Widow's Pension for Susan Tharp, Widow of Presley Tharp, Colbert, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/colbert/military/civilwar/pensions/ptharp.txt ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Linda Green ================================================================================= March 1999 Widow's Pension Record For Susan Tharp Widow of Presley Tharp Certificate No. 564,518 Colbert Co. AL General Affidavit State of Alabama, County of Colbert, ss: In the matter of the application for pension of Susan Tharp widow of Pressley Tharp Decd, late a private Company G, 3rd Michigan Cavalry on this 4 day of June 1901 personally appeared before me, an acting justice of the peace in and for said County, duly authorized to administer oaths, Susan Tharp aged 58 years, a resident of near Littleville in the County of Colbert and State of Alabama whose Post Office address is Littleville Colbert Co. Ala. Well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to the aforesaid case as follows: Affiant Says that the descriptive list of William Davis who became her first husband was to the best of her recollection. He was of rather slender build, dark eyes and hair and rather dark complexion and when in bad health was very pale and sallow. His occupation while in Kentucky was farming, and in Illinois was in milling both saw and grist mills, when we refugeed quite a number sent and we was accompanied by a number of soldiers our brother among them and they adrized us to settle some 12-15 miles from Cairo Ills in KY. I have become acquainted with Wm. Davis. About Feby or Mar 1864 quite a number removed to Illinois where Wm. Davis or my self was married. He was an_____conscript of the confederate army and making his escape contracted chronic diarhoea and hemorhage of the lungs on account of my poor health I was the housekeeper and seamstress for our family both in KY and Ills. We done better in Ills than in KY, in the summer and fall of 1865 Mr. Davis health was bad, we lost and sister by smallpox and our infant child in Oct about the 15 when Wm Davis left us to go to KY where we formerly resided to try to collect miney due us. We never saw him afterward from the best information we could obtain we believe that he died at Cairo Illinois about October 26,1865. Affiant further says that there was the kindest of feeling by all of the members of their family and Wm. Davis and had been all the time of their acquaintance. Robert Woodlands Susan (her mark) Tharp J. W. Kirkland General Affidavit State of Alabama County of Colbert, ss: In the matter of Mrs. Susan Tharp for Pension as widow of Pressley Tharp late 3 Mich Cav on this 28 day of May 1892 personally appeared before me an acting justice in and for the aforesaid county duly authorized to administer oaths, James Osborn aged 61 years a resident of Littleville in the county of Colbert and state of Alabama well known to be to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to the aforesaid case as follows: also John S. Gray aged 50 years resident also of Littleville Colbert County Ala., The first has known Pressley Tharp for about thirty three years last ____. Saw the late soldier in the service he called as the concerned to visit his brother George Osborn of the same Company G, 3rd Mich Cav vols. Know he done no other service neither the army nor the navy. The second knowed Pressley Tharp all his life and he was absent during war and was said to be in the union army Co. G,3 Mich cav US. He ws not in the military or naval service at any other time as he was not absent from our neighborhood. Post office address is Littleville, Colbert co. Ala and they further declare they have no interest in said case and are not concerned in its prosecution Robert Woodland N. Osborn James Osborn John S. Gray General Affidavit State of Alabama County of Colbert In the matter of the Pension for Mrs. Susan Tharp late the wife and now the widow of Pressley Tharp on this 11 day of July 1892 personally appeared before me Probate Judge in and for the aforesaid county duly authorized to administer oaths, Charles M. Whitlock aged 42 resident of Littleville in the County of Colbert and State of Alabama well known to be to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows: have known Pressly Tharp the late soldier all my life and his widow now Susan Tharp since 1866. The was married about January 170 I was informed to believe Pressley Tharp died in January 1892 and his widow has not remarried since. Affiant further says that he is now and has been the county ____ for the forty four years. The whole aforesamart of ____ given in under oath as required by law is as allows real to personal ______amounts to tax on real estate 42.80, tax on personal property $1.19 and special tax 28 cents total tax $4.27. Mrs Susan Tharp occupation is life is her household work when she is able to do it on account of general bad health and assisting her daughter to cultivate and gather their crops and care for their little stock Post office address is Littleville Colbert Co. Ala he further declares that he as no interest in said case and is not concerned with its prosecution. Robert Woodland C, M. Whitlock General Affidavit State of Alabama County of Colbert, ss: In the matter of widow of Pressley Tharp Co. G 3 Michigan Vols Cav. On this 28th date of May 1900 personally appeared before me John G. Whitlock in and for the aforesaid county, duly authorized to administer oaths John Andrews aged 60 years, a resident of Tuscumbia in the county of Colbert, and State of Alabama whose post office address is Tuscumbia well known to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows: late a private Co. G 4 Arkansas Cavalry then discharged ad Duralls Bluff Ark 22 May 1865, Pensioned under Pension certificate 514,811 at $24 per month, affiant says that he knew William Davis first in Phillips County Arkansas about 1861. I made his acquaintance special in our union meetings which was generally secret. This continued until my enlistment in December 1863. I ____met him at Cairo Ills on my way north after my discharge from the army and in a visit to my widowed brother so he resided in Pulaski Ill in the fall of 1865. On my arrival at Cairo Ills, the town was crowded with troops awaiting transportation. I applied to the Provost Marshall for a place on a train to my destination while getting my assignment from the Provost Marshall at the depot, my name was called in a feeble voice which I responded when I recognized my old acquaintance William Davis. He was lying on a settee called me by name and gave me his hand but died while I was yet in the depot. The Provost Marshall said he should be buried. Affiant further declares that he has no interest in said case and is not concerned with its prosecution. E. G. Kirkland John W. Kirkland John W. (his mark) Andrews General Affidavit State of Alabama County of Colbert, ss: in the matter of Pension for Susan widow of Pressley Tharp decd late private Co. C, 3 Mich Cav on this 28th day of April 1898 personally appeared before me an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the aforesaid county duly authorized to administer oaths, John S. Gray aged 56 a resident of Franklin County and State of Alabama whose post office is Russellville Franklin Co. or Littleville Colbert co. Ala well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows: knew the both Pressley Tharp decd all my life. Pressley Tharp done no military or naval service in the Federal of Confederate service except in the 3 Mich Cavy vols and was present at Marriage of Pressley Tharp and Susan Davis and they lived together as man and wife until his death. They had several children born to them but none survived infancy but one a daughter now about 23 years of age. The tax receipts of the late Pressley Tharp exhibited to me ___know them to be genuine as I own lands adjoining them and am well acquainted with the signatures of the tax collecters. Pressley Tharp had not been previously married before his marriage with Mrs. Susan Davis and they had not been divorced. Pressley Tharp owned at his death about 160 acre of land.Much of the land is very ______and unfit for cultivation, much ____is old worn out lands thrown out of cultivation long since grown up to _____sprouts bearing but little land worth cultivating after paying the taxes the farm is not making her a living as I knowd as I do much of her ______and has not made her a support since she is left a widow and she has no person legally bound to support her and further declare that I have no interest in said case and am not concerned with its prosecution. John S. Gray General Affidavit State of Alabama County of Colbert In the matter of the claim for widows pension of Susan Tharp widow of Pressley Tharp private Co. G 3 Mich Vol Cav Personally came before me an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county and state aforesaid William S. Gray of the county of Franklin state of Alabama a person of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim, as follows: his age is about eighty one years (81 yrs) Post office Waco Franklin Co Ala. Was acquainted with the late soldier Pressley Tharp from early infancy was acquainted with the marriage that he married from about the close of the war of the Great Rebellion. She was said to be a widow whose first husband was said to have died during the war She was better known by her maiden name as Susan Prentise. I was then residing near the present residence of Mrs. Susan Tharp and near the present post office of Littleville Colbert co. Ala. It was then all Franklin Co. Ala and was an acting Justice of the Peace for that County and State where about 1 January 1870 I was called on to perform the marriage ceremony by Mr. Pressley Tharp and this widow her name I have forgotten. They was married at my residence and due return was made of the same to the Probate Judge of the county by me. These record were destroyed by fire by the burning of the court house of our county as I am informed and believe. Mr. Pressley Tharp and his wife Mrs. Susan Tharp continued to live together as husband and wife until his death several years ago and she is yet his widow ____ and Mrs Tharp had a family of several children but all died during infancty but one child a daughter now about twenty one years of age. _____been acquainted with the farm lands upon Mrs Susan Tharp records for about fifty years Horred cultivated it for several years before the war of the Great Rebellion about 1856-7-8 it was always their land and much of this land is now nor worth cultivating and Further declares that he has no interest in said claim, and is not concerned with its prosecution. William S. Gray 21 April 1898 Richard Hyde Justice of the peace General Affidavit State of Alabama County of Colbert, ss: In the mater of pension claim of Mrs. Susan Tharp No. 541,363 widow of Pressley Tharp Co. G 3 Mich Cav Vols. On this 11 day of June 1892 personally appeared before me an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the aforesaid County duly authorized to administer oaths Susan Tharp aged 45 years, a resident of near Littleville in the county of Colbert and state of Alabama well known to be to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who , being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows: Claimant says that she has no claim but her claim for pension claim no. 541,363. Claimant further says that so far as she is informed and believes that her late husband Pressley Tharp done no service in either the army or navy of the U.S. only in Co. G 3rd Mich cav vols. Claimant presents the family Bible and in their family record is the following record which she says is true-Pressley Tharp departed this life January 25,1892 also from the same family record, Pressley Tharp and Susan Davis was Married January 1, 1870. Mrs. Susan Tharp says that she was a widow. Her first husband William Davis died while they was refugees to the state of Illinois in 1865 (about January) Post office address is Littleville Colbert co. Alabama Robert Wardlaw W. H. Vandiver Susan Tharp Act of June 27, 1890 Declaration for Widow's Pension To be executed before a court of Record or some other officer thereof having custody of its seal, a Notary Public or Justice of the Peace whose official signature shall be verified by his official seal, and in case he has not, his signature and official character shall be certified by a Clerk of a Court of Record, or a City or County Clerk State of Alabama, County of Colbert, ss: On this 8th day of February one thousand eight hundred and ninety two personally appeared before me, John M. Whitlock an acting Justice of the Peace within and for the county and State aforesaid Susan Tharp aged about 46 years a resident of Colbert county, Alabama, State, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Presley Tharp who enlisted under the name of Presley Tharp at Franklin Co Ala about 30 day of July 1862 in Co. G 3rd Regiment of Michigan Cavalry vols as private Capt. George W. Lawrence was ______discharged 2nd June 1865 and served at least ninety days in the late War of the Rebellion in the service of the United States, who was Honorably Discharged at baton Rouge LA and died January 25, 1892. That she was married under the name of Susan Prentiss Davis to said Pressley Tharp on the 1- day of January 1870 by William S. Gray, J.P. at his residence in Colbert County and there being no legal barrier to said marriage. Claimants former husband died. Mrs. Susan Prenstiss was widowed from her husband deceased. That she has not remarried since the death of said Presley Tharp. That she is without other means of support than her daily labor. The names and dates of birth of all the children now living under sixteen years of age of the soldier are as follows: has but one child living is more than 16 years of age. That she makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of the Act of June 27, 1890 She hereby appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation B.M. Potter of Washington DC her true and lawful attorney to prosecute her claim, the fee to be Ten Dollars as prescribed by law. That her post office address is Littleville Colbert county State of Alabama Susan Tharp Robert Wardlaw H.M. Tharp Military Service Name of Soldier: Presley Thorp Middle Div. Mic Ex'r Bureau of Pensions Mch 26, 1892 No. 541,363 Widow It is alleged that the above named man enlisted July 30, 1862 and served as a private in Co. G, 3" reg't Mich. Cav and was discharged at Baton Rouge LA June 2, 1865 Th War Department will please furnish an official statement in this case, showing date of enrollment and date and mode of termination of service Very Respectfully Green B. Raum Commissioner The Officer in Charge of the Record and Pension Division War Department War Department Record and Pension Division Mar 30, 1892 Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions The rolls show that Presley Tharp mentioned in the preceding indorsement, was enrolled July 30, 1862 and m (mustered) o (out) with __ June 2, 1865 as Private By authority of the Secretary of War F. C. A__isworth Surgeon US Army per _______ Wid, Sec., Mid Division Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions Washington DC July 7, 1897 Respectfully referred to the Chief of the Record and Pension Office, War Department requesting a fully military and medical history of the soldier. Please examine all records likely to afford any information as to diseases, wounds, or injuries incurred by him while in the service. No other report on file. Claim No. 541,363, Wid. OR. Name Presley Tharp Co. G, 3"Reg't Mich. Vol. Cav H. _____. Evans Commissioner Record and Pension Office War Department Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions P. Thorp Co. G, 3 Reg't Mich Cav was enrolled July 30, 1862 and MO June 2, 1865 with Detachment also born as Presley Tharp From enlistment 1862 to MO 1864 he held rank of pvt and during that period the rolls shown him present except as follows: Feb 29 __not on file. The medical records show him as treated as follows: as Prestly Thorp Pvt co. G 3 Mich Cav Feb 3 and 9 to 19 1863 Febris Hyphoides ret't to duty. Nothing additional found. By authority of the Secretary of War F. C. A___worth Colonel U.S. Army Chief of office of Pensions Washington DC July 9, 1897 Pensioner Dropped Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions May 25, 1920 Certificate No. 564,518 Class Act of April 19, 1908 Pensioner Susan Tharp Soldier Presley The Commissioner of Pensions: Sir: I have the honor to report that the name of the above described pensioner who was last paid $25 to February 4 1920 has this day been dropped from the roll because of deaht Mch 1, 1920 Very respectfully, Normal Wahl Chief Finance Division Feb 4, 1920 May 19, 1920 To the Chief, Finance division You are hereby notified that check # 6547429 for $75 dollars dated May 4, 1920 in favor of Susan Tharp post office Tuscumbia Certificate # 564518 Act April spring Valley Section 5 has been returned to this office by the post master with the information that the pensioner died and said check has this day been cancelled. Very respectfully Guy O. Taylor Disbursing Clerk NOTE: PRESLEY THARP WAS A BROTHER TO MY ROBERT THARP who married SARAH ANN PRENTICE IN LAUDERDALE CO before the WAR OF THE REBELLION. Robert Tharp served a short time in the Confederate army and was paroled and did not rejoin another unit.