Samuel J. Hopkins Civil War Pension

Pension File # 14470
State of Tennessee

SOLDIER’S APPLICATION FOR PENSION

NAME Sam J. Hopkins
Co. L 7 Tenn Cav. Rgt.

Filed Aug 3, 1914
Allowed _______

FILE IS STAMPED AcceptedSOLDIER’S APPLICATION FOR PENSION

I, Samuel J. Hopkins 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 I was a member of Company “L” 7th Tenn Cavalry 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: Haywood County, Tennessee. Born August 20th 1844

When did you enlist and in what command? Give the names of the regimental and company officers under whom you served.
Answer: March 1862. 7th Tenn. Cavalry, W. H. Jackson Col. – J. O. Stocks Lt. Col. – W. L. Duckworth Maj. – J. A. Taylor Capt. – Alex Duckworth 1st Lt. – C. L. Talifaro 2nd Lt.

In what battle or battles were you engaged, and, if not wounded, state what disabilities did you receive, if any?
Answer: Middleburge, Medon, Britton’s Lane, Corinth, Holly Springs, Brice’s Cross Roads, Harrisburg. Was Ruptured at Britton’s Lane, helping take a cannon off the field.

What was the precise nature of your wound or disability, if any?
Answer: Ruptured

Were you incapacitated for service by reason of said wound or disability incurred?
Answer: To some extent I was

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: _____________

What was the name of the surgeon who attended you?
Answer: Mr. Marrible – Regt. Surgeon

How did you get out of the army, when and where?
Answer: Mashed ankle at Franklin and was sent home.

Were you ever in prison? If so, what prison and when released?
Answer: No

Were you paroled? If so, when and where?
Answer: _____________

Did you take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government?
Answer: No

If so, when and under what circumstances?
Answer: _____________

Have you applied for pension before this? If so, about when?
Answer: I have not

Are you married, or have you been married?
Answer: Yes, my wife is dead

If so, what is the size of your family living together?
Answer: Myself, widowed daughter and small child

What are the respective ages of your wife and children living with you?
Answer: 32 yr. G. child 4 years

To what sex do your children belong?
Answer: Females

In what business are you now engaged, if any, and what do you earn?
Answer: None

What estate have you in your own right, real and personal, and what is its value?
Answer: Residence & Personal $1000.00

What estate has your wife in her own right, real and personal, and what is its value?
Answer: None

State the gross income of yourself and your wife from all sources for the past year. This must include all money received either from wages, rents or interest on loaned money, if any. Also family supplies raised or received from rents and used by your family.
Answer: About One Hundred and Twenty Five Dollars

How have you derived support for yourself and family for the past five years?
Answer: By a small amount of means on hand and what work that I was able to do.

Do you use intoxicants to any extent?
Answer: No, not in 35 years

How long have you been an actual resident of the State of Tennessee?
Answer: All of my life

Have you an attorney to look after this application?
Answer: No

If so, give his name and address.
Answer: _____________

Witness my hand, this First day of July 1914
(Signed) S. J. Hopkins, Bells, Tenn.

WITNESSES:
(Signed) S. E. McDurmond, Physician, Postoffice Address: Bells, Tenn
(Signed) T. F. Evans (Co. F. 7 Regt.), Witness, Postoffice Address: Bells, Tenn
(Signed) W. F. Webb (Co. F. 7 Regt.), Witness, Postoffice Address: Bells, Tenn


STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett County

I, John F. Peal, Trustee of said County, certify that S. J. Hopkins and his wife _____________ are assessed with 3 Lots acres, valued at $ 1050.00 and with $ No of personal property.

Witness my hand, this 21 day of July 1914
Signed John F. Peal

If applicant and his wife have no property, the Trustee must so certify.


STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett COUNTY.

Personally appeared before me, G. T. LewisNotary Public of said County, the above named S. J. Hopkins, 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 21 day of July 1914
(Signed) G. T. Lewis


STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett County

Personally appeared before me, G. T. Lewis, a Notary Public of said County, the above named S. E. McDurmond 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 S. J. Hopkins, the applicant, and finds him laboring under the following disabilities:

Ins—? Hernia & general weakness, physically & mentally

(Signed)

Witness my hand, this 21 day of July 1914
(Signed) G. T. Lewis


STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett County

Personally appeared before me, G. T. Lewis, Notary Public of said County, the above named D. B. Felts and J. J. Blaydes, 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 _____________ further make oath to the following facts touching the applicant’s service in the Confederate army:

I have known S. J. Hopkins since the war served with him in the same company he was a good soldier always ready for duty of any kind never shirked any duty. Have also known him as a citizen since the war he has been a good citizen always on the moral side of every thing. Sober & industrius ready at all times to help the needy and deserving.

Witness my hand, this 24 day of July 1914
(Signed) G. T. Lewis

(Signed) D. B. Felps (name written Felps here, and as Felts above)

(Signed) J. J. Blaydes


Handwritten letter in file:

Bells Tenn. 9/18/14
Mr. Frank A. Moses
Nashville Tenn

Dear Sir yours of Oct 2 to hand contents noted no I cannot find any one that was with me during the time that I was made? to go my company on out side of the line & I on the other would be imposible for one of them to know about me & some of the time I was with strangers & other times with home folks which are all dead and besides Fifty years is a long time to go ack for witnesses now I have furnished you with all the evidence that I know of that I was a soldier in the Confederate army now I have done all that I could do honestly am unable to work now if for any reason you see fit not to give me a pension you will have let it go need it not been for misfortune I would not had to ask for it that is not much but will help some now I leave it with you. Respectfully yours S. J. Hopkins

Now so far as the ancle was concerned I have trouble with it nearly all the time hurting now 8YH?
Never will.


Typed document in file:

WAR DEPARTMENT
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE
WASHINGTON, August 13, 1914

Respectfully returned to the

President, Tennessee Board
of Pension Examiners.
Nashville

The records show that Samuel J. Hopkins, private, Company L, 7th Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate States Army, enlisted April 30, 1862. On the last company roll on file, dated May 11, 1864, he was reported absent with leave.

The prisoner-of-war records show that he was paroled May 31, 1865, at Brownsville, Tennessee.

(Signed) Geo. Andrews
The Adjutant General


Typed letter in file:

Aug. 29, 1914

Sam J. Hopkins
14470

Mr. W. F. Webb,
Bells, Tenn.

Dear Sir:

I see you sign as a witness in this case, as the Doctor certified to physical ane mental weakness on the part of the applicant, and I am writing to you for some information. The rolls of Company L of the 7th Tenn. Cav. dated May 11, 1864, reports Mr. Hopkins “absent with leave”, and the prison of war records, show he was paroled May 31, 1865 at Brownsville. Mr. Hopkins says in his application that he sustained a mashed ankle at Franklin, and was sent home. What can you tell me about this wound at Franklin, and the extent of it. As he was not with his regiment at the surrender, the Board would like to know where he was. If the injury sustained by Franklin was serious enough to prevent him from doing any further service this will be sufficient, but we must have some proof to account for him and to show why he was not with the regiment at Gainesville, Ala. at the surrender.

Yours truly,

(Not signed)
Special Examiner.


Handwritten letter in file:

Bells, Tenn.
Sept. 19th 1914

Frank A. Moses,
Special Examiner
Knoxville

Dear Sir,

As I was not a member of Co. L. But of Co. F. and Mr. Hopkins’ hom was near Brownsville and I lived in Gibson County, and Mr. Hopkins’ commissioned officers are all Dead you will have to rely on his affidavid in the matter.

I can certify that Mr. Hopkins is an honorable and truthfull gentleman and will make no statement that is not correct.

Respectffully
W. F. Webb