Father's and Mother's Application for Army Pension regarding son Berry Thurman Jr. 5th Regiment Vol. Cavalry, Co. "E" And Proof of Widowed Mother's Dependence Submitted to USGenWeb Archives by: Deborah Thurman Parks Copyright 1999 by: Deborah Thurman Parks ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation 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. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Father's Application State of Kentucky County of Cumberland: On this 23 day of October A.D. 1866 personally appeared before the undersigned 1) clerk of the 2) county court, a court of Record, within and for the County and State aforesaid. Berry Thurman aged, 40 years a resident of the County of Clinton in the State of Kentucky who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the acts of Congress, approved July 14, 1862 and June 6, 1866: That he is the father of Berry Thurman Jr. deceased, who was a private in Company E commanded by Captain __________ in the Fifth Regiment of the Kentucky Cavalry Vols commanded by Colonel D. R. Haggard in the war of 1861 and 1862, & c, and who died while in the service aforesaid, at Bardstown in the State of Kentucky on or about the 4th day of November A.D., 1862 from fever incurred in the service aforesaid, and while in the line of his duty. …That he contributed to his father's support in the following ways: By working on the farm, plowing sowing, making ______ crops of corn and tobacco, making fence, splitting rails, cutting woods, going to the blacksmith shop and mill, and in the many and various ways assisting his father as a farm hand being his father's main dependence for support…. Dated Oct 23, 1866 Mother's Application We, John McClusky of lawful age, a resident of the County of Cumberland in the State of Kentucky and Martha A. McClosky of lawful age, a resident of the County of Clinton in the State of Kentucky upon our oaths, jointly declare that we are personally well acquainted with Mrs. Willy Ann Thurman, mother of Berry Thurman Jr. now deceased, and who was late a private in company E commanded by Captain J.A.P. Glove in the 5th regiment of Kentucky Cavalry Vols commanded by Col D. R. Haggard in the war 1861-62 & c. We further declare that we were likewise personally well acquainted with the said Berry Thurman Jr. deceased and his said mother, the said Mrs. Willie Ann Thurman during the lifetime of the former and know that they recognized each other as mother and son respectively, and were so reputed, having never heard a question raised or a doubt expressed to the contrary, as to their being legitimately such. Furthermore, we have often heard the said Berry Thurman Jr. during his lifetime, call the said Mrs. Willy Ann Thurman "mother" and always heard him speak of and know that he ever treated and respected her as such maternal relation. We also state that she is esteemed and known as a respectable woman in the community of her residence. We further declare that at the time of service, we resided in the same neighborhood, County and State with the deceased soldier, and know that he the said Berry Thurman Jr. previous to his entering the said service of the United States was a man of good sound physical health. Our knowledge of said soldier's physical condition prior to enlistment as above stated is founded upon actual observation and intimate acquaintance with him and not based upon information derived from others nor upon general repute. That he died while in the service in the Hospital at Bardstown in the State of Kentucky on or about the 14th day of November A.D. 1862 from the effects of fever incurred in the service of the United States and as we verily believe from general repute and without the slightest doubt to the contrary, whilst in the line of his duty therein. That Mrs. Willy A. Thurman his mother aforesaid, applying for Army Pension by reason of the above named military services is now dependent and has remained such ever since disability of her husband, who name is Berry Thurman and who disability is circumstantially known to us to have concurred on or about the _____- day of September A.D. 1852 in the County of Cumberland in the State of Kentucky. That Berry Thurman Jr. the soldier above named, died unmarried, leaving no widow, child, or children, as his heirs surviving. That his mother, Willy A. Thurman above named is his legitimate and sole legal heir. Dated Nov 23, 1867 Proof of Widowed Mother's Dependence …That the extent of Mrs. Willy Ann Thurman dependence upon her said son for support was equal to one half subsistence. That he contributed to his mother's support in the following ways: Said defendant states that the said Berry and Willy Ann Thurman, Father and Mother, Berry Thurman Jr. deceased, lived on a small farm owned by themselves but that it was not adequate for their comfort and the said son would work out for the neighbors and service meat, corn, meal and flour in payment of his labor which meat, corn meal and flour he would take home to his parents and it helped subsist the family. Said defendant further states that the said son would work on the farm and do all kinds of work necessary on the farm…. Dated November 25, 1867