Pension File # 11,693
State of Tennessee
SOLDIER’S APPLICATION FOR PENSION
NAME B. T. Patterson
Co. B 47 Tenn Inf Rgt.
Filed Nov. 30, 1909
Allowed _______
FILE IS STAMPED AcceptedSOLDIER’S APPLICATION FOR PENSION
I, Berry T. Patterson a native of the State of Tennessee and now a citizen of Tennessee, resident at near Humboldt in the County of Crockett in said State of Tennessee, and who was a soldier from the State of Tennessee in the war between the United States and the Confederate States, do hereby apply for aid under the Act of the General Assembly of Tennessee, entitled “An Act for the benefit of indigent and disabled soldiers of the late war between the States, and to fix the fees of attorneys or agents for procuring such pension, and fixing a penalty for the violation of the same.” And I do solemnly swear that I was a member of Co. “B” of the 47. Tenn. Inft. (Capt. Gays Co.) in the service of the Confederate or United States, and that by reason of disability and indigence I am now entitled to receive the benefit of this Act. I further swear that I do not hold any National, State, or County office, nor do I receive aid or pension from any other State, or from the United States, and that I am not an inmate of any soldier’s home, and that I am unable to earn a reasonable support for myself and family. I do further solemnly swear that the answers given to the following questions are true:
In what County, State and year were you born?
Answer: Gibson County Tenn – born Aug 1839. 70 yrs last Aug.
When did you enlist and in what command? Give the names of the regimental and company officers under whom you served.
Answer: in Summer of 1861, I don’t remember what month, [crossed out – the battle of Franklin] M. R. Hill Col. Gay Capt. when I enlisted L. N. Patterson was in command of the Co. when I was captured
In what battle or battles were you engaged, and, if not wounded, state what disabilities did you receive, if any?
Answer: was in all the battles of Cheathams Division including the battle of Franklin, was captured there and sent to prison at Chicago Camp Douglas & Point Lookout – there received transportation June 17, 1865
What was the precise nature of your wound or disability, if any?
Answer: at Franklin there was some rock struck by canon balls and several pieces of rock struck me in the head and was taken out.
Were you incapacitated for service by reason of said wound or disability incurred?
Answer: no
Were you discharged from the army by reason of said wound or disability?
Answer: no
If discharged from the army, where were you and what did you do until the close of the war?
Answer: in prison until close war.
What was the name of the surgeon who attended you?
Answer: rock was picked out by some friends
How did you get out of the army, when and where?
Answer: was paroled at Point Lookout Md. June 17 1865
Were you ever in prison? If so, what prison and when released?
Answer: yes Camp Douglas, release Point Lookout June 17 1865
Were you paroled? If so, when and where?
Answer: yes on above date
Did you take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government?
Answer: no. on? the date above oath here? shown with date above stated
If so, when and under what circumstances?
Answer: on last page as stated
Are you married, or have you been married?
Answer: never have been married
If so, what is the size of your family living together?
Answer: am living with single Sister and she in bad health
What are the respective ages of your wife and children living with you?
Answer: ____________________________
To what sex do your children belong?
Answer: ____________________________
In what business are you now engaged, if any, and what do you earn?
Answer: Farming, a very scanty living, cannot plow now as I use to
What estate have you in your own right, real and personal, and what is its value?
Answer: 48 acres of very poor land value $350.00
What estate has your wife in her own right, real and personal, and what is its value?
Answer: ____________________________
How have you derived support for yourself and family for the past five years?
Answer: a very scanty support
Do you use intoxicants to any extent?
Answer: no
How long have you been an actual resident of the State of Tennessee?
Answer: all my life
Have you an attorney to look after this application?
Answer: none
If so, give his name and address.
Answer: ____________________________
Witness my hand, this 26 day of Nov 1909
(Signed) B. T. (his X mark) Patterson
WITNESSES:
(Signed) Fred James, Physician
(Signed) D. B. Dodson, Witness
(Signed) , Witness
STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett County
I, Jno H. Perry, Trustee of said County, certify that B. T. Patterson and his wife (has no wife) are assessed with 48 acres, valued at $ $350.00 and with $ _________ of personal property.
Witness my hand, this 26 day of Nov 1909
Signed Jno H. Perry Trustee
If applicant and his wife have no property, the Trustee must so certify.
STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett COUNTY.
Personally appeared before me, J. W. Emison, Clerk of County Court of said County, the above named B. T. Patterson, the applicant, with whom I am personally acquainted, and having the application read and fully explained to him, as well as the statements and answers therein made, made oath that the said statements and answers are true.
Witness my hand, this 26 day of Nov 1909
(Signed) J. W. Emison, Clk Co. Ct.
STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett County
Personally appeared before me, J. W. Emison, Clerk County Court of said County, the above named Dr. Fred James one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing application, and who is a physician of good standing, and being duly sworn says that he has carefully and thoroughly examined B. T. Patterson, the applicant, and finds him laboring under the following disabilities:
Fracture? in right hip perhaps —- of femur of 20 years, standing resulting in shortening of femur 2 or 3 inches, and pain upon much exertion. Rheumatism and chronic cough, both of which are aggravated by cool, damp weather. General weakness and —– natural to one of his age.
Witness my hand and seal of office, this 26 day of Nov 1909
(Signed) Fred C. James, M.D.
STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett County
Personally appeared before me, J. W. Emison, Clerk of County Court of said County, the above named D. B. Dodson and Dr. Fred James, two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing application, whom I am personally acquainted, and known to me to be citizens of veracity and standing in this community, and who make oath that they are personally acquainted with the foregoing applicant, and that the facts set forth and statements made in this application are correct and true, to the best of their knowledge and belief, and that they have no interest in this claim, and that said applicant’s habits are good and free from dishonor. And D. B. Dodson further make oath to the following facts touching the applicant’s service in the Confederate army:
I was in the army with Berry T. Paterson and knew him persally during the entire war up to the time of his capture and he was a most excellent soldier always ready for duty and has made a good citizen since the war. And owns the little farm in the Gadsden hills as stated above and the Register Books show a mortgage on that, and I fear he will not be able to ever raise it – he got crippled several years ago and makes a — —- out walking. I think him —– as any one who has made application, and he is quite feeble (I was surrendered myself to W. T. Sherman at Greensboro N.C. Apr 26, 1860?
Witness my hand, this 26 day of Nov 1909
(Signed) J. W. Emison Clk. Co. Ct.
Two page handwritten letter included in file, hard to read
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To Pension Commissioner
of State of Tennessee
Dear Sir:
Berry T. Patterson, whose application for pension this note accompanies is in my opinion very deserving of State pension as an Ex confederate soldier.
About twenty years ago he sustained a fracture of hip perhaps —- a femur which has p—- —– —ening of femur perhaps 2 or 3 —-. Besides the deformity the —– still —- him considerable pain especially upon exertion. Any work which —– —– such as plowing is —- great extent —– torture to him still he has tried for years to support himself by work of such nature. For? several years he had in part the — … one year ago —- he had for some time? the? care? of — sister — —
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who were left orphans. All of this has been a great expense to him.
I think he should have applies for pension years ago. Considering his old —– other physical infirmaties natural to one of his age; his history as a soldier; his moral, —– life as a citizen and his needy circumstances in his old age. I recommend him to your favorable consideration as an applicant for pension.
If the State can give back —- to any old soldier, I recommend that you give such to him.
Very truly yours,
Fred C. James, M.D.
Gadsden, Tenn.
Nov. 26, 1909
(Capt. Hickman Please attend to this at as aerly as you can. D. B. Dodson)
Document included in file
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Headquarters
Tennessee Board of Pension Examiners
Nashville, Tenn. Nov. 30, 1909
Gen. F. C. Ainsworth,
Adjutant General,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
B. T. Patterson who is an applicant for Pension under the Tennessee Pension law, claims to have been a member of Company B. Forty seventh Regiment Tenn Infty C.S.A., and to have been released from prison at Pt. Lookout Md in June 1865.
Please give us the record of this soldier.
Respectfully,
George B. Guild
President.
Typed document included in file
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War Department,
The Adjutant General’s Office
Washington, Dec. 3, 1909
Respectfully returned to the
President,
Tennessee Board of Pension Examiners
Nashville.
The records show that B. T. Patterson, private, Company B, 47th Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States Army, enlisted December 8, 1861. On the roll of the company for January and February 1864 (last on file), he is reported present. No later record of him has been found.
The prisoner of war records show, however, that one Berry T. Patterson, (also borne as Bennet T. Patterson), private, Company H, 47th Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States Army, was captured at Franklin, Tennessee, November 30, 1864, and released at Point Lookout, Maryland, June 17, 1865, on taking the oath of allegiance. The name Berry T. (or Bennett T.) Patterson is not found on the rolls on file in this office, of Company H, 47th Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States Army.
F. C. Dismuke?
The Adjutant General
Typed document included in file
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State of Tennessee
Crockett County
I, B. T. Patterson of Crockett County state under oath that I am a pensioner of the State of Tennessee, that I was born on (Record has been lost and exact day of month cannot be ascertained) day of Sept, 1837, and that I am entitled to receive the increase of Five Dollars per month, under the Act of 1919, for pensioners on the roll of eighty years, or over, of age.
B. T. (his X mark) Patterson
P.O. Address Humboldt R.F.D. #10
Tennessee
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 17 day of June 1919
J. R. Cox
Notary Public
Typed letter included in file
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September 4, 1919.
P. T. Patterson, 11693
Mr. P. T. Patterson,
Route No. 10,
Humboldt, Tenn.
My dear Sir:
Under an opinion of the Attorney General of Tennessee the Board did not certify you under the eighty year law.
The Attorney General holds that the Board must take the date against the application. In your application you swear that you were born in 1839 and in your application for an increase you swear that you were born in 1837.
Under the opinion the Board cannot pay you the $5.00.
Respectfully,
By order of the Board,
Secretary.
Typed letter included in file, very light and hard to read
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Humboldt Tenn. R.F.D. No 10,
Sept. 20?, 1919
Mr. John P. Hickman,
Secretary,
Nashville Tenn.
Dear Sir:
Some time ago, I wrote you for Mr. B. T. Patterson in reference to an increase of his pension, he being over 80 years of age. Your reply, which has been mislaid, stated the Board did not grant it as his first application for Pension, said he was born in ’39? and the application for the increase gave the date of his birth as 37?, this date is most probably correct, the record of his exact age having been destroyed by fire, but his sister who has kept her age and is now 89, is very positive that her brother is only seven years younger than herself.
Now he wishes to know what course to persue to get this raise, if any.
Direct all letters to
B. T. Patterson,
R.F.D. No. 10.
Humboldt Tenn.
(By J. R. Cox)
Document (Voucher) included in file
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Be it known, that I, B. T. Patterson, do solemnly swear that I am the identical person whose name is inscribed on the rolls of the Board of Pension Examiners at the rate of $20.00 per month, and that I am in the same condition, financially, as when pension was first granted.
My present postoffice address is Humboldt, County of Gibson, Tennessee.
Pensioner’s Signature B. T. (his X mark) Patterson
Address Humboldt Tenn.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, 1st day of August, 1923 and I certify that pensioner is fully identified as the one herein named, and that he has signed the following duplicate receipts in my presence.
J. R. Cox Notary Public
Typed letter included in file
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Office of
County Court Clerk
Crockett County
Jno. H. Perry, Clark
Herbert A. Perry
Mrs. Jim Perry Farrow
Deputies
Alamo, Tenn.
8/25/23
Edgar T. Graham, Comp.
Nashville, Tennessee.
Dear Sir;
B. T. Patterson, Pensioner, Humboldt, R.F.D. died August 17th 1923,
Yours truly,
K. C. Patterson, (Brother)
Humboldt R.F.D. Tenn
Typed letter included in file
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October 3, 1919. B. T. Patterson, 11693
Humboldt, Tenn.
Dear Sir:
In reply to yours of September 30, will say, the Board did not allow you any extra pay on the first of September, as you were born in August 1839. However, on the first day of Decr next you will get $15 extra, under the eighty year old law.
Respectfully yours,
Secretary.
Typed letter included in file
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Nashville, Tenn. Aug 27th/1923
Col. Hickman:
Attached find pension check and voucher of B. T. Patterson, deceased. You may want to endorse check over to his brother, K. C. Patterson.
Please return voucher.
Cockrill