Cameron Parish, LA; Civil War Widow's CSA Pension Application Submitted by: Keith A. Melancon Date: March 2003 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The below pension for Joanna Burch, resident of Cameron, Louisiana. She was the wife of Charles C. Burch who served on the CSS Uncle Ben in the Sabine and Neches Rivers near the Louisiana/Texas border. This pension application was transcribed by Keith A. Melancon from microfilmed records on file at the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Joanna Burch's maiden name was Orr. She was the daughter of George Orr, a prominent figure in the early settlement of Texas. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Burch, Joanna (Orr), widow of: Burch, Charles C. (C.C.), Pilot, CSS Uncle Ben, Sabine Pass, Texas -------------------------------------------------------------------- First Document -------------------------------------------------------------------- Widow's Application for Pension (#5325?) Parish of Cameron Joanna Burch, Widow of Charles C. Burch Company and Regiment St. Uncle Ben P.O. Cameron Filed August 23rd, 1906 Allowed Quarterly Allowance Pension Allowed from Rejected (Signed) , President (Signed) E.F. Brian, Secretary Cause of Death of Widow's Husband? Injuries Received When did he die? Jan 28, 1884 Where? Orange, Texas Date of Granting Pension? Monthly Amount Date of Application? August 23rd, 1906 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Second Document -------------------------------------------------------------------- Widow's Application for Pension State of Louisiana, Parish of Cameron On this 17th day of August, 1906, personally appeared before me, T.E. Gee,Clerk of the District Court, within and for said Parish and State, Mrs. Joanna Burch, aged 71 years, a resident of the of Parish of Cameron and State of Louisiana, who being duly sworn according to law, declares she is the widow of Charles C. Burch who entered the service of the Confederate States during the civil war under the name of Charles C. Burch at Sabine Pass on the day of sometime in 1862, in on the Steamer Uncle Ben as Capt. And Pilot from the State of Texas, that he served honorable until close of the war at on the ; and that he remained true to the Confederate States until, the surrender, at which time he was in the Uncle Ben, as Captain, that she was married to the said soldier under the name of Joanna Orr on the 22 day of Feb. 1852 by Orren Brown, J.P. at Sabine Pass, Texas; that she has not married again, and that she is now in indigent circumstances and unable to earn a livelihood by her own labor or skill; that she is not married or otherwise provided for by the State of Louisiana or by any other State or Government; that her said husband died on the 28 day of Jany. 1884; at Orange, Texas; that she has resided in the State of Louisiana for 36 years next preceding the date of this application, and that she claims the aid and benefit of Act No. 73 of 1900 as is further shown by her answers to the following questions, which she swears to be true and correct: 1. Under what circumstances did your husband die? Answer: From the effects of injuries received on a Steamboat 2. Where is he buried: Answer: In Cameron Parish, on Johnson's Bayou. 3. What are your means of support? Answer: I live my children but am not able to do any work 4. What is the value of your property, real and personal, if any? Answer: I have an interest in a piece of land worth $120.00 5. Have you conveyed property to any one in the past few years? Answer: No 6. If any, how much and to whom conveyed? Answer: 7. Give your postoffice address and that of your two witnesses: Answer: My address is Berry La, and witnesses Cameron La. Witness my hand on this 17th day of Aug. 1906. (Signed) Joanna Burch Applicant Witnesses: (Signed) A.P. Welch (Signed) P.E. Smith Also personally appeared A.P. Welch residing at Cameron and P.E. Smith residing at Cameron, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say that they were present and saw Mrs. Joanna Burch, the claimant, sign her name to the foregoing declaration, and that they verily believe that the facts and declaration of said claimant are true and correct, that their acquaintance with her for 10 years and 20 years, respectively, justify them in making this statement, and that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. (Signed) A.P. Welch (Signed) P.E. Smith Sworn and subscribed to me this, the 17 of August, 1906 and I herby certify that the contents of the above declaration were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim. (Signed) T.E. Gee -------------------------------------------------------------------- End of File Apparently rejected and not resubmitted. --------------------------------------------------------------------