Cocke County, Tennessee
Mary A (Christian Sarget) Messer
Civil War Widow's Pension

Names mentioned: Christian (Christopher) Sarget Messer, Mary A Toby Messer, A McNabb, Humphrey Kirkpatrick, Henry Reece, SH Stanberry, Jacob Toby, Solomon Messer.

Original records may be found online through various genealogy databases, or by requesting copies of military records in government archives.
Abstracted and submitted by Bruce Price

Christian Sarget Messer served as a private in Co A, 9th Tennessee Cavalry Volunteers. His widow, Mary A, was a resident of Cocke County. Christian Messer was captured near Norristown, TN on 11/13/1864. He was in the hospital at Annapolis, NC on 2/20/1865. Records on file reported him delivered on parole at James River, VA on 2/22/1865 and died 4/22/1865 at Annapolis, VA. He enrolled 7/13/1863. Christopher S Messer and Mary A Toby married on 12/26/1861.

On 11/09/1865, Mary A Messer, a resident of Newport, Cocke County, age thirty-eight, swore that she was the widow of Christopher S Messer. Her maiden name was Mary A Toby and they were married on 12/26/1861 in Cocke County by A McNabb, JP. She stated that Christopher S Messer died at Indianapolis, IN on 5/22/1865 of "disease unknown". She also declared that she never had any children since she was married to the said Christopher S Messer. Humphrey Kirkpatrick and Henry Reese witnessed her signature.

Christian Messer was enrolled 7/13/1863 at Tullahoma in Co A, 9th Reg of Tenn Cav Volunteers.

A transcript of their marriage license is included in the file.

Mary A Messer died 4/03/1915.

In March 1879, Mary A Messer applied for arrears of pension due her. SH Stanberry and Jacob Toby witnessed her signature.

Solomon Messer and Henry Reece of Cocke County swore that they were acquainted with Mary A Messer for many years and with her deceased husband Christian S Messer, and knew that he often went by Christopher.