John Stafford
Born: 1829 in Carroll County, TN.
Died: April 12, 1864 at Ft. Pillow, Tennessee
Buried: unknown
Married: Martha J. Cox, June 19, 1850 in Carroll County, TN.

John resided in the 16th Civil District, Weakley County, TN. on the 1860 census.  John enlisted in Company C, 13th U.S. Cavalry 12-13-1863 at Union City, TN. and was mustered in 1-20-1864 at Columbus, Kentucky.  On a 2-29-1864 muster roll, he was listed "present, enlistment bounty due".  John died at the battle of Fort Pillow, Tennessee 4-12-1864 and Martha received a widow's pension of $8.00 per month commencing 2-04-1871 and $2.00 for each child until they reached the age of 16.  The pension was increased to $12.00 per month commencing 3-19-1886.

William Pinkney Stafford
Born: 1837 in Tennessee
Died: May 21, 1864, Andersonville Prison, Andersonville, Georgia
Buried: Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, Georgia
Married: Lucinda Robertson, place & date unknown

William enlisted in Company C, 13th U.S. Cavalry 12-13-1863 at Union City, TN. and was mustered in 1-20-1864 at Columbus, Kentucky.  On a 2-29-1864 muster roll, he was listed "present, enlistment bounty due".  He was captured at Fort Pillow, TN. 4-12-1864 and sent to prison at Andersonville, Georgia.  He died just over a month later (5-21-1864) in prison.  The cause of death is reported as Rubeola and he is buried at the military cemetery at Andersonville prison.  Lucinda apparently did not file for a widow's pension.  Her whereabouts after William died are not known.

James Nathan Stafford
Born: 1843 in Tennessee
Died: August 26, 1895, Weakley County, TN.
Buried: unknown, believed to be Pilgrim's Rest.
Married: Mary Lucinda Catherine Ray, September 06, 1862 in Weakley County, TN.

1890 Schedule of Union Veterans, and Widows of Union Veterans, of the Civil War:
Civil District 16
Name of Soldier and or Widow:  James N. Stafford, U. S. Soldier
Rank: 
Company:
Regiment or Vessel: 
Enlistment Date/Date of Discharge: 
Length of Service: 
P.O. Address: Greenfield
Disability Incurred/Remarks: 

James enlisted in Company C, 13th U.S. Cavalry 12-13-1863 at Union City, Tennessee and was mustered in 1-20-1864 at Columbus, Kentucky.  On a 2-29-1864 muster roll, he was listed "deserted 1-20-1864, enlistment bounty due".  His military service record states "not heard from since the massacre at Fort Pillow, April 12, 1864".  He was discharged in 1865.  Mary applied for a widow's pension and stated that he told her that he was on his way to Richmond, Virginia when General Robert E. Lee surrendered thus ending the war.  There was no record of him at the Andersonville, Georgia prison where his brother was taken after Fort Pillow.  James was the only one of William's 3 sons who fought in the Civil War to return home.  There was no record in the file of Mary receiving a pension, probably because she could not prove how he was discharged.

James died in 1895 near Peck (a former community near Christmasville).  He and Mary are believed to be buried at Pilgrims Rest Cumberland Presbyterian Church cemetery.

Submitted by Phil Stafford