Pension file McMAHAN, JAMES Boone Co, Arkansas *********************************************************** Submitted by: Mary Lu Nelson Johnson Date: 10 Nov 2003 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** McMAHAN, JAMES; widow Polly Served as Private, Cowen’s Co., Ala. Vols, Florida War. 26 August 1892, Indigent Widow Pension App #334 filed; Cert. 2276, State of Ark. 20 Aug 1892: Affidavit of E. E. Spain & Peter Klepper state they have known Polly McMahan and “we knew her husband in his life time known both for 35 years or thereabouts Know James McMahan claimant’s husband died of Fever 1862 in State of Mississippi”. Known claimant “since 1857 here in Arkansas & know she has lived a widow all time since 1862 & never remarried & we each believe she could not cash all her property for 100$. Living with a poor widowe Daughter is 68 years old & feeble nearly blind.” s/s Peter Klepper, E.E. [his X mark] Sain [sic] Attest: to Mark: W.F. Mildell, L. J. McMahan [both signed] 20 August 1892: Boone Co, AR, Declaration for Widow’s Pension. Polly McMahan aged 68 years born 4 December 1824. Married soldier on or about 27 May 1840 at Jasper, County of Marrion, State of Tennessee by Rev. Samuel Beene, Minister of the Gospel. Soldier, her husband, died on or about 20 July 1862 in the State of Mississippi and the cause of death was Fever. Her post office address is Wilcox in County of Newton, State of Arkansas. Wit: Peter Klepper, L. J. McMahan Polly [her X mark] McMahan 14 Oct 1893: Capt. Cowan’s Co. K, Snodgrass’ Reg’t, N. Ala Mtd Vols, Florida War. Enrolled Oct 26 1837 at Bellefonte [Jackson Co] Ala. Mustered out Apr 12, 1838 at Ft. Mitchell, Ala. 8 February 1893: State of Texas, County of Freestone, W. R. Beene states he knew James McMahan who “came to the house of my Father in the County of Itawamba, Miss. On or about the [blank] Day of June 1862 and was sick at the time he came and on or about the 21st Day of July 1862 I saw him Die and I saw him Buried I at that time was a boy and living with my Father in Itawamba County Mississippi. [Signed] W. R. Beene 20 ?Month 1893: James S. Dickins, Co Clerk of Warren Co, Tenn states all marriage records prior to the year 1851 were destroyed by federal soldiers “during the late war”. 14 January 1893: Marion Co, Tenneasee, Samuel Beene made affidavit on or about 1 Jan 1841 he solumnized marriage of Polly Winn & James McMahan at the bride’s mothers in [can’t read county] TN, and neither were previously married. [Signed] Samuel Beene [Separate sheet indicates Samuel Bean [sic] lived Jasper, Tennessee – mlj] 20 ?January 1893: Rev. Samuel Beene “who made oath in due form of law that on or about the [blank] day of Jan 1841 at the residence of Mrs. Nancy Wynne in the 9th Civil District of Marion County, Tenn he did solemnize the rites of matrimony between Polly Wynn and James McMahan as Justice of the Peace of said County and made due return of said marriage at the time”. [Signed] Samuel Beene 22 February 1893: Boone Co, Ark, L. J. McMahan age 54, P.O. Watkins, Ark, makes affidavit that he is a son-in-law of claimant; known since 1845. Know she was the wife of deceased soldier James McMahan “who as I was informed died about July 1862. received my information by letter which said letter contained lock of hair which was at that time recognized as that of James McMahon decd”, and that she never remarried. [Signed] L. J. McMahan [Same doc] Affidavit of J. D. Wilson states has known claimant for last 35 years, heard about 1862 that he died in Mississippi. [Signed] J. D. Wilson 6 June 1893: “State of Arkansas County of Boone} In claim No 334 Polly McMahan, widow of James McMahan pPr Capt Cowans Co. Ala vols. Claimant in answer ?? all under date June 6 – 93 Say. When she swore that James McMahan deceased & her late husband could not write she did it from the following facts. Saw him make his mark or rather touch the pen when he executed any papers. 2. When a letter was to be written he always got some one to write for him. 3. And when a letter received he had to go to some one & read it for him. 4. He could not sit down & keep his own accounts & I fully believe & know he could not write. As per request under same date I enclose a letter I received from him while he was in Confederate Army dated March 29 – 1862. & would be glad it was sreturned to me as I have kept it as a keep sake. The Fedral troops came to my house I think 1864 took quite a number of my ?diry & papers get hold of my pocket book & took a 20$ bill out of it and 2 or 3$ in silver They left the pocket book I fell sure some comrade wrote the letter for him & sign papers for Bounty & Said warrant This letter has on back Mary McMahan & it is for our girl Mary McMahan James McMahan was a teamster in confederate army & if ever a soldier I do not know it & I am wholly unable to state whether he ever made any other service or not but I believe not. I have no papers other than these but think I would have – if they had not been destroyed or carried away by fedral soldier in 1864 when they came in my house as I have above told. L. J. McMahan [witness] }}} Polly [her X mark] McMahan” [She apparently didn’t get the letter back - mlj] “State of Arkansas Croferd [Crawford] Co “March the 29 day 1862 “Dear Wife I seat my self to inform you that I am Well at this time hoping when thas lines comes to your hand they Will find you and children all well We Are thre Miles from Bunburn on the line rod the Army is all gone [Bus marked through] But us and tWe are _ _ Moving on Slowly Down the river to I am still _ _ living _ _ ti_ _ I was glad to hear from you all one time more I wold like to come to come home and se you all but I don’t now when I will get the chanse to come I got close _ _ nuff to hear the cannon balls whistle and then I had to retreat back back with the wagons You told me to send word if I wanted aney cloes you neither send no more I have got a nuff to last me till I come home so must _ come to a close so Write Every chase you can get so write. I ?the man you has B?ur_ _ on till Death so faire well James McMahan and familey [same 6/6/93 doc] L. J. McMahan “a son in law by marriage of recent date but if connection by blood have no knowledge of it”. Knew deceased at least 45 years & am aged 55 years, P.O. Watkins, Boone co, Ark. “I know my Father kept or made out Family Record for James McMahan deced & I know from personal obevation that deced sollier could not wirte. “1857. James McMahan deced soll some notes & signed them by mark & his name written by other parties…I had been sent by my father to see James McMahan deced & went with him after the money & saw him make his mark 1857. I feel well warreneted in saying that if the Bounty Land Warrant shows James McMahan deced wrote his name it is wrong & only way to account for it is he failed to make his mark”. [Signed] L. J. McMahan 23 Oct 1893: Polly McMahan, widow James McMahan 2nd Battallion Ala Vols Florida war states at time of marriage she was 16 years of age and deceased soldier was 21 years of age; that neither was previously married. Polly [her X mark] McMahan Attest: Rachel Shaddox, Julia Cordell [both signed] 4 September 1897, Knoxville, Tenn, U. S. Pension Agency to Commissioner of Pensions: Polly McMahan, widow of James, cert no. 22376 who was last paid at $8 to 4 February 1897 has been dropped because of death.