Wilkes-Oglethorpe-Fulton County GaArchives Military Records.....Claiborne M. Cofer 1862 Civilwar - Letters GA 9th & 11th Battalion, Sumters Artillery, eventually part of the Army of Northern Virginia ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Debs Cofer debsc@computron.net October 1, 2003, 3:13 pm Transcriptions of Civil war data from the National Archives Microfilm Library in Washington DC. entitled "Compiled Service records of Confederate Soldiers who served in Organizations from the Sate of Georgia" Eleventh Battalion, Artillery (Sumter Artillery) Co. – F ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A letter contained in the file for Claiborne Cofer, brother to my Matthew DeKalb Cofer written by Thomas Cofer another brother, acting as representative for Mary Cofer their mother. “Camp Irvin Arty February 6, 1864 Sir, Accompanying this you will find enclosed the certificate of kinship by my mother to the estate of my deceased Brother. Also the Power of Attorney to myself to collect all claims due him by the Govt. as shown by the certificate of the commander of the company at the time of his death. I do not think it necessary to employ an agent in Richmond to collect it – but will much request you – to when the claim has been considered in its regular time – to forward the amount collected (due) to my address. Very Respectfully Thomas Cofer Co. C Cutts Arty A P Hills Corps A. N. VA 2nd Auditor Richmond VA” The following is a page with names, dates and service groups “Co. E Sumter Battn Arty CSA Claiborne M. Cofer (with a designation that I cannot interpret just below) Jn Lane’s Co. Irvin Artiller GA Recd Feby 10. 1864 Thos. Cofer atty Co C. Cutts Artillery A P Hills Corps ANVA Looks like a signature on the bottom with the date April 27/64” Note the Claiborne here is spelled with the e on the end. Most times it is not. Below is a letter appointing Thomas Cofer with Power of Attorney for Mary Cofer, my great great grandmother through Matthew DeKalb Cofer, and mother of Thomas and Claiborne. “Georgia, Wilkes County Know all men by these presents that I Mary Cofer of said State & County do by these presents constitute & appoint Thomas Cofer my lawful attorney for me & in my name to ask for, to receive from & to receipt for all monies due me from the Government of the Confederate Sates for services of my deceased son, Claiborne M. Cofer hereby satisfying & confirming all the actings & doings of my said attorney in the prescribed. In withness whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal this 9th day of August 1862. Signed by Mary Cofer In the presence of William R. Perteet William Maxwell J. C. Williamson (there seems to be something after the name, perhaps Jr.) This J. C. Williamson is probably a brother to Mary Cofer who was the daughter of John Claybrook Williamson and Mary “Polly” Callaway. The J. C. could be Jr. based on father’s name.” Certification of signature “Georgia Wilkes County I G. G. Norman, clerk of the Infr Court of County & State aforesaid do certify that J. C. Williamson whose name appears to the foregoind affidavits & power of attorney is & was at the time of signing a Justice of the Peace in & for said County duly commissioned, qualified and authorized to administer the oath takes acknowledgement of said & C & the Signature purporting to be his signature. Given with my hand & seal of office this 12th day of August 1862 G. G. Norman (signature) Clk I C” Italics are used when I am not sure what the correct words are. Mary attests that Claiborne is her son. “State of Georgia, Wilkes County. Personnaly appeard before me Mary Cofer who being duly sworn, deposeth & sayeth that Claiborne M. Cofer decd was her son. The he died in 1st Geo. Hospital, Richmond, Virginia on the 19th of April 1862. At the time of his death he was in the service of the Confederacy in the Irvin Artillery, Capt John Lane commanding. That the government was indebted to him at his deat as she is advising and believes in the amount set forth in Certificate of Lt. John T. Wingfield which certificate is herto attached, that she claimed the pay due her deceased son, he leaving no wife, child or Father living. Signed Mary Cofer Sworn to and subscribed before me this day 9th day of August 1862 J. C. Williamson J. P.” Affidavit that Mary is the mother of Claiborne Cofer “State of Georgia Wilkes County Personally appeard before me William R. Perteet & William Maxwell who being duly sworn and depose & Say that Mary Cofer is to them well known that she is a Lady of unquestioned Veracity & the further say that they knew Claborn M. Cofer in his life turn & the relationship existing between the said Mary & Claborne was that of Mother & Son & that the Father of said Claiborne is dead. Signed by W. R. Perteet and Wm. Maxwell Sworn to & Subscribed before me August the 9th, 1862 J. C. Williamson, J P.” This last document has many unreadable areas on the microfilm. I have written what I can read. I have placed that which I assumed in italics and left blanks for the parts that could not be discerned in any way. Certificate of Commanding officer concerning death of Claiborne M. Cofer “Richmond Va May 13, 1862 This is to cerify that _________of Claiborne M. Cofer ___ was in member at the time of his death ______________ ____________ artillery Capt John Lane formerly Co A. 9th Regmt, Georgia Volunteers under Captain G. G. Norman ___ he _____ __ nth shown in the Confederate __________ (This is written above a line drawn through). _____ ______ _____ _________ ____Camp Barton Va _______ _______ __ ________ ___ Knowing his age _____he died in the Ga hospital in Richmond Va _______ _______ :first half of April 1862 that he was _____ __ _____Captain John Lane ___M. Po received Camps duty from December 31, 1861 and by his heirs is now entitled to services for four months and nineteen days amounting to fifty ___dollars and sixty cents that he should receive twenty six dollars withholding and is entitled to twenty one dollars more on ___ day of March for Co_______ ___ _______ John L. Wingfield ___Irvins Artillery Command of Company on 19th April I hereby certify that Lt. Jno. L. Wingfield was commanding the comapany at the stated time. Signed John Lane Capt Irvins Artillery Additional Comments: Mary Cofer was Mary Williamson, daughter of Claybrook Williamson and Mary (Polly) Callaway. She married John Cofer in 1826. They had several sons, the youngest of which was my great grandfather, Matthew DeKalb Cofer. Most of the sons, Joshua, Joseph,Thomas and Matthew all served in the Civil War. I have pay cards for each of them obtained from the National Archives. I have copies of the microfilm of the originals of all listed above. Matthew's grandmother was a Callaway and his first wife, my great grandmother, was a Callaway. The references here should include the Callaway name as well. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 7.6 Kb