Sumter County FlArchives Military Records.....Griffin, Caleb February 15, 1891 Indian - Pension Special Examination - Deposition A ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Teresa McGowin tmcgowin@earthlink.net July 4, 2007, 5:53 pm Deposition A Note: This is a continuance of the SPECIAL EXAMINATION of CALEB GRIFFIN DEPOSITION A Case of Caleb Griffin, No. 23,836 On this 15th day of February, 1891, at Center Hill, County of Sumpter State of Fla, before me, George T. Baxter, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Caleb Griffin, who being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says. My name is Caleb Griffin, age 74 years, occupation, farmer, and my p.o. address Center Hill, Sumpter Co. Fla. I live eight (8) miles southeast of this place. I am the identical Caleb Griffin who served in the Florida Indian War of 1836 and 1837. I served first in Capt. Daniel Bell's company then in Alexander Martin's, then in R. D. Bradley's, then in Wm. D. Reed's, and then my last service was in Capt. Smith's company for about 20 days. The troops were called Florida Volunteers and we served in the Seminole Indian War of 1836 and 1837. Q. For what do you claim pension? A. For Asthma contracted in the service while stationed on the Suwannee River, Fla. in the fall of 1836. I was sick for nine (9) wks, with the Typhoid fever, and then contracted the Asthma and was suffering with the disease when I was mustered out of the service, and have continued to suffer with it to the present time. Q. By whom do you expect to prove that you contracted and suffered with asthma as stated above? A. I don't know of any one at this late day who can testify to said facts. I have proven that I had asthma in the service by Wm. Griffin my brother, and by Wm. L. Mobley, both of whom Page 9, Deposition A Page 10 served in the war, but who are now dead. Q. In what company did Wm. L. Mobley serve? A. He served in Capt. Bell's Company, Capt. Martin's, Capt. Smith's, and I thought he served in Capt. Reed's company also, but I was informed from Washington that his name was not borne on the rolls of Capt. Reed's Company. But he was in the service and with me all through the war and cared for me when I was sick. Q. Who is now living that served in the war with you? A. I don't know of any one except George E. Mills whose post office is Lacooche, Pasco Co Fla. Old Asa Gaskins was living at Auburndale, Polk Co. Fla but he was paralyzed and had lost his mind and he could be of no service to my claim. He could not remember me. James L. Anderson, living about nine miles of Mascott City, Lake Co. Fla was in the war, not in my company however, but we camped together several times when we were out scouting and he knows that I have been a great sufferer from asthma. I think he served in Capt. Smith's Company. Q. Does he know that you had asthma in the service? A. He don't know. I can't say whether he served with our detachment after I was afflicted with asthma or not. He don't recollect it in the service. Q. By whom do you expect to prove your condition from 1836 to the present time? A. I can't find any body who knew me enough to testity for me before about 1855. From 1855 Caleb Griffin (Signature) Deponent Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15 day of Febraury 1891, and I certify that the contents were fully made know to deponent before signing. George T. Baxter (Signature) Special Examiner DEPOSITION CASE OF CALEB GRIFFIN, NO. 23836 to the present time I can from my condition by the following named persons: Granville Beville, near Centre Hill, Sumpter Co. Fla. William M. Slone near Mascott City, Lake Co. Fla. James L. Anderson, near Mascott City, Lake Co. Fla. who have already testified for my claim. Q. Can you give me the name of any physicians who ever treated your for asthma? A. Dr. Keith treated me in the service, and since the service I have tried first one doctor and then another, and now they are all dead. I am now using Dr. Warners Asthma cure, a patent medicine. Q. Where have you resided from 1836 to the present time? A. From 1836 to 1854 I lived in Ware Co. & Echols Co. Ga. I can't remember my post office in those counties. In Sumpter Co. I have always lived just around this portion of the COunty. It think it was about eight years that I lived in Echols County or until 1844, and I got my mail at Irwinsville, the county seat, but resided 18 miles southeast from there in what is now Echols Co. From 1844 to 1854 I lived in Ware Co. on the Okefenokee Swamp and got my mail at Centreville, Camden Co. Ga. Q. Is there any person now living in Echols County Page 11, Deposition A Page 12 or in Ware County Ga. who remembers that you had asthma when you were discharged in 1836 and so suffered from 1836 to 1854? A. There were plenty of people living there but I don't know any thing about them now. John Carver, Jesse Carver, Jim Carver, Tom Hillyer & Jim Fuller of Ware County all knew I had asthma. Reuben Marsh, James Marsh, John Marsh, Neely Tison, and Wm. Tison of Echols Co. all knew I had asthma. All the above named people are now dead and I can't give you the name of a single person now living. Q. How long was your service when you contracted the asthma? A. Four months. Q. And now you have no proof of your condition from 1836 to 1855, a period of 19 years? A. No sir I cant furnish any proof whatever for those 19 years. Q. Do George E. Mills, James L. Anderson, Granville Beville, and Wm. M. Slone know anything about your condition from 1836 to 1854, while you were living up in Georgia, and they all were living in this State? A. No Sir. I don't think they do. Q. Were you loyal to the U.S. during the civil war, and where did you live? A. I lived from 1860 to 1866 in this county Caleb Griffin (Signature) Deponent Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15 day of Febraury 1891, and I certify that the contents were fully made know to deponent before signing. George T. Baxter (Signature) Special Examiner DEPOSITION CASE OF CALEB GRIFFIN, NO. 23836 just where I now live and I did not aid nor abett the rebellion. I held no office, neither did I vote for secession. Q. By whom do you expect to prove that you were loyal to the U.S. from 1861 - 1865? A. By Granville Beville, near Centre Hill Sumpter Co. Fla. By Wm. M. Slone near Mascotte City, Lake Co. Fla. By James L. Anderson near Mascotte City, Lake Co. Fla. By George E. Mills near Lachooche, Pasco Co. Fla. Q. How is it that you were so badly disabled you say, and then you waited over 50 years before making an application for pension A. I never knew that I could apply for pension before about the time I made my application; as soon as I found it out I made my appliation. Q. How is it that you could be so badly disabled by a 4 month service in this healthful climate, and then live for 55 years thereafter, and be a fairly able-bodied man at 74 years of age? A. Well I have suffered with the disease a great deal, off and on, and for 25 or 30 years I have not been able to do more than half a day's work and during the last 4 years I have been completely disabled. Page 13, Deposition A Page 14 I have understood all your questions, and my answers are correctly recorded in this Deposition. Also I understand my rights and privileges in the examination of claim, but I do not care to availe myself of them. Caleb Griffin (Signature) Deponent Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15 day of Febraury 1891, and I certify that the contents were fully made knowM to deponent before signing. George T. Baxter (Signature) Special Examiner Additional Comments: There are additional depositions - Deposition B is testimony given by George E. Mills of Lacoochee in Pasco County. Deposition C is testimony given by Granville Beville. Deposition D is a form Caleb signed stating he understood his rights and regarding a contract he had signed with Tucker & Evans, Washington D.C. to represent him in a prosecution of his claim. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/sumter/military/indian/pensions/griffin41gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/flfiles/ File size: 8.6 Kb