CIVIL WAR PENSION APP. - MARY ISABELLE, WIDOW OF JOHN N. BYRD, JACKSON CO. FL File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joan Renfrow ******************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or publication by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ******************************************************************************** CONTRIBUTOR'S NOTE: I have no relationship to anyone mentioned in the below file ***************************** LETTER H.A. Bowles Clerk of the Circuit Court Jackson County Marianna, Florida July 25th, 1935 State Board of Pensions, Tallahassee, Florida Gentlemen: Answering yours of July 16th, regarding Mrs. Mary Isabelle Byrd of Marion County, widow of John N. Byrd, deceased, wish to advise that I have made diligent inquiry as to any record of the Jackson County Home Guard but without success. Mrs. Sallie Baker, one of the oldest residents of Marianna remembers Mr. Byrd and that he visited in their home several times and that he was a young man eligible for the Jackson County Home Guards but could not be certain that he was actually a member. I am sorry that I cannot furnish more information and hope that if Mrs. Byrd is entitled to a pension, the Board will continue its efforts to establish the necessary requirements. Yours very truly, H.A. Bowles, Clerk ***************************** LETTER (No Dates) Mrs. Mary Isabelle Byrd Ocala Florida Dear Mrs. Byrd: I wish to advise that House Bill #610, Chapter 17145, Act of 1935, with reference to pension was considered by the Pension Board last Wednesday however, your name has not been placed on the pension roll pending proof of your husband's war service. I have written to Hon. H.A. Bowles, Clerk Circuit Court, Jackson County, in an effort to locate proof of Mr. Byrd's service if possible. With best wishes, I am, Respectfully (not signed) Secretary, Pension Board ***************************** LETTER State of Florida County of Marion Before me, the undersigned authority, this day personally appeared Mary Isabelle Byrd, aged 86 years, who, after being by me first duly sworn, on oath deposes and says: That this affiant was born in Gadsden County, State of Florida, in the year 1849, and has continuously resided in the State of Florida ever since her birth. That on the sixth day of December, 1871, this affiant was married to John N. Byrd, now deceased, the marriage taking place in the City of Quincy, County of Gadsden, State of Florida. That this affiant lived with the said John N. Byrd as his until death. That John N. Byrd became a member of a company of the Home Guards in Marianna, Jackson County, Florida, during the Civil War, and was serving as a Home Guard in Marianna at the time of the end of the War. That this affiant is unable to locate any member of the company of the Home Guards in which her said husband served, and verily believes that all the members of said company are now dead. That affiant now resides at 703 Orange Street, Ocala, Marion County, Florida. Dated at Ocala, Florida, this 7th day of June 1935. (signed) Mrs. Mary Isabel Byrd Witnesses: W.R. Atkinson and L.R. Bracken Sworn to and subscribed, before me, this 7th day of June, 1935 L. R. Bracken, Notary Public ***************************** LETTER State of Florida House of Representatives Tallahassee Lynne, Fla., June 6, 1935 To Whom it may concern: This is to certify that I have know Mary Isabelle Byrd for more than thirty (30) years. I first knew her in Suwannee County, later in Alachua County and she has been a resident of Ocala, Marion County, Fla. for the past ten years. Very respectfully, John R. Rogers Representative from Marion County ***************************** POSTAL TELEGRAPH Capitol, Tallahassee PDI Washington DC May 13, 1931 Ernest Amos Comptroller Tallahassee Fla Retel today John A. Byrd not found John N. Byrd Enlisted November one eighteen sixty three Greenwood Florida Private Company A Fifth Battalion Florida Cavalry CSA captured November thirty sixty four Saint Andrews Bay Florida paroled May ten sixty five New Orleans Bridges the Adjutant General ***************************** An Act granting a Pension to Mrs. Mary Isabelle Byrd, of Ocala, Marion County, Florida, Widow of John N. Byrd, a deceased Confederate Veteran. Whereas, Mrs. Mary Isabelle Byrd, aged 86 years, is the surviving Widow of John N. Byrd, deceased, who enlisted as a member of a company known as the Home Guards in Jackson County, State of Florida, and served as a home Guard during the last years of the Civil War, and Whereas, all other members of the said Home Guards with whom said John N. Byrd served as aforesaid are now dead, and the said Mr. Mary Isabelle Byrd is therefore unable to produce any evidence of the said John N. Byrd as a Home Guard as aforesaid, save and except her won affidavit; and Whereas, the services of the members of said Home Guards were military and contributed as substantially to the protection of lives, home and other property in the South as did the services of the regularly enlisted soldiers, and Whereas, the said Mrs. Mary Isabelle Byrd is now aged and infirm, and is legally entitled to a pension from the State of Florida, but unable to supply legal proof of her deceased husband's service by two comrades in the service for which reason the Pension Department has failed to approve her application; Therefore, BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA: Section.1. That the State Board of Pensions be and it is hereby directed to place the name of Mrs. Mary Isabelle Byrd of Ocala, Marion County, Florida , upon the Pension Roll of the State of Florida, to be paid in the same manner and at the same rate as other pensioners of the State are paid. Section 1-A. Provided that nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit the right of the State Pension Board under the General Law of 1923 to remove the name of the pensioner from the Pension Roll if after investigation such Board shall find that the alleged soldier upon whose service the pension is based did not render service during the war between the States such as would entitle him to receive a pension or that he deserted the service. Section 2. All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this act are: Chapter 9026 (No. 88) An Act requiring the State Pension Board to investigate all Claims for Pension heretofore or hereafter granted under Special Acts of the Legislature, and to drop from such Pension Roll any Special Pensioner whom it is found deserted the Confederate Army or Navy or who did not render any service to the Confederate States as Soldier or Sailor. Approved June 4, 1923 ***************************** PENSIONER NO. 10404 Mrs. Mary Isbelle Byrd % Walter Adkinson, King St., Marion County, Ocala, Fla. Application No. 24094 Widow of John N. Bird, Florida Home Guard of Jackson County Special Act of the Legislature Chapter 17145 - Approved by the Pension Board on Aug. 7, 1935, with pay from May 28th, the date the Act became a law. Roumelle Bowen Secretary, State Board of Pensions