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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