CHATHAM COUNTY, GA - CIVIL WAR PENSION Thomas L. Hernandez Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Candace Gravelle http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00023.html#0005680 Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Thomas L. Hernandez served in the 1st Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Olmstead's) Confederate Army (organized in Chatham Co., GA). Thomas L. Hernandez also served in the 63rd GA Volunteer Infantry Regt. Co. D and B, and the Confederate Navy as a pilot of the ship "Ram Atlanta". This ship was involved in the sinking of the U.S.S. Monitor, as noted in the following pension file of Thomas L. Hernandez: Transcription of Civil War Pension File of Thomas L. Hernandez Feb 18, 1897 Questions for Applicant State of Georgia, Chatham County Thomas L. Hernandez of said State and County desiring to avail himself of the Pension Act approved Dec 15, 1894, hereby submits his proofs and after being duly sworn, true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows: 1. What is your name and where do you reside? My name is Thomas L. Hernandez. I reside in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. 2. Where did you reside Jan 1, 1894 and how long have you been a resident of this State? On 1st Jan'y 1894 I resided in Savannah; have lived in this State over 70 years. 3. When and where were you born? I was born in Fernandina, FLA about 75 years ago. 4. When and where and in what company regiment did you enlist or serve? In 1862, I enlisted in the Phoenix Riflemen; Col. Geo. A. Gordon at Savannah, Co. B, Capt. James Buckner. 5. How long did you remain in such company and regiment? I remained in the Phoenix Regiment about two years when at the request of Commodore Tattnall, I was transferred to the Ram ? Atlanta. 6. For how long a period did you discharge regular military duty? About three years. 7. Where, when and under what circumstances were you discharged from service? I was wounded in battle on the Ram ? Atlanta after being on her about six months and shortly after was taken prisoner the United States when the Monitor was sunk. 8. What is your present occupation? I have not any occupation because I am blind. 9. How much can you earn gross per annum by your own exertions or labor? I cannot earn anything. 10. What has been your occupation since 1865? A pilot in Savannah Harbor until I became blind 2 years ago. 11. Upon which of the following groups do you base your application for pension, viz; first age and poverty, second infirmity and poverty or third blindness and poverty? Blindness and poverty. 12. How long have you been in such condition that you could not earn your support? I am totally blind and have been for over two years. I became blind while engaged in my employment as a Pilot in Savannah Harbor. 13. What property, effects or income do you possess and its gross value? I do not own any property and have not any income except occasional voluntary donations. 14. What property, effects or income did you possess in 1894, 1895 and 1896 and what disposition if any did you make of same? I have been blind for over three years and have not possessed any property during that time or had any income except occasional voluntary donations. 15. In what County did you reside during those years and what property did you then return for taxation? Chatham County, GA. I did not make any tax return because don't own any property. 16. How were you supported during the years 1895 and 1896? By voluntary contributions. 17. How much did your support cost for each of those years and what portion did you contribute thereto by your own labor or income? I do not know how much my support cost during those years. I know it was very little. I could not earn anything being blind. 18. What was your employment during 1895 and 1896? What pay did you receive each year. Blank. 19. Have you a family, if so who composes such family? Give their means of support. Have they a homestead? My family consists of my wife and myself. We have not any means of support except voluntary contributions. We do not own any homestead. 20. Are you receiving any pension, if so, what amount and for what disability? I am not in receipt of any pension. Thos. L. Hernandez Sworn to and subscribed before me this 18th day of February 1897. Hampton L. Ferrill, Ordinary, Chatham County. February 18, 1897 Questions for Witness State of Georgia, Chatham County Lewis Wiggins, of said State and County, having been presented as a witness in support of the application of Thomas L. Hernandez for pension under the Act approved Dec 15, 1894, and after being duly sworn true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows: 1. What is your name and where do you reside? Lewis Wiggins. I reside in Savannah, Georgia. 2. Are you acquainted with Thomas L. Hernandez the applicant, if so how long have you known him? I have known him since 1845. 3. Where does he reside and how long has he been a resident of this State? He has been a resident of Savannah, GA during my acquaintance with him. 4. Do you know of his having served in the Confederate army or the Georgia Militia ? How do you know this? I know he served in the Confederate Army, he being in the Phoenix Riflemen at the time I was in the Republican Guard. 5. When, where and in what company and regiment did he enlist? He enlisted in 1861 in Savannah, GA in the Phoenix Regiment, Company B. 6. Wwere you a member of the same Company and Regiment? I was not. 7. How long did he perform regular military duty, and what do you know of his services as a Confederate Soldier and the time and circumstance of his discharge from the service? I know he performed regulary military duty in thePhoenix Riflemen until he was transferred to the Confederate Navy because his services were valuable in the Navy bcause he was a Pilot. 8. What property, effects or income has the applicant. Give your means of knowledge. He has not any property or income that I knew about. I know that for several years past he has been supported by contributions. 9. What property, effects or income did applicant possess in 1895 and 1896 and what disposition if any did he make of same? I do not believe that he had any property, effects or income during the time mentioned. 10. What is the applicant's occupation and physical condition? The applicant has not any occupation by being blind. His physical condition is as good as can be expected under the circumstances. 11. Is the applicant unable to support himself by labor of any sort, if so why? He is unable to support himself because he is blind. 12. How was he supported during the years 1895 and 1896? By contributions from friends. 13. What portion of his support for these two years was derived from his own income or labor? Not any. 14. Give a full statement of the applicant's physical conditon that entitled him to a pension under the Act of Dec 15, 1894. He is totally blind. Lewis Wiggins, Witness February 18, 1897 Affadavit of Physician State of Georgia, Chatham County Personally came before me, A.B. Simmons, M.D. and R.J. Nunn, M.D., both known to me as reputable physicians of said County, who being severally sworn, say on oath that they have carefully examined Thomas L. Hernandez, applicant, and after personal examination, say that his precise physical condition is as follows: Total Blindness of both eyes. A.B. Simmons, R.J. Nunn Sworn to and subscribed before me this 18th day of February 1897. Hampton L. Ferrell, Ordinary June 1897 Georgia, Chatham County Personally appeared, Lewis Wiggins, who being personally known to me to be an upright and intelligent citizen of said County and worthy of credit and belief, who on oath says: he knows Thomas L. Hernandez and that he knows positively that he served in the service of the Confederate States doing regular military duties during that time...Deponent swears that the said Thomas L .Hernandez served in the Confederate State Army from the breaking out of the War in 1861 until about 1865, that in 186? the said Thomas L. Hernandez was transferred to the Confederate States Navy where he remained until he was captured. That subsequent to his capture which occured in the ? part of 186? the said Thomas L Hernandez remained in prison as a prisoner of War about eighteen months. Lewis Wiggins July 1897 Indigent Pension 1897 Thomas L. Hernandez, Chatham County No. 2060, Approved 7/1/1897 January 10, 1898 For Applicants Heretofore Allowed Pension State of Georgia, Chatham County Personally appears, Thomas L. Hernandez of Chatham County, State of Georgia who being duly sworn says on oath.....that he is 76 years old and by occupation was a Pilot and during the War, and that he enlisted in the military service of the Confederate States and the State of Georgia during the War between the States, and served a term of four years in Company B of Phoenix Rifleman of Georgia Volunteers and afteward a Pilot in the Navy; that his physical condition is as follows: Blind in both eyes since 1895. That he is a resident of Chatham County, State of Georgia, and was allowed pension for the year 1897. Thos. L. Hernandez, 405 Jones St. East, Savannah, GA. January 29, 1902 For Applicants Heretofore Allowed Pensions State of Georgia, Chatham County Personally appears, Thos. L. Hernandez of Chatham County, State of Georgia, who being duly sworn, deposes and says: That he is 78 years old; that his physical condition is as follows: He is totally blind and feeble and helpless, that his property consists of nothing. T. Hernandex, X, his mark, 405 Jones St., E. January 3, 1903 For Applicants Heretofore Allowed Pensions State of Georgia, Chatham County Personally appears, Thos. L. Hernandez, of Chatham County, State of Georgia, who being duly sworn on oath, says: that he has continuously resided in the State ever since the ?? day of November 1823, that he is 79 years old....that he enlisted in the military service of the Confederate States or the State of Georgia during the war between the states and served a term of four years in Co. C ? of Jeff Davis Legion of Georgia; that his physical condition is as follows: now totally blind and extremely feeble and helpless.; that he has no property; that I have heretofore as a resident of Chatham County been allowed pension for the year 1902. Thos. L. Hernandez, X, his mark. Transcription of Widow's Civil War pension application of Mrs. Jane Hernandez filed in 1910 while residing in Chatham County, Georgia: November 4, 1910 Widow's Application County of Chatham, State of Georgia Mrs. Jane Hernandez, widow of T. L. Hernandez, Co. B Phoenix Rifles & Navy Personally before me comes Mrs. Jane Hernandez of said County who after being duly sworn on oath says that she is the widow of T. L. Hernandez to whom in the County of Chatham, State of GA she was married on the ?? Day of ?? 1865 and that she remained his wife and resided with him to the date of his death on March 7, 1903 and that she has not since his death remarried. At the time of his death he was a resident of Chatham County in said state of Georgia and he was on the Indigent Pension Roll of the State and paid a pension of $60. in Chatham County for 1903 per annum on account of being a soldier in Company R. Phoenix Rifles Regiment, Pilot in Navy. At the death of T.L. Hernandez he was in the use of possession of the following property: None; of the cash value of: None. What property of any kind and of any value have you in your use, control and possession now and the cash value: None. That she is now a resident citizen of said County of Chatham and she has so continuously resided since 1865. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 4th day of Nov 1910. Jane Hernandez, X, her mark H. McAlpin, Ordinary, Chatham County Affadavit of Witnesses to Prove Marriage and to Whom - - Date of Death of Husband State of Georgia, Chatham County Personally before me comes A.K. Wilson known to be responsible and truthful person, residing in said County who after having duly sworn on oath say: that of their own personal knowledge Mrs. Jane Hernandez who made the foregoing affadavit is the lawful widow of T.L. Hernandez, who died in Chatham County in the State of GA on the 7th day of March 1903 and that she has not since remarried. That she becme the wife of T.L. Hernandez immediately fter the war 1865 and that she and he had resided together as man and wife continuously since then and that T.L. Hernandez was the same man who was on the pension roll of said State GA from Chatham County when he died. A.K. Wilson, the 4th day of Nov 1910. H. McAlpin, Ordinary, Chatham County. State of Georgia, Chatham County Personally appeared before me, the undersigned Henry McAlpin, Ordinary for Chatham County, H. M. C. SMith, who upon oath deposes and says: That he knows of his own personal knowledge that T.L. Hernandez and Jane MUSE were living together as man and wife long before 1870 and they were recognized as such by his friends in business. He also deposes that he was acquainted with her before she married the said T.L.Hernandez. She has not married since then. H.M.C. Smith Sworn to and subscribed before me this 4th day of Nov 1910. Henry McCalpin, Ordinary, Chatham County, GA. State of Georgia, Chatham County Personally before me comes Jos. Molina & A.K. Wilson who after being sworn on oath says: that they are residents of said County and that they know Mrs. J. Hernandez of said County and knew her said husband T.L.Hernandez at his death on the 7th day of March 1903, that she and he were in the use, possession and control of the following property at his death to wit: None; that she is now in the use, possession and control of the following property to wit; None. Jos. Molina, A.K, Wilson Ordinary's Certificate State of Georgia, Chatham County I, Henry McAlpin, Ordinary of said County, do certify, that I kknow Mrs. J. Hernandez the applicant for this pension, and that she is the person she represents herself to be, and that she is a bona fide continuing resident of said County and was on the Jan'y ? 1900. That I also know H.M.C. Smith, witness as to marriage, and I also know Jos. Molina and A.K. Wilson who I know to be a resident free holder of said County, that all of the foregiong were duly sworn by me before signing the respective affadavits and that they are truthful and trustworthy and their statements are entitled to full faith and credit. That the Tax Books of C. County show that she returned property to the amount of $ 00. for 1908, $00. for 1909 and $00. for 1910. Sworn under my hand and seal of office this 4th day of Nov 1910. Henry McAlpin, Ordinary, Chatham County **************************************************************************************************************************** File contributed by Candace Gravelle Nov 2, 2003 http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00023.html#0005680