HENDERSON COUNTY' S CONFEDERATE VETERANS' WIDOW-PENSIONERS

Jonathan Kennon Thompson Smith

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In 1905, the Tennessee legislature provided for the pensioning of widows living in the state of veterans of the Civil War, however only Confederate widows chose to do so as their counterparts with husbands who had served in the Federal forces elected to apply for a more bountiful federal pension. (One could not draw both.) A widow had to have been married to a veteran prior to 1870, had to be indigent and the veteran through whom application was being sought had to have served honorably. The Act itself (ACTS OF TENNESSEE, 1905, Chapter 202, pages 425-426):

 

CHAPTER 202. House Bill No. 205. AN ACT to provide relief for the dependent and indigent widows of soldiers who served in the Civil War between the States by granting them a pension, and providing for an appropriation for the payment of the same. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That all widows of deceased Tennessee soldiers of the Civil War between the States are declared to be pensionable, and shall receive a pension of six dollars per month, payable quarterly; Provided, the husband of such widow was killed or died while in active service and she has not remarried since the death of said soldier husband, and who are not now drawing a pension from some other cause. SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That such widows applying for a pension under this Act shall make proof that their said husband was killed or died while in active service, and of their indigence and dependence, and that they are of good moral character. SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That the widows of the deceased soldiers who were married to said soldiers prior to the year 1870 shall be pensionable, and shall receive five dollars per month, payable quarterly; Provided, the husband of such widow had an honorable record as a soldier, and would be pensionable, if living, and she has not married since the death of said soldier husband, and that they are now indigent and dependent and of good moral character; Provided further, that no widow shall be pensioned under this section unless there shall remain a surplus of the appropriation, herein made or hereafter to be made, after pensioning all widows applying or coming under Sections a 1 and 2 of this Act. SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That the widows pensioned under Sections 1, 2, and 3 of this Act shall be bona fide citizens of Tennessee, and shall have been actual residents of Tennessee three years before filing their applications. SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That this Act shall be a part of the present pension system of the State of Tennessee, and the present and succeeding pension officials shall have supervision and control thereof with all the powers and discretions as they now have under the general pension laws of the State of Tennessee. SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That upon the marriage of any widow of any soldier above mentioned, who are placed upon the pension rolls under the provisions of this Act; upon the acquisition of sufficient property to support her without the aid of a pension, her right to a pension shall cease, and the Board of Pension Examiners is hereby given full power to strike her name from the roll of pensioners. SEC. 7. Be it further enacted, That $50,000 ($25,000 annually), or as much thereof as may be necessary, be, and the same is hereby, appropriated for thy payment of the pensions, as provided for in this Act. SEC. 8. Be it further enacted, That in event that any widow who may receive a pension under this Act is not capable of taking care of the pension fund allowed her, the Board of Pension Examiners is hereby clothed with full power to have a guardian or trustee appointed to receive and pay over, from time to time, said pension funds to such widow as such guardian or trustee may deem necessary within their discretion. SEC. 9. Be it further enacted, That this Act take elect from and after its passage, the public welfare requiring it. Passed March 29, 1905.
	W. K. ABERNATHY, Speaker of the House of Representatives
	B. RICE Speaker of the Senate
Approved Apri1 7, 1905.	JOHN I. COX Governor

 

By legislation passed in April 1917, a widow could apply had she been married to a veteran prior to 1880 (ACTS OF TENNESSEE, 1917, Chapter 83, page 390); ditto, in February 1919, the date was extended to prior to 1890. (IBID., 1919, Chapter 44, page 115) Subsequently, the date prior to which a widow had been married to a veteran was extended indefinitely.

In the pension application, widows had to submit the birth place and date of her husband and herself, the date and proof of their marriage (although this information was accepted at face value), the ages and gender of their children, information about the veterans' military service and indication of indigency.

In this publication the writer has taken from the microfilmed applications of Confederate veterans' widows living in Henderson County, the application number, date of filing claim, whether accepted or rejected (for lack of proof service, because veteran had deserted or no financial need evident), marriage date, veteran' s vital stats, widow's birthdate, number and age of children, address and occasionally, if given on the application, the date of widow's demise.

Additionally, if widows had obituaries published in the book, CROSSING THE DARK RIVER, Henderson County, Tennessee Obituaries, 1827-1950, by Brenda Kirk Fiddler, 1999, that facts is given as Crossing the Dark River:Fiddler, with page number of which the individual obituary will appear in this book.

 

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52. MARY JANE REID, nee Wadley. Filed June 19, 1905. Accepted. Widow of Eli Arthur Reid, 16 Tenn. Cav. They married Henderson County, October 1845. He was born April 20, 1824; died Henderson County, November 15, 1901. She was born in the same county, April 19, 1824. Children: J. G., age 54; L. E., age 40; Mrs. Ann Jones, age 50; Amanda Morgan, age 57; Sallie Kee, age 44; Frances Blankenship, age 40. Luray.

814. HARRIETT A. MITCHELL, nee Thompson. Filed February 8, 1906. Accepted. Widow of James Agusta Mitchell, 13 Tenn. Inf. They married January 1866. He was born Pittsylvania Co., Virginia (no date given); died December 18, 1906. Children: l dau., age 37; l son,, age 32. Huron.

951. SUSAN J. BRADFORD, nee Bowman. Filed May 22, 1906. Accepted. Widow of James Bradford, Company G, 16 Tenn. Cav. (received disability discharge in 1864). They married Feb. 8, 1853. He died in September 1903. Three sons, three daughters; one son died Dec. 24, 1902. Whitefern.

958. MARGARET E. STUBBLEFIELD, nee Bell. Filed May 25, 1906. Accepted. Widow of Charles Harrison Stubblefield, Wilson's Cav. They married January 5, 1868 near Mifflin. He was born December 6, 1841; died August 29, 1899 near Scotts Hill. She was born near Crucifer, Henderson County, September 14, 1844. 2 sons, ages 30 and 28. Lived near Scotts Hill.

1115. FREDONIA LEWIS, nee Griggs. Filed August 26, 1906. Accepted. Widow of Elijah Willis Lewis, Company K, 27 Tenn. Inf. They married March 15, 1864. He was born September 1, 1842; died August 12, 1908, Lexington. She was born in Perry Co., Tenn., March 15, 1847. Children: Hallie, age 37; Viola, age 35; Elkins, age 28; Gowen(?), age 20. Lexirigton.

1172. NANCY MARGARET THOMAS, nee Lawler. Filed October 20, 1906. Accepted. Widow of John Thomas, 19 Tenn. Cav. (wounded at Harrisburg). They married January 24, 1856. He died in September 1869. She was born in Henderson County, October 10, 1838. Children were J. F., age 49;G. L., age 45; Martha Blankenship, age 42; Ada F. Thomason, age 40; F. H., age 38. Route, Lexington.

1347. NARCY A. FOSTER. Filed March 27, 190T. Accepted. Widow of Henry W. Foster, 27 Tenn. Inf. They married in Henderson County, December 20, 1856.. He was born in Virginia (no birth or death dates given). Ten children, females, ages 49, 48, 46, 39, 37; males, ages 40, 35, 34, 31, 29. Luray.

1589. MARTHA McCLAIN, nee Petty. Filed July 27, 1901. Accepted. Widow of James P. McClain, Company G, 4 Tenn. Cav. They married November 12, 1865. He was born in Cannon Co., Tenn., November 6, 1839; died May 9, 1907, Henderson County, Tenn. She was born in Carroll Co., Tenn., May 30, 1842. Children: Virginia Lee, born January 27, 1867; Mandy, born Feb. 5, 1868 and died in 1874; J. C., born December 13, 1869. Juno.

1666. MARTHA PERLINA WADLEY, nee Smith, Filed September 30, 1907'. Accepted. Widow of William B. Wadley, 27 Tenn. Inf. They married January 31, 1856. He was born October 1836; died October l, 1889. She was born in Henderson County, January 15, 1839; 1 daughter, 6 sons. Route, Lexington. [Crossing the Dark River: Fiddler, page 105. She died December 22, 1913.]

1688. CALISTIE ADLINE VANDYKE, nee Smith. Filed October 12, 190T. Accepted. Widow of James Daniel Vandyke, 55 Tenn. Inf. They married October 7, 1867. He was born in Giles Co., Tenn., 1842; died April 29, 1893, Chester Co., Tenn. She was born in McNairy Co., Tenn. (no date given). Children: 8 daughters, ages 38, 34, 30, 28, 25, 23, 19, 15. Sardis.

2056. ELLEN FESSMIRE, nee Douglass. Filed August 29, 1908. Accepted. Widow of John Wesley Fessmire, 27 Tenn. Inf. They married in Henderson Co. in 1865. He was born in that county, 1843; died there in 1892. She was born in same county, 1848. Had 2 sons, 2 daughters. Lexington. [Crossing the Dark River: Fiddler, page 254. She died November 29, 1916.]

 

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2186. GEORGIA A. CARROLL, nee Webb. Filed December 30, 1908. Rejected. Widow of Joseph C. Carroll, Franklin's Battalion. His record not found. They married in Henderson County, September 24, 1854. 7 daughters, 2 sons. [She is called George Ann Carroll in some accounts but the present writer found her just as given above.] Sardis.

2419. SARAH JANE BROWER, nee Byrd. Filed March 11, 1909. Accepted. Widow of Wyly A. Brower, Company A, 27 Tenn. Inf. They married January 13, 1870, Henderson Co., Tenn. He was born there, 1845; died June 12, 1906, Reagan, Tenn. She was born in North Carolina, January 7, 1852. 3 sons, 2 daughters. Lexington. [Crossing the Dark River: Fiddler, page 163. She died in July 1919.]

2420. NANCY EMILINE JOYNER, nee Brown. Filed March 11, 1909. Accepted. Widow of Arch Joyner, Company G, 2 Consolidated Tenn. Inf. They married September 20, 1868. He was born in Henderson County, Tenn., 1833; died February 5, 1909 in same county. She was born in the same county, January 10, 1849. 4 sons, 5 daughters. Huron.

2780. LAURA A. BOSWELL, nee Moffitt. Filed July 23, 1909. Accepted. Widow of John Brown Boswell, Company F, 55 Tenn. Inf. They married January 13, 1870. He was born November 8, 1836; died December 27, 1878. She was born in Henderson County, October 25, 1852. 4 children, 2 living, ages 33 and 31. Lexington. [Crossing the Dark River: Fiddler, page 315. She died May 14, 1931.]

2814. LUTETIA TIDE BOSWELL, nee Autry. Filed August 7, 1909. Accepted. Widow of Sanders Boswell, Company C, 16 Tenn. Cav. They married December 25, 1870. He was born in Henderson County, Tenn., 1833; died January 11, 1903. She was born in Henderson County, Tenn., October 1, 1842. Chi1dren: Ebb, age 30; Clyde, age 28; Charlie, age 22; Nellie, age 34; Annie, age 32; Lela, age 26; Jane, age 24. Juno.

2910. MARY EMELINE McCORKLE, nee Savage. Filed October 14, 1909. Rejected. Widow of Franklin Blye McCorkle, 27 Tenn. Inf. They married in 1865. He was born in Decatur County, Tenn. (no date given); his death date not given. She was born in Decatur County, Tenn., March 1840. 5 sons, aged 34, 33, 29, 27, 22. He was listed as a deserter in August 1863 and had taken the oath of allegiance to U.S.

3074. MARTHA ANN DAVIS, nee Creesey. Filed February 18, 1910. Rejected. Widow of Lawson Asberry Davis, 16 Tenn. Cav. They married in 1866 or 1867. He died Janaury 22, 1894. 3 sons, 4 daughters. Sardis. No record could be found about his service. This was a poorly completed application.

3325. NANCY MARTIN, nee Brown. Filed October 7, 1910. Rejected. Widow of William J. Martin, 32 Tenn. Inf. They married in Georgia. He was born in South Carolina. 3 sons, 6 daughters. Sardis. Insufficient record of military service.

3592. NANCY M. A. GURLEY, nee Neisler. Filed April 3, 1911. Rejected. Widow of John A. Gurley, Company A, 16 Tenn. Inf. They married in October 1874. He was born in Giles County, Tenn., August 14, 1834; died December 19, 1897, Henderson Co., Tenn. She was born in Henderson Co., Tenn., February 10, 1844. Children: William H., age 40; Vinson, age 29; Walter Lee, age 25; Artie Miss, age 21. Lexington. Insufficent record of military service.

4692. LOUISA EMALINE GRIGGS, nee Reed. Filed January 17, 1913. Accepted. Widow of George H. Griggs, 27 Tenn. Inf. They married December 17, 1867. He was born April 6, 1838; died November 9, 1912, Lexington. She was born in Henderson Co., Tenn., June 13, 1847. No children. Lexington.

4963. SARAH ANN GATHINGS, nee Wyatt. Filed June 11, 1913. Accepted. Widow of Joseph John Gathings, Company D, 17 Tenn. Cav. They married March 10, 1886. He was born in North Carolina, October 1, 1829; died Decatur Co., Tenn., May 4, 1913. No children. She was born in Decatur Co., "63 years ago." She had a stepson, J. C. Gathings.

5575. MARTHA ELIZABETH WILSON, nee Priddy. Filed September 1, 1914. Accepted. Widow of Joel E. Wilson, 2 Consolidated Tenn. Inf. They married May 27, 1866. He was born in Henderson Co., Tenn., July 3, 1838; died July 3, 1914. She was born in same county, November 17, 1844. No children. Lived in Henderson Co.

 

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5744. NARCISSA REEVES, nee McKee. Filed January 18, 1915. Accepted. Widow of John Quincy Reeves, Company E, 6 Tenn. Inf. He was born in Virginia; died in Henderson Co., Tenn. (no dates). No children. [Crossing the Dark River: Fiddler, page 376. She died September 28, 1935.]

5933. ELIZABETH M. VANDYKE, nee Barham. Filed May 29, 1915. Accepted. Widow of Angus Marshal Vandyke, Company J, 13 Tenn. Inf. They married in Hardin Co., Tenn., April 21, 1867. He was born in Giles Co., Tenn., September 12, 1834; died April 19, 1915. She was born in Hardin Co., Tenn., December 2, 1842. 6 children, one dead. Reagan.

6086. HENRIETTA WHEATLEY, nee Moore. Filed October 2, 1915. Accepted. Widow of George Pierce Wheatley, Company 1, 27 Tenn. Inf. They married March 13, 1887. He was born in Henderson Co., Tenn., July 28, 1841; died in Lexington, August 24, 1915. She was born in Henderson Co., Tenn. (no date given). Children: Homer, age 27; Hays, age 26; Ernest, age 22; Lonnie, age 14; Georgie, age 24; Ruby, age 17. Route, Lexington.

6322. AMALNDA A. MEDLINE, nee Ham. Filed April 8, 1916. Accepted. Widow of J. R. Medlin, Company D, 27 Tenn. Inf. They married in March 1873. He died March 21, 1916, Sardis; 4 sons, h daughters. Sardis.

6347. ALMEDIA C. FREEMAN, nee Matthews. Filed May 3, 1906. Rejected. Widow of William Henry Freeman, 13 Tenn. Inf. They married December 11, 1887. He was born in middle Tenn., November 28, 1840; died in Gibson Co., Tenn., April 14, 1899. She was born in Henderson Co., Tenn., January 5, 1848. No children.

6430. ELIZABETH ALEXANDER, nee Garner. Filed July 10, 1916. Accepted. Widow of John W. Alexander, Company D, 27 Tenn. Inf. They married September 27, 1867. He was born in Perry Co., Tenn., November 13, 1839; died in Henderson Co., Tenn., April 3, 1916. She was born in Franklin Co., Tenn., December 26, 1848. 5 daughters, 2 sons. Lexington.

6609. SARAH FRANCES MITCHELL, nee Swift. Filed January 3, 1916. Accepted. Widow of Andrew Johnson Mitchell, Company G, 35 Tenn. Inf. They married June 21, 188. He was born in McMmnnville, Tenn., November 2, 1835; died near Scotts Hill, Tenn., September 2, 1914. She was born in Dyer Co., Tenn., November 18, 1845; she was also the widow of Henry O'Guin. No children. Scotts Hill. [Crossing the Dark River: Fiddler, page 246. She died September 18, 1926.]

7070. MARY ERMLINER SELLERS, nee Bradford. Filed November 6, 1918. Accepted. Widow of Thomas E. Sellers, Company K, 9 Tenn. Cav. They married October 17, 1866. He died January 6, 1918. She was born in Henderson Co., Tenn. in 1850. Children: Lon, age 47; Ferd S., age 36; Cleve, age 32; Arbe, age 27; Jinnir, male, age 47. Lexington. [Crossing the Dark River: Fiddler, page 276. She was born Mar. 10, 1849; died Nov. 29, 1928.]

7115. MARY C. HEMPHILL, nee Smith. Filed January 15, 1919. Accepted. Widow of J. A. Hemphill, Company E, 55 Tenn. Inf. They married in 1870. He died in Henderson Co., Tenn., Sept. 1, 1918. She was born in that county, August 6, 1851. 2 daughters, aged 39 and 42. [Crossing the Dark River: Fiddler, page 217. She died July 15, 1924.]

7222. ANNA ELIZA McHANEY, nee Henry. Filed July 12, 1919. Accepted. Widow of Cornelius Felix McHaney, Company C, 16 Tenn. Cav. They married December. 6, 1865. He was born November 1, 1841; died January 1919. She was born in Lexington, January 28, 1845. No. children. [Crossing the Dark River: Fiddler, page 200. She died January 24, 1923.]

7292.. AMANDA J. GILLIAM, nee Priddy. Filed October 22, 1919. Accepted. Widow of James Harvey Gilliam, Company F, 5 Tenn. Inf. They married November l0, 1867. He died September 14, 1919. She was born near Lexington, November 29, 1847. 4 sons, aged 46, 43, 30, 30; 3 daughters, aged 37, 34, 27. Lexington.

 

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7351. MARTHA CAROLINE MILLER, nee Horn. Filed January 26, 1920. Rejected. Widow of M. Carett Miller, Company J, 9, Tenn. Cav. They married August 5, 1906. He was born in 1840. She was born in Henderson Co., Tenn., March 6, 1851. No children. Insufficient record of military service.

7788. ARDENA HAVNOR, nee Martin. Filed August 8, 1922. Accepted. Widow of Jacob Havnor, Company B, 5 Tenn. Inf. He died September 23, 1905, Madison Co., Tenn. He received a wound in right shoulder in 1864. Children: Allen, age 61; Sirus, deceased; George W., age 57; Mary and Sarah, age 55; Martha, age 53; Eliza, deceased; Lou, age 48; Bob, age 46. [Crossing the Dark River: Fiddler, page 266. She died February 11, 1928.]

8292. FRANCES HORTON, nee Grissom. Filed June 22, 1925. Accepted. Widow of Jesse Dyer Horton, Company J, 13 Tenn. Inf. He was born in Stewart Co., Tenn., 1837; died August 13, 1921. She was born Reagan, Tenn., July 28, 1846. No children. Huron.

8401. ALICE ELKINS, nee McDonald. Filed December 28, 1925. Accepted. Widow of James Napoleon Elkins, 12 Kentucky Cav. They married February 11, 1879, Carroll Co., Tenn. He was born in that county, November 12, 1845; died Nov. 15, 1925, Juno, Tenn. She was born in Carroll Co., Tenn., June 13, 1856. 2 sons dead; 1 daughter dead; 1 son living; 2 daughters living. Marginally noted that she died November l, 1940, Juno.

10305. MARY JANE McKINNEY. Filed September 17, 1931. Accepted. Widow of William A. McKinney, Company E, 7 Tenn. Cav. They married Decatur Co., Tenn., January 17, 1875. He was born in that county, 1847; died there, October 31, 1923. She was born in Hardin Co., Tenn., 1857. Marginally noted that she died Feb. 3, 1945, Sardis.

10662. MARY B. OAKLEY, nee Barron. Filed November1l5, 1932. Accepted. Widow of James K. Polk Oakley, Company H, 51 Tenn. Inf. They married about 1860. He was born Carroll Co., Tenn., January 6, 1842; died October 23, 1913. She was born March 22, 1847. Marginally noted that she died July 5, 1935, Lexington. She was sister of "historically famous Clay Barron." [Crossing the Dark River: Fiddler, page 370. She died July 5, 1935.]

10801. MARY FRANCIS McCOY, nee Douglass. Filed March 21, 1934. Accepted. Widow of Sam Elum McCoy, Company C, 7 Alabama Cav. They married August 3, 1872. He was born in Tishomingo Co., Miss., September 8, 1842; died Henderson County, January 25, 1934. She was born November 10, 1852. Died January 1938. Route, Lexington.

 

Other works by Jonathan K. T. Smith can be found at the Madison County Records Repository at TNGenWeb.