquianted with the said Hugh W Baldwin from my
erliest recollection from the fact we were raised up
in the same Neighborhood and from all appearance
he was a sound man prior to or at the time of his
Enlistement affaiant futher states that in the
Spring of 1865 while at Natches Mississippi the said
Hugh W Baldwin claimed to be suffering very
much with Hemorrhoid or diorhea

Page 4
affiant further states that he was with
the said Hugh W Baldwin often times after
he was discharged from the servis for a period of
about seven year at which times the said
Baldwin moved to rhea county Tennesseee.
affiant futher states that the said Baldwin
were still complaining of his diseas affiant futher
States that he saw the said Hugh W Baldwin twice
after the said Baldwin moved to Rhea County
and the said Baldwin then told him his
diseas was getting worse affiant futher states
that he has no interest in the above case and
not conserned in its prosicution.
(signed) E. S. Broyles

Also Nathan Palmer appeared and declares
in the afforesaid case as follows that his age
is 36 years and Post offis address is Grief Bradley
County Tenn and he is a citizen of Bradley
County Tennessee and that he has ben personally
acquainted with the said Hugh W Baldwin
for 25 years affiant futher states he was a
privet in co I 10th Tennessee cavy and that
while at Natches Mississippi in the Spring

page 5
1865 the said Hugh W Baldwin was
complaining of Hemorrhoids or diohrea very much
affiant futher states that also that while at
Johnsonville Tennessee after they left Natches Mississippi
the said Hugh W Baldwin was still complaining
of Hemorrhoids and diorhea, affiant further stats
that the said Hugh W Baldwin was complaining
more or less for a period of about seven years
after his discharge at which time the said
Hugh W Baldwin moved to Rhea County Tenn.
affiant futher states that he assisted the said
Baldwin in moving to Rhea County and while
there the said Baldwin employed him to do some work
on account of his disability. affiant further states
taht he has no itnerest in this case and is not conserned
in its prosecution.
(signed) Nathan Palmer

Sworn to and subscribed this the 21 day of February 1883
and I certify the contence of the above declaration were fuly
maid known to the above named affiants befor
swearing and that I have no interest in this
case and not conserned in its prosecution.
(signed) W N N Baker JP
for Bradley County

page 6
This is to certify that W H H Baker whose
genuine signature appears to the foregoing
affidavit is and was at the date thereof an
acting magistrate in & for said County. He
was duly elected commissioned and sworn
& full faith & credit [?] all his offis as
....(there appears to be a line cut off in copying the document)

Given at offices 1st day of
March 1883. J H Rucker [?]

Page 7
1869 Hugh W Baldwin to } I solemnized this Rites
Aug 28 Deborah L Cowden } of matrimony between the
} within named parties on the
} 29th of August 1869
} (signed) W B Ballinger M.S.

State of Tennessee } I J H Rucker Clerk of
Bradley County } the County Court of said
County do certify that the
forgoing is a correct copy of the marriage
records of my offics and that I am well acqu
inted with W B Ballinger and know him to be
a regularly ordained Minister of the Gospel
and that his signature to the original license
is genuine and that the same are on file
and of record in my offics & that I have
no interest in the prosecution of this claim

Given at offics in Cleveland
under official seal this 22 June
1881. (signed) J H Rucker Clk.

Page 8
State of Tennesse }
County of Rhea } S.S.

In the matter claim No. 282.217
Deborah L Baldwin

On this 24th day of
January A.D. 1882 personally appeared
before me a Justice of the Peace in and
for the aforesaid County & State duly authorized
to administer oaths. J. C. Abernathy M.D.
aged 58 years a resident Rhea Springs
in the County of Rhea and State of Tennessee
whos Post office address is Rhea Springs
Tennessee will known to me to be a
Physician and Surgeon and to be reputable
and entitled full credit and who
being duly sworn declares in relation
to the aforesaid case. On examining my
bookos I find Hugh W Baldwin charges with
[?] [?] dated Sept 5th 1874 The childs
name is Ida H Baldwin, and on February
the 10th 1878 John A Baldwin was born.
I being the attending physician
Mrs Deborah L Baldwin is the mother of
the above named children, and wife
of Hugh W Baldwin dead. And I am
not concerned in the prosecution of this
case.
(Signed) J C Abernathy M.D.

Page 9
Sworn to and subscribed before me this day
by the above named affiant, and I certify
that I am in no wise interested in said
case nor am I concerned in its prosecution
and that the said affiant is personally
known to me to be a creditable person.
(signed) Wm W Lowe JP

State of Tennessee County of Rhea
I certify that W.W. Lowe Esqr
who hath signed his name to the
foregoing declarations and affadavit
was at the time of so doing a Justice of
the Peace in and for said County & State
duly commissioned and sworn that
all his official acts are entitled to full
faith and credit and that his signature thereout
is genuine Winess my hand and seal of
office this 24 day of January 1882
(Signed) W. S Gillespie
Deputy County Clk


Page 10
State of Tennessee }
County of Knox } SS

In the matter
of claim no 282.217 of Deborah L. Baldwin.

On this 17th day of January A.D. 1882
personally appeared before me a Justice of
the Peace, in and for aforesaid County of
Knox and State of Tennessee, duly author-
ized to administer oaths, Dr. J. H. Johnston
aged 28 years, a resident of Ball Camp
in the County of Knox and State of
Tennessee whose post office address is Ball
Camp Tenn well known to me to be respecta
ble and entitled to credit, and who being
duly sworn, declares in relation to the afore-
said case that he was present on the 14th day
of June, 1871 and waited upon Mrs. Deb-
orah L Baldwin, Wife of Hugh W Bald-
win at the birth of her first born child
named Carry A Baldwin and that I have
no interest, direct or indirect for which this
affidavit is made. My book account shows
the date as herein given.
(signed) J. H. Johnston M.D.

Page 11
State of Tennessee County of
Sworn to and subscribed before me, t his day
by the above named affiant and I cer
tify that I read said affidavite to the officer
before me executing the same and that I am in
no wise interested in said case, nor am I
concerned in its prosecution and that the
affiant is a creditable person. (Signed) C. Morris
Justice of Peace

I certify that C. Morris Esqr, who
hath signed his name to the above declaration
and affidavit was the time of so doing
a Justice of the Peace in and for said
County and State duly commissioned and
sworn, that all his official acts are enti
tled to full faith and credit and that his
signature thereunto is genuine.

Witness my hand and Seal of Official
This 30 day of January 1882
Signed J F J Lewis
Clerk of County Court

Page 12
On this 24th day of January AD 1822
personally appeared before me a Justice
of the peace in and for the afforesaid
County & State duly authorized to administer
oaths Y. L. Abernathy MD aged 36 years
a resident of Rhea Springs in the County
of Rhea and State of Tennessee whos Post
Office address is Rhea Springs Tennessee
well known to me to be a Physician and
Surgeon and to be reputable and entitled
to full credit and who being duly sworn
declare in relation to the aforesaid case
that Feb 1lth 1876 James
E A Baldwin was born and Aug
16th 1880 Emma B Baldwin was born.
I being the Physician in attendance
in both cases. I find the dates upon
my books. Their Mother Mrs Deborah
L Baldwin was the wife of Hugh
W Baldwin deceased. I have no interest
in the prosecution of this claim
(signed) Y. L. Abernathy
M.D.

Page 13
Sworn to and subscribed before me
this day by the above named affiant
and I certify that I am in no wise interested
in said case nor am I concerned in its
prosecution and that said affiant is
personally known to me to be a creditable person
(signed) Wm W Lowe, JP

State of Tennessee County of Rhea,
I certify that W.W. Lowe, Esqr
who hath signed his name to the foregoing
declaration and affidavit was at the time
of so doing a Justice of the Peace in and for
said County and State duly commissioned
and sworn that all his official acts are
entitled to full faith and credit and that
his signature thereunto is genuine
Witness my hand and Seal of Office this
24 day of January 1882.
(signed) W.S. Gillespie
Deputy County Clk

Transcript of Pension File - Hugh Wilson Baldwin - Part 2

Page 14

State of Tennessee          }  In the matter of Deborah

County of Bradley          }  L Baldwin widow of

Hugh W Baldwin late of Co I 10th Tenn

cavaldry whose number of claim is 282.217 on this the 30th day of October

1882 Personally appeared before me an acting

Justice of the Peace and for the afforesaid

county duly authorized to administer

oaths W H H Baker aged 40 years

a resident of Grief in the County of Bradley

and State of Tennessee whose Post offis

address is Grief Bradly County Tennessee

and Joseph J W Baker aged 44

years a resident of Grief with County

of Bradley and State of Tennessee whose

Post offis is Grief Bradley County Tennessee

well known to me to reputable and

entitled to credit and who being duly

sworn declare in relation to the aforesaid

case as follows W H H Baker states he

was well acquainted with the said

Hugh W Baldwin from the time

said Baldwins came home out of the servis

until the year 1873 at which time he

moved to Rhea County Tennessee

page 15

an in a short time after he came home

he told me he was suffering with

diarrhea and hemorhoids which gave him

a [?] of trouble I was more or less

with him from the time he was discharged

up to the year 1873 from the fact we were

near neighbors and during the years of

1871 and 1872 and part of 1879 he lived

on my farm and worked some with

me at times he complained very

much I think that up to the year

1879 he was not disabled from performing

manual labor upon our avridge more

than one fourth but from the year

1871 up to the year 1873 I think he was

disabled about one third & I further

state taht Deborah L Baldwin widow

of Hugh W Baldwin has never married

since the death of her husband.

Joseph J W Baker States he was

well acquainted with said Hugh

W Baldwin from the time he was

discharged up to the year 1873

page 16

and was with him often and

herd him complaining from the

fact we lived joining farms part of

the time he labored some but was

complaining at times very much

the first few years after his discharge

I don't think he was disabled for

performing manual labor more than

one fourth.  But during the last two

years he remained here I think

probably he was disabled one third.

And I further state that Deborah

L. Baldwin widow of Hugh W Baldwin

has never remarried since the death

her husband.

We further declare that we have no interest

in said case and are not concerned in

its prosecution

(signed) W H H Baker

Joseph J W Baker

affiant signature

page 17

State of Tennessee County of Bradley

sworn to and subscribed befor me this

day by the above named affiants and

I certify that I read said affidavit to

said affiant and acquainted them

with its contents before I executed the same

I further certify that I am in no wise

interested in said case nor am I

concerned in its prosecution and that said

affiants are personally known to me and that

they are credible persons

(Signed) F. M. Routh

JP For B. C.

This is to certify that F M Routh whose genuine

signature appears to this above affidavit is & was

the date therego an acting Magistrate in & for

in County he was commissioned 18 Aug 1822 &

(some cut) same will expire 18 Aug 1888 [?] [?]

[?] [?]

Given at offics in Cleveland

1st November 1882 & I certify that

I have no interest in this claim

J. H. Rucker Clerk

Bradley County Court Tenn

Page 18

State of Tennessee          }

County of Rhea                                } S.S.

On this 9th day of

April 1881 personally appeared

before me a notary public for and

in aforesaid County & State J. G.

Ewing and W. K. Fugate both

respectable citizens of the County

and State above named who

after being duly sworn according

to law declares that they seen

Hugh W Baldwin late R2 M

Sergt Co I, 10th Tenn, Cavy US Vols No. claim

for pension 296.675 In death on

the 14th day of March 1881 and that they

seen the said Hugh W Baldwin

Buried on the 16th day of March 1881 and

that their Post office address is

Rhea Springs Rhea Co, Tenn, and

that they have no interest direct

or indirect in the matter that calls

for this affidavit.  (signed) J G Ewing

W. K. Fugate

Sworn to and subscribed before

me this 9th day of April 1881 and I

hereby certify that the contents of the

aforegoing affidavit [?]fully made

to the affiants before swearing thereto

that the affiants is to me well known

to be respetable and worthy of credit

and that I have no interest direct or indirect

in the prosecution of this claim.

(Signed) J. B. Peters

Notary Public

Page 19

I R L Allen Dept Clerk of the

County Court in and for afore

said County and State do Certify

that J B Peters Esqr who hath

signed his name to the foregoing

[?] uses at the time of so

doing a Notary Public in and

for said COunty & State duly

commissioned and sworn

that all his official acts

are entitled to full faith and credit

and that his signature thereto is genuine.

Witness my hand and seal

of office this 22nd April 1881

(signed) R L Allen Dept

Clerk of County Court

Rhea Co Tenn

Page 20

State of Tennessee          }

Bradley County                                }

Feb 12th 1881                  }

In the case of Hugh W

Baldwin.  I will state that I was acquainted

with him before the war, and up till the

war commenced and considered him at

that time a healthy man.  Have known

his family for a long time and

from my knowledge of him and the

family I believe he was a healthy

man.  I however did not see him for

a short time before he inlisted and

consequently can not state his condition

at this time of enlistment.

I have no interest in the clam.

(signed) A McNabb MD

Sworn and subscribed

before me this 12 February

1881 & I certify that I have

no interest in the prosecution

of this claim

J. H. Rucker Clk

Page 21

State of Tennessee

Department of Public Health

Nashville

Certified Copy Number

P5419

1. Place of Death

County Bradley

Civil Dis. 3rd

City Cleveland.

Registration District no. 40603

Primary Registration District No. 40603

File No.  9584

Reg No 28?

2.  Full Name.  Mrs Deboroah Louisa Baldwin

Residence: Tasso Tenn

3. Female

4.  Color or Race: W

5. S, M, W, D: Widowed

6. Date of Birth: July 18 - 1852

7. Age: 87 Years, 2 Months, 12 Days

8.  Trade, profession etc: House Keeping

12 Birthplace: Bradley County, Tennessee

13. Fathers Name: James C Cowden

14. Fathers Birthplace: N.C.

15 Mothers Name, Maiden: Henrietta Chilcutt

16 Mothers Birthplace: Bradley Co, Tenn

17. Informant: Frank [Simmons?], Cleveland Tenn Rd #2

18. Burial, Cremation, or Removal: New Friendship, Date 5-2, 1939

19. Undertaker: [?] Funeral Home, Cleveland Tenn

20. Filed 6-6, 1939 Mattie Bryant

21. Date of Death: April 30, 1939

22.  I hereby certify, That I attended deceased from [?] 1937? to April 30, 1939. 

I last saw her alive on Apr 30, 1939, death is said to have occurred on the

date stated above at 7:18 (can't tell am/pm)

(can not read the physicians hand writing....)

I hereby certify the above to be a true and correct copy of the original recoard on file in

this office.  Not valid unless countersigned by Director, Division of Vital Statistics.

(Signed) W.C. Williams, Commissioner.

(Sighed) W W Hubbard, Director, Division of Vital Statistics

Date Issuesd 5/24/39

(The Division of Vital Statistics was established January 1, 1914)

Page 22

War Department

Adjutant General's Office

Washington, D.C. Dec 27th, 1880.

Sir:

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your Office of

Application for Pension No. 296.675, and to return it herewith,

with such information as is furnished by the files of this Office.

(can not read this sentence until Hugh's name) Hugh W

Baldwin was enrolled on the 3 rd

day of Feby, 1864, at Charleston, in Co. I

10th Regiment of Tenn Cavy Volunteers

(a line through the next lines to handwritten notes)

Present June 30/65.  Return May 65

not on file.  Company was at Johnsonville Tenn

May & June '65.

Mustered out Aug 1/65 Nashville Tenn.

The records of this office furnish no evidence of

alleged disability.

Lazy Genealogist

This is the year I clean up my act, I mentioned the big "redo" before or should I call it the Great Migration of "My Stuff" from the published family history.  The published version by my Mothers Cousin has been my crutch and I really need to sift out what I have proof for and if I don't, get it.

This brings me to this file I ordered from the National Archives dare I say 25 years ago?  I glanced at it, I put it in my file box and I am not sure why I never did anything with it, other than I meant too but then put the Genealogy away for about 20 years.  So in this quest for documenting and sourcing, I pulled this file out (25 pages worth) and started to read it.  Blink.  Blink.  Blink.  I think I may have seen the branch of the service this said he was in and put it aside, the published book had Hugh W Baldwin in the 62nd Tennessee Mounted.. and... I am now convinced that is the incorrect Hugh W. Baldwin.  Now, if you follow my blog at all, you will see I agonize over his father, Hugh Lawson Baldwin, a lot too.  I feel a trend here.  So, I read this file, it is his Pension Claim file that his wife, Deborah Louise Cowden Duncan, took a long time to get.  I will have to go to the published book and find the excerpt about Deborah being awarded the pension.  It does the heart good after so many years forced to live a meager existence.

It is the documentation in this file that is outstanding.  Sworn, in front of Justices of the Peace, Lawyers, County Clerks and so on, this legal proceding offers me the following documentable events:

1. Marriage of Hugh Wilson Baldwin to Deborah Louise Cowden.
2. Death date and Burial date of Hugh Wilson Baldwin.
3. Three affidavits by the Physicians that attended Deborah during the births of their five children, my
    great-grandmother Carrie Ann Baldwin Duncan being one of those children.
4. His service record given by the War Department, in Co I, 10th Tennessee Calvary.
5. A photocopy of Deborah Louise's death certificate.

Today.. finally, I transcribed all 25 pages!  I do have to say I like Transcript 2.3.  I did have a problem with it not saving after three or four pages so would have to close and reopen the program.  I looked at the website and it hasn't been updated in quite some time.  The Dell I used it on is finicky so it could be the machine.

Marriage of Hugh Wilson Baldwin to Deborah Louise Cowden:

Birth of Carrie Ann Baldwin Duncan:

I will have to look at Footnote again.  I didn't see this file there before but I did see the other Hugh W Baldwin File.   Hugh Baldwin seems to be a popular name during the time.  I recall chasing another Hugh L Baldwin thinking it was my Hugh Lawson.

This post is really an Amanuensis Monday post but I am too darned pleased to have this file finally transcribed! (As an off-topic aside.. I am the Amanuensis for Pennsic 40!  That was the title I was given for being secretary to the Mayor for next years event.)

PS.  I realize the background for my blog is missing.. I will get it fixed soon.