Page 16

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT

STATE OF: Tennessee
COUNTY OF: Washington

In matter of pension claim Anna Crawford late widow Wm Persinger K. 5th Tenn. Inf.

Personally came before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for aforesaid County and State Henry Clark of Haws Road County of Washington, State of Tennessee, late private of Co. K 5 Tennessee Inft. Vols. person of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to the aforesaid cases as follows: That he was mustered in Co. K 5th Tennessee Infty. Vols. and that said William Persinger ???? and at his enlistment and the said soldier William Persinger died at Carthage Tennessee on or about the 18th of August 1863. Said soldier William Persinger was sick and suffering with fever and diarrhea when the said soldier William Persinger was sent to the hospital at Carthage Tennessee. Witness further state that he visited the said soldier William Persinger at Carthage Tennessee while the said soldier was sick in hospital. Witness further states that he makes this statements from his personal knowledge and ????? and he further declare that he has no interest in said case, and he is not concerned in its prosecution.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 23 day of Dec., 1881, and I hereby certify that the contents of the foregoing affidavit were fully made known and explained to the affiant before swearing thereto, in including the words-------in line-----, erased, and in line---------the words--------, added; that the affiant is to me well known and is respectable and worthy of full credit, and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.

The officer before whom this Affidavit is executed must be sure and note in his certificate all erasures and interlineations, as indicated above.

Page 17

NOTE.-It is preferable that this instrument be executed before a Clerk of a Court. When executed before a Notary Public or Justice of the Peace, the certificate of Clerk of Court below MUST be filled out.

STATE OF: Tennessee
COUNTY OF: Washington

I, E.A. Shipley, Clerk of the County Court in and for aforesaid County and State, do certify that L.H. Shipley, Esq., who had signed his name to the foregoing jurat, was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and State, dully commissioned and sworn; that all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit, and that his signature thereto is genuine.

Witness my hand and seal of office this 24 Day of Dec., 1881. E.A. Shipley Clerk of the County Court.

Received in Pension office April 17, 1882.

ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE for In Service AFFIDAVIT of Comrade Henry Clark Co. K, 5 Tenn Vos. Filed by George E. Lemon Offices, No 615 Fifteenth Street, N.W. P.O. Drawer 325 Washington, D.C.

Page 18

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT.

STATE OF: Tennessee
COUNTY OF: Sullivan

In the matter of claim for Widow No 191065 Anna Crawford, late widow of Wm Persinger K 5 Tenn Vols.

Personally came before me, a Notary Public, in and for aforesaid County and State Thomas J. Carr age 62 years a resident Sullivan County Tennessee and whos (sic) Post Office is Blairs Gap Tennessee person of lawful age, who, being sworn, declare in relation to the aforesaid case as follows: That said claimant Anna Crawford has lived within the neighborhood of Affiant (sic) every since the Fall of 1865 or Spring of 1866. She lives within 1/2 one half mile of Affiant (sic) from the Fall of 1865 or Spring of 1866 until she married Lewis Crawford. She was pregnant when she came to this neighborhood in Fall of 1865. She lived on Mr. David Shipley’s farm for some. She told Affiant (sic) the said child belonged to one Smith. She lived at affiants (sic) house in the Fall of 1866 until the Fall of 1867. Affiant (sic) further states that she never lived or cohabited with said Smith that he never saw or heard of said Smith being in the neighborhood since the Fall of 1865 never heard of him living in neighborhood at any time.

He further declare that he has no interest in said case, and he is not concerned in its prosecution.

Page 19

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT.

STATE OF: Tennessee
COUNTY OF: Sullivan

In the matter of the Pension Claim of Anna Crawford late widow of William Persinger Co. K 5th Tenn. Vols.

Personally came before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for aforesaid County and State Franklin Golloway age 38 years of age a resident of Sullivan County, Tennessee whos (sic) Post Office is Blairs Gap, Tennessee person of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to the aforesaid case as follows: that he was a private of Co. K 5 Tenn. Vol. and that the said soldier William Persinger was a private in said Co. K 5th Tenn. Vols. that he personally new (sic) the said soldier prior to his enlistment and that the said soldier William Persinger died at Carthage, Tennessee on or about the 18th day of August 1863. Said soldier was suffering with diarrhea when the said soldier was sent to hospital he further states that he visited the said soldier while the said William Persinger was in hospital: at Carthage, Tennessee he further states that he makes this statement from his personal knowledge. And he further declare that he has no interest in said case, and he is not concerned in its prosecution.

Page 20

STATE OF: Tennessee
Sulivan County

County Court Clerk’s Certificate
Destruction of records.

J.A.J. Cox clerk of the Circuit Court of the County and State aforesaid hereby certify that all the marriage records and papers pertaining thereto belonging to said County and on deposit in the County Court Clerk’s Office in the Courthouse of said County were destroyed by fire in the burning of the Courthouse of said County which as shown of record why office occurred the 22 day of September 1863; that in the County Court Clerk’s office in said Courthouse is and was the proper and legal place of deposit for such marriage records and papers and that there is now in said office no record of marriages that were celebrated prior to the said 22 day of September 1863.

Page 21

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT.

STATE OF: Tennessee
COUNTY OF: Sullivan

In the matter of claim for Widow No. 191065 Anna Crawford late widow of Wm Persinger K 5 Tenn. Vols.

Personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for aforesaid County and State, David Shipley age 66 years a resident of Sullivan County Tenn and whose Post Office is Blairs Gap Tennessee person of lawful age, who being dully sworn, declare in relation to the aforesaid case as follows. That in the fall of 1865 claimant Anna Persinger came to my house staid with me for some time. At that time she was pregnant about half gone and that she moved in a house on his farm and lived there until her child was born. She told affiant that said child belonged to

David Smith. Claimant lived on his farm about 5 months and that he knew her from that time up to her marriage to Lewis Crawford. Affiant never saw said Smith the alleged father of claimants child while she lived in his neighborhood if Smith had been to see her he would of known it. He further declare that he has no interest in said case, and is not concerned in its prosecution.

SWORD TO AND SUBSCRIBED before me this the 11 day of June, 1887, and I hereby certify that the contents of the foregoing affidavit were fully made know and explained to the affiant before swearing thereto, including the words.....David. The words....William added. That the affiant he is to me well known and is respectable and worthy of full credit, and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.

(Written notations on the side of this document were, "Adultery and Pregnant")

NO. 191065 ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE. Case of Anna Crawford late widow of William Persinger Co "K" 5 Tenn. Inft. Vols for AFFIDAVIT OF DAVID SHIPLEY Filed by GEORGE E. LEMON, ATTORNEY
Office 615 Fifteenth St. N.W. Washington, D.C.

Page 22

Feb 16, 1887

STATE OF: Tennessee
COUNTY OF: Sullivan

In matter of the Pension Claim of Anna Crawford widow of William Persinger late Co. K, 5th Tenn Infty Vols No. 191065 on this the 16th day of February A.D. 1887 personally appeared before me a Notary Public in and for the aforesaid County dully authorized to administer oaths Anna Crawford Claimant-age 45 years a resident of Blairs Gap in the County of Sullivan and the State of Tennessee well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit and who being dully sworn declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows: that on or about the first of July A.D. 1865 she made the acquaintance with David Smith was in his company some five or six days during her stay with said Smith she cohabited with him some two or three times. This was the beginning and the ending of said cohabitation with said David Smith. After this occurrence she never saw said Smith after that time her Post Office is Blairs Gap.

Page 23

Received in Pension Office April 17, 1882

STATE OF: Tennessee
Sullivan County

Clerk’s Certificate

J.A.J. Cox Clerk of the County of the County and State aforesaid hereby certify that all the marriage records and papers pertaining thereto belonging to said County and State were destroyed by fire in the burning of the courthouse of said County which occurred on the 22 day of September 1863, that in the County Court Clerk’s Office in said courthouse was then and now is the proper and legal place of deposit for such marriage records and papers, and that there is now no evidence of any marriage in said office that occurred prior to the burning of the courthouse on or before said which occurred on September 22, 1863. I have no interest in the prosecution of Anna Crawford for pension.

Page 24

SECONDARY PROOF OF MARRIAGE.

STATE OF: Tennessee
COUNTY OF: Sullivan

On this 12 th day of December, A.D. 1881, before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace personally appeared Anna Crawford who, being duly sworn, deposes as follows: I am the widow of William Persinger decease, who was a Private in Captain A.N.Ragell’s Company K 5th Tenn Regiment Infty, Vol.: that my maiden name was Anna Conkin that I was lawfully married to said deceased at N. Dolins, County of Sullivan, State of Tennessee by John Depew, J.P. on or about the 5th day of July 1860. (The following words were marked out: "That I have by said marriage the following children, whose ages and dates of birth are correctly set forth, to wit: That these are the only legitimate children now living of myself and my deceased husband, and that my said husband left no children by any first marriage"). That I have made repeated and diligent efforts to procure a copy of the records of my marriage, but have been unable to do so, because the County Court Clerks’s Offices was all destroyed by fire. That I cannot obtain the affidavit of the party who performed the marriage ceremony, because the said John Depew, a Justice of the Peace is dead, that my said husband died on the 18th day of August A.D. 1863; that I lived with deceased from the date of my marriage up to the date of his death, and that I file herewith the best evidence of my marriage that I can obtain.

Susannah Mullenix
(Signature of Witness)

And also at the same time personally appeared Thomas H. Easley and Sarah A. Easley, of the County of Sullivan and State of Tennessee, to me well know as respectable, credible persons, who, being by me duly sworn, do severally say that they have known the claimant Anna Crawford and her deceased husband William Persinger who was a Private in Company K, 5th Regiment of Tennessee Vo. for 5 years, "and that they were present and saw claimant and said deceased married, as above stated by claimant; that claimant’s maiden name was Anna Conkin, and that she was married to said William Persinger, at N. Dolins in the State of Tennessee, by John Depew a J.P. on or about the 5th day of July 1860, that deceased always treated and acknowledge claimant as his lawful wife; and that they lived and cohabited together as

Page 25

such, and were so received in society, and were so regarded by their acquaintances; that they never heard the fact of their marriage disputed; that they often heard deceased in his life time speak of claimant as his wife.

(Again words were crossed out pertaining to children by this marriage)

That they are satisfied that claimant has made diligent efforts to procure record evidence of her marriage, and has been unable to do so for the reasons stated by her. That they are in no way interested, directly or indirectly, in the claim for Pensions for which this affidavit is required.

Subscribed in my presence and sworn to before me by the claimant and said witnesses, this 12th day of December A.D. 1881, after the same had been carefully read and explained to them; and I certify that I am in no way interested in the prosecution or proceeds of this claim, directly or indirectly.

I certify that A.K. Mullenix, Esq., who hath signed his name to the foregoing declaration and affidavit was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and State, duly commissioned and sworn; that all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit, and that his signature thereunto is genuine.

Witness my hand and seal of office, this 19th day of Dec 1881.

Received in the Pension Office April 17, 1882

Page 26

INDEX
TO SPECIAL EXAMINER’S REPORT

Page 27

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.

OFFICE OF SPECIAL EXAMINER U.S. BUREAU OF PENSIONS

At Lovelace, Tenn

Sept 11th, 1895

NOTICE OF SPECIAL EXAMINATION.

CASE OF: Anna Crawford CTF No. 237.101

To: Anna Crawford, CLAIMANT:

Your are hereby notified that, by order of the Commissioner of Pensions, the undersigned will, on the 13th day of Sept., A.D. 1895, and continuing thereafter long as may be necessary, at Lovelace, County of Greene and State of Tenn, and elsewhere if necessary, conduct a special examination of the aforesaid pension claim, at which time and place all material witnesses will be heard.

And you are further notified that you have the privilege of being present, in person or by attorney, during said special examination, and of cross-examining said witnesses and of introducing any material evidence on your own behalf, if you so desire

H.L. Williams
Special Examiner.

To: H. L. Williams

I acknowledge service of copy of above notice this 11 day of Sept., 1895, and desire the examination begin at once.

Anna x (her mark) Crawford

J.C. Fulkerson
A. H. Price

Page 28

N. B. -----Examiners should be particular to have affiants sign on the line next below the closing words of their depositions so as to leave little or no space between their signatures and the end of their depositions.

DEPOSITION A

Case of Anna Crawford CTF, No. 237101

On this 11thd day of Sept., 895, at deponent’s house, County of Greene State of Tenn, before me, H. L. Williams, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Anna Crawford, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interiagatores propounded to her during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, aposes and says: I am 53 years old; am the widow of Lewis Crawford and my post office is Lovelace Greene Co., Tenn. I was formerly the widow of William Persinger and was a pensioner as his widow and up to my marriage to Lewis Crawford in 1869 I think it was. My husband Lewis Crawford was also a soldier in Co. F. 3rd Tenn, Mtd Inf. I claim as the widow of said soldier Lewis Crawford. My claim is under the new law. Said soldier died Oct 9th, 1882 and I have not remarried since his death.

Question: Have you ever lived with any man since your last husbands death?

Answer: No sir.

Question: Have you ever had intercourse, sexual intercourse with any many since Oct. 9th 1882, the date of your husbands death?

Answer: No sir. None at all.

Question: Did you have sexual intercourse with M. M. Hensley?

Answer: No sir.

Question: Did you ever with James Banks:

Answer: Not since Mr. Crawford died. I don’t think you ought to ask no such questions. I did a long time ago though. I reckon it was before my marriage to Mr. Crawford. I don’t reckon I had any sexual intercourse with him after I married Mr. Crawford.

Question: Did you ever have sexual intercourse with E.H. Dykes?

Page 29

Answer: If you can prove I have that will do I recon.

Question: What do you say about it?

Answer: I’ve got nothing to say about it. I don’t expect to swear anything about it.

Question: Will you state whether you had intercourse with E.H. Dykes since the death of your husband Lewis Crawford?

Answer: I ain’t going to state or have any thing to do with it. I ain’t going to get any pension any how I know.

Question: Why do you state that your are not going to get any pensions?

Answer: I just know I ain’t.

Question: Did you ever have any sexual intercourse with Henry B. Dykes after the death of your husband Mr. Crawford?

Answer: I done told you I ain’t going to tell you any more about it, nor have anything to do with the pension business.

Question: Have you ever had sexual intercourse with any other men besides E.H. and H.B. Dykes since the death of your last husband?

Answer: No.

Question: I have showed you the statements made by E.H. Dykes. What do you wish to say about that?

Answer: I have nothing to say about it.

Question: Will you state whether it is true or not?

Answer: You can let it go as it is I ain’t going to say anything about it. He gets no decision from me. I don’t want you to examine any witnesses for me. I haven’t any intercourse at all. You can prove anything you wish. I shall have nothing further to do with it. My statement ????.

Anna (her mark) Crawford

Mr. James C. Fulkerson and Alex H. Price certify that it was proven on the 11th day of April 1895 and heard the above claiment Anna Crawford make the following deposition under oath, and that

Page 30

the statement were correctly recorded by the special examiner, and that we heard it read over to her and that she admits that her statements were correctly recorded, but that she refused to sign the deposition

A.H.Price
J.C. Fulkerson

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11th day of Sept 1895, and I certify that the contents were fully made know to deponent before signing.

H.L. Mullinex
Special Examiner

Introduction | Index | Pages 1-15 | Pages 16-30 | Pages 31-45 | Pages 46-62