Pension File # 5434
State of Tennessee
SOLDIER’S APPLICATION FOR PENSION
NAME Spencer Buford
Filed Aug. 10, 1903
Allowed _____
FILE IS STAMPED AcceptedSOLDIER’S APPLICATION FOR PENSION
I, Spencer Buford a native of the State of Tennessee and now a citizen of Tennessee, resident at Bells 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, while in the discharge of my duty in the service of the Confederate or United States as a member of ______________, I was wounded in the battle or battles of Have contracted the following. General break down am wholly, or contracted the following disease or disabilities, to wit: unable to do manual labor of any kind. Have been in this condition for the last five years, and that by reason of such wound and disability I am now entitled to receive the benefits 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: Williamson County Tenn. Sept 1845
When did you enlist and in what command? Give the names of the regimental and company officers under whom you were serving at date of wound or other disability.
Answer: I Enlisted May 1861 (or 1862?) Cheatam Command Col. Duglass, Capt. John W. Buford.
What was the precise nature of your wound or disability, if any?
Answer: Was not wounded: or do not snow wether or not I contract my desease in the army.
What limb, if any, did you lose by reason of said wound or wounds, and, if no limb, state fully your disability, and in contracted in the service, and is said disability permanent?
Answer: Did not loose my limbs did not contract any desease. But my present disibilities are permanent
Were you incapacitated for service by reason of said wound or disability incurred?
Answer: Was not
Were you discharged from the army by reason of said wound or disability?
Answer: Was not
If discharged from the army, where were you and what did you do until the close of the war?
Answer: Was not discharged by reason of any disibilities
What was the name of the surgeon who attended you?
Answer: ___________________________
How did you get out of the army, when and where?
Answer: Was Paroled in N. C. in May 1865 in Genl Johnson Surrender
Did you take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government?
Answer: Did not
If so, when and under what circumstances?
Answer: Did not take the oath
Are you married, or have you been married?
Answer: Am married
If so, what is the size of your family living together?
Answer: Wife & four children
What are the respective ages of your wife and children living with you?
Answer: Wife 57 —- Children. 18 & 16 & 6 & 6
To what sex do your children belong?
Answer: Three girls & one boy six years old
Are not some of your children able to support you?
Answer: Are not
In what business are you now engaged, if any, and what do you earn?
Answer: Farming on rented land & hardly a living
What estate have you in your own right, real and personal, and what is its value?
Answer: Have none
What estate has your wife in her own right, real and personal, and what is its value?
Answer: No realestate personal $200.00 (or $300.00?)
How have you derived support for yourself and family for the past five years?
Answer: by what we can earn farming
Do you use intoxicants to any extent?
Answer: Do not
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: Yes
If so, give his name and address.
Answer: Craig & Casey – Alamo Tenn.
Witness my hand, this ___ day of July 1903
(Signed) Spencer Buford
WITNESSES:
(Signed) N. I. Hess, Physician
(Signed) T. A. Ballard, Witness
(Signed) D. B. Dodson, Witness
STATE OF TENNESSEE,
_______________ COUNTY.
Personally appeared before me, J. W. Emison, County Court Clerk of said County, the above named Spence Buford, 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 2 day of July 1903
(Signed) J. W. Emison, Co. Clerke
STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett County
Personally appeared before me, J. C. Best, Notary Public of said County, the above named N. I. Hess 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 __________________, the applicant, and finds him laboring under the following disabilities:
Pulmonary Tuburculosis. His disability for Manual Labor is Total. Do not know wether it was contracted during army or not.
Witness my hand, at office, this 8 day of Aug. 1903
(Signed) J. C. Best, Notary Public
STATE OF TENNESSEE,
____________________ County
Personally appeared before me, J. W. Emison, County Court Clerk of said County, the above named T. A. Ballard and D. B. Dodson whom I am personally acquainted, and know 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 _____________ further make oath to the following facts touching the applicant’s service in the Confederate army:
They served in the army with the applicant and know of their own personal knowledge that the applicant served from 1861 to the close of the war, and was paroled at the time Johnson surrendered. The applicant made a good brave and faithful Soldier, and has made a good honorable Citizen since the war, and is now indigint, and in very needy circumstances and stands in great need of relief.
Witness my hand, at office, this 2 day of July 1903
(Signed) J. W. Emison, Co. Court Clerk
Handwritten letter included in file
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Bells Tenn
Aug 8 1903.
Hon. John P. Hickman.
Nashville Tenn
Dear sir:-
Enclosed herewith I send you pension claim of Spencer Buford which I will ask you to kindly file and bring same before the Board, I would be glad if you would use your influence with the Board, and endeaver to get some ollowed? if possible as the old gentleman stands in great need of his money.
I am yours truly
Eugene Casey
Typed letter included in file
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State of Tennessee
Crockett County.
Personally appeared before me, John H. Perry who made oath that he is at present and has been for 2 1/2 years the Trustee of Crockett County Tennessee and that he has carefully examined the tax books in his office and that Spencer Buford has no estate either real or personal assessed for taxes. The affiant further states that he has known the said Spencer Buford intimately for a number of years and knows of his own personal knowledge that said Buford owns no estate.
John H. Perry, Trustee
Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 30th. day of March 1905.
J. W. Emison
Clerk