James Gillespie Pension File

Transcribed from copies of original Military Records.

By Janis Garcia

Comments Or Questions CLICK HERE

 

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#7128A

Tennessee Board of Pension Examiners

 

Nashville, Tennessee: November 9, 1905

 

"Dear Sir:

James Gillespie, who is an applicant for pension under the Tennessee

Pension law, claims to have been a member of Company B, 7th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry, C.S.A, and to have been discharged for disability and

re-enlisted in same Co. Please give us the record of this soldier."

 

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War Department, #1070066, Washington, D.C.

November 13, 1905

 

Respectfully returned to The President, Tennessee Board of Pension

Examiners, Nashville.

 

"The records show that James Gillespie, private, Company B, 7th Tennessee

Infantry, C.S.A., enlisted May 20, 1861, to serve one year, and that he was

honorably discharged November 5 or 8, 1861. He again enlisted November 8,

1862, or January 23, 1864, and is reported on company roll dated November

1, 1864 (last on file), as deserted near Louisa Court House, Virginia,

September 25, 1864."

 

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June 30, 1911 (Liberty, Tennessee)

John P. Hickman, Nashville, Tennessee,

 

"Dear Sir:

James Glispie, Co. B, 7th Tenn. Inf'y, C.S.A., has application for pension

on file in your office. He is dead. Will you kindly advise us at once, if

the evidence on file is satisfactory as to his military service. This is in

behalf of his widow [Margaret Waggoner] who may ask for pension. If

convenient, reply without delay, as the widow would like to have application

ready for action at next meeting of Pension Board.

 

Respectfully, L.W. Hobson"

 

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June 26th, 1913

Hon. Board of Pensions, Nashville, Tenn.

 

"Dear Sirs:

     I am enclosing herewith application of Mrs. James Gillespie for

pension, together with copy of marriage certificate. I wrote you about

this matter some three weeks ago, explaining that her husband died some

seven years ago, pending his application for pension, and that his proofs

were on file in your office. I sincerely hope this application can be allowed,

as I personally know that the old woman is worthy and entirely dependent.

     Yours truly, J.H. Gardenhire"

 

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June 7th, 1917

Hon. John P. Hickman, Nashville, Tennessee

 

"Dear Sir:

    Mrs. Margaret Gillespie came into my office today and made a request

of me to see after getting her a pension. I find from the papers she has

that her claim was filed with you some time ago. She has a card dated Jan.

29th, 1913, stating that her application has been received and filed, application

No. 4990. She says that you have in the office all of the papers showing that

her husband, James Gillespie, Private, Company B, 7th Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States Army, inlisted May 20th, 1861, discharged Nov. 5 or 8th,

1861, because of Hernia etc.

     I wish you would see about this and inform me if the laws have changed

since the filing of this claim so that she is entitled to a pension. She is now

63 years old and without any support and needs it very badly. She states that

she and James Gillespie were married in 1887 and lived together until his

death about 11 years ago.

     Thanking you very much for your attention to this matter as this is a case

where if there is any way to assist the poor and needy, it should be done.

     Yours truly, J.R. Curtis"

 

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October 8, 19?3 [I would assume 1923, since the above letter was written

in 1917, but I don't know.]

Mrs. Margaret Gillespie 4990-?

Mr. W.D. Wright, Carthage, Tennessee, Route #1

 

"Dear Sir:

     Your name is given as one to whom we may write about this case. James

Gillespie, the husband of the applicant, filed an application for pension

In June, 1905. No pension was allowed him for the reason that the rolls of

His company, dated November 1, 1864, reported him as having deserted near

Louisa Courthouse, Virginia, September 25, 1864. He claimed to have been

captured, but admitted that he took the oath, claiming that he thought his life was

at stake. The board declined to grant him a pension, and is not likely to

grant one to his widow, for her status depends upon his record.

     Yours truly, Special Examiner"

 

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SOLDIER'S APPLICATION FOR PENSION

 

I, James Gillespie, a native of the State of Tennessee and now a citizen

Of Tennessee, resident at Carthage in the County of Smith 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 the indigent and disabled soldiers of the late war between

the States, and to fix the fees of attorneys or agents for procuring such

pensions, and fixing a penalty for the violation of the same." And I do

solemnly swear that I was a member of Col. John A. Fite's company, 7th

Tennessee, Hatton's Regiment, in the service of the Confederate or United

States, and that by reason of disability and indigence 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

soldiers' 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:

 

Q: In what County, State, and year were you born?

A: Smith County, Tennessee, year 1833.

 

Q: When did you enlist and in what command? Give the names of the

Regimental and company officers under whom you served.

A: In May 1861, Fite's company, Hatton's Regiment, 7th Tenn. Robt. Hatton,

Colonel; Jno. F. Goodner, Lieut. Colonel; John Howard, Major; John A.

Fite, Captain; John Allen, 1st Lieut.; Jack Moore, Sec. Lieut.; Joe Greer, 3rd

Lieut.

 

Q: In what battle or battles were you engaged, and if not wounded, state

what disability did you receive, if any?

A: Was discharged on account of sickness and rupture [hernia] at Green

Brier Bridge, Va., in fall of 1861. After re-inlistment was in battles of

Fredricksburg & Chancellorsville.

 

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

A: Rupture and fever.

 

Q: Were you incapacitated for service by reason of said wound or

Disability incurred?

A: Yes.

 

Q: Were you discharged from the army by reason of said wound or

disability?

A: Yes, disability.

 

Q: If discharged from the army, where were you and what did you do until

the close of the war?

A: In Va, came back home, stayed for about 1 year, and went back and

re-inlisted under same men.

 

Q: What was the name of the surgeon who attended you?

A: Dr. Jim Fite and Dr. Jim Luster, both of Lebanon, Tennessee, both now

dead.

 

Q: How did you get out of the army, when and where?

A: Was captured in Virginia, near Petersburg.

 

Q: Did you take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government?

A: Yes.

 

Q: If so, when and under what circumstances?

A: Was captured, and did so because I thought my life was at stake.

 

Q: Are you married, or have you been married?

A: Yes.

 

Q: If so what, is the size of your family living together?

A: Six in family --- 4 children.

 

Q: What are the respective ages of your wife and the children living with

you?

A: Wife 52 --- Children: daughter 19, son 17, son 14, daughter 12.

 

Q: To what sex do your children belong?

A: 2 girls and 2 boys.

 

Q: In what business are you now engaged, if any, and what do you earn?

A: I try to work on farm as best I can through the farming season, also Jail.

 

Q: What estate have you in your own right, real and personal, and what is

its value?

A: No real estate, a little household and kitchen plunder, 2 cows &

calves, 4 hogs.

 

Q: What estate has your wife in her own right, real and personal, and what

is its value?

A: None.

 

Q: How have you derived support for yourself and family for the last five

years?

A: By my own labor as best I could.

 

Q: Do you use intoxicants to any extent?

A: No, sir.

 

Q: How long have you been an actual resident of the State of Tennessee?

A: All my life.

 

Q: Have you an attorney to look after this application?

A: Yes, Jas. M. Gardenhire.

 

Q: If so, give his name and address.

A: Jas. M. Gardenhire, Carthage, Tennessee.

 

Witness my hand, this 22 day of April 1905.

 

James Gillispie [his mark]

Witness to mark: JM Gardenhire

 

Witnesses:

Frank Swope, Physician

F.P. Timberlake, Witness

F.M. Reeves, Witness

 

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Witness my hand and seal of office, this 22 day of April 1905. L.B. Flippen,

Clerk State of Tennessee, Smith County.

 

Personally appeared before me, L.B. Flippen, Circuit Court Clerk of said

County, the above named Dr. Frank Swope, 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 James

Gillespie, the applicant, and finds him laboring under the following

disabilities: "I have known applicant for many years. He has suffered from

Hernia of left side since I have known him and with the right for twelve years.

He is forced to wear a double truss and is unable to lift or strain in any manner without danger and great pain. He is otherwise very feeble and unable to

perform manual labor if not forced to do so by circumstances."

 

Personally appeared before me, L.B. Flippen, Circuit Court Clerk of said

County, the above named F.P. Timberlake and F.M. Reeves, two of the

subscribing witnesses to the foregoing application, with 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 they

further make oath to the following facts touching the applicant's service

to the Confederate army: "I, F.P. Timberlake, state that I know the applicant

was a good and true soldier, that he was sick and ruptured and discharged

and re-inlisted. He is now a good citizen, and in need of the state's assistance."

"We both served with the applicant in the same company."

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