Civil War Pension Application for Francis Marion McEwen, Shelby, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/shelby/military/civilwar/pensions/fmmcewen.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. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. 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: Ronald D. Bridges ================================================================================ October 1998 Francis Marion McEwen’s Pension for Relief of Confederate Soldiers and Sailors - Shelby Co., AL On the 8th of April, 1895, Francis Marion McEwen applied through the State of Alabama for a pension; relief of Confederate Soldiers and Sailors. On his application it appears that blanks were filled by James S. Leeper, the Pension Examiner of Shelby County, AL. The blanks, which were filled, will be in quotation marks. At the top of the form is printed: SOLDIERS OR SAILORS FOR THE RELIEF OF NEEDY CONFEDEERATE SOLDIERS ANDSAILORS, RESIDENTS OF ALABAMA, WHJO FROM WOUNDS OR OTHER CAUSE, ARE NOW UNABLE TO EARN A LIVELIHOOD BY LABOR, UNDER ACT APPROVED FEBRUARY 13TH, 1891. Personally appeared before me, "Jm. S. Leeper" Judge of Probate in and for said County, "F. M. McEwen", who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that when a "Private" in company "D" of "31" Regiment of "Miss Vol" and while in discharge of his duty on the "5" of "August" 186"2" at "Baton Rouge" in the State of "LA wounded in right shoulder" and in consequence of which loss of limb, wound or wounds, or such sickness or old age, he has been rendered physically incapable of making a livelihood by labor; that he was a resident of Alabama on the 13th of February, 1891, and is a resident at the date of this application; that he is engaged in the business of "farming", that his taxable property consists of "house hold & kitchen furniture, 2 cows, & calves & hogs" and does not exceed five hundred dollars, in value and that his salary and gross income does not amount to five hundred dollars per year. Applicant further states that by reason of sickness, inability, or ignorance of the provisions of the above act, he failed to make his application before the first day of June, 1894. Sworn to and Subscribed before me on this "8" day of "April" 189"5" "Jms S. Leeper" Judge Probate "Shelby" County (The next line had Frank’s signature on a line labeled as Applicant. He signed as F. M. McEwen. It seems to be his signature due to the following reasons. There was not an "x" there which usually signifies the person left his mark because he could not write and the writing of the signature was different than the other hand written material on the form. On 1 Apr 1896, he reapplied again due to the fact the Alabama Legislature amended the old pension act. On his application it is recorded that he was a private in company D of 31st Regiment of Miss; on April 1862 at Shiloh, in the State of Miss he was wounded in the right forearm and right leg, and in Baton Rouge, LA he was wounded in the shoulder twice in the jaw; and he was 65 years old. On 2 Feb 1897, he reapplied again due to the fact the Alabama Legislature once again amended the pension act. In the application, it records that he was a Major in 31st Regiment of Miss Infantry, he was discharged of his duties as such, on the 5th day of Aug 1862 at Baton Rouge, LA; he was wounded in the right arm and right shoulder, and his right jaw bone was shot out; his post office address is Wilsonville; engaged in the business of farming; and his taxable property consists of small acreage of property and $50. On 26 May 1899, he reapplied again to another amendment to the pension. This pension form was lengthy in comparison to the others. The blanks, which were filled, will be in quotation marks. At the top of the form is printed: APPLICATION FOR THE RELIEF OF CONFEDERATE SOLDIER AND SAILORS THE STATE OF ALABAMA, "Shelby" County To the Honorable Board of Pension Examiners for said County: Your petitioner, "Frank M. McEwen, respectfully represents to your honorable board that he is a resident citizen of "Shelby" County, in the State of Alabama, and that he resided in said State on the first day of January in the 1899. That he enlisted in the service of the State, or Confederate States, as a "private" in company "D" in the "31" Regiment on the "2" day of "February" 186"2" at Sarepta, Calhoun Co. in the State of Mississippi (the word Alabama was marked out and Mississippi written above) and he was honorably discharged from such service on the "blank" day "Sept" 186"4", that he did not desert the service of the Confederate States, or of the State of Alabama; That he was wounded at the battle of "Baton Rouge" in the State of "Louisiana"; That he is now unable to make a living by manual labor on account of "wounds received in jaw and shoulder"; That he is at the time of filing this application "48" years of age. And that his postoffice address is "Wilsonville, Shelby" Alabama; That he does not own property either in his own name, nor that of his wife, to the value of four hundred ($400) dollars; that his annual income does not exceed four hundred ($400) dollars; and that he has no children upon whom he can depend for support. Your petitioner files herewith a complete schedule of all the property owned by himself and wife. In consideration of the foregoing facts, your petitioner asks that his name be placed upon the pension rolls, in the class that your honorable board may adjudge him to belong, that he may participate in the division of the fund provided for the relief of Confederate and Alabama soldiers and their widows, by act of the General Assembly approved February 10, 1899. (his signature) "Francis M. McEwen" Applicant. The next part of the application list his personal property in which he writes that he owns no horse, 1 cow and calf valued at $25, of hogs, sheep, and goats he owns 8 head valued at $80, 1 gun valued at $10, household and kitchen furniture valued at $50, and mechanical and farming tools and implements valued at $10. In this reapplication in 1899 Francis had two individuals, one being his brother, George W. McEwen, who signed affidavit of witnesses that they knew Francis served as set forth in the application, and that he did not desert the service, but was honorably discharged therefrom. It appears that the application was filled out by Francis. He has signed his past applications and his signature in this application matches the writing throughout the application. CENSUS OF CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS IN ALABAMA - 1907, SHELBY COUNTY McEWEN, FRANK M. - present P.O. Wilsonville, Ala.; born Apr. 14, 1831 at Gwinnett Co., Ga.; entered service as private on Oct. 10, 1862 at Jackson, Miss., in Co. D 31st Miss. Reg., until close of war. Note: Francis Marion McEwen (b. 14 Apr 1831 in Gwinnett Co., GA & d. 22 Mar 1914 in Wilsonville, Shelby Co., AL) married Lena Olive Ransome Melton (b. 9 Jul 1839 Newton, GA & d. 10 May 1930 in Wilsonville, Shelby Co., AL) on 10 Dec 1855 in GA. They are both buried in Wilsonville Cemetery, Wilsonville, Shelby Co., AL. The above researched by Francis Marion McEwen’s 2nd great-grandnephew, Ronald D. Bridges in 1997.