Lafayette Parish, LA; Civil War Widow's CSA Pension Application Submitted by: Keith A. Melancon ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The below pension for Euphemie Melancon, resident of Youngsville, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. She was the third wife of Napoleon Melancon who served in Company A, 26th Louisiana Infantry. This pension application was transcribed by Keith A. Melancon from microfilmed records from the Louisiana State Archives at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Melancon, Euphemie (Decou) Melancon, Napoleon, private, Co. A, 26th Louisiana Infantry -------------------------------------------------------------------- First Document -------------------------------------------------------------------- Widow’s Application for Pension Parish of Lafayette No. 3917 Widow’s Application for Pension The Board Reserves the Right to Call for Additional Testimony Euphemie Melancon Widow of Nap Melancon Company and Regiment A 26 La Inf P.O. Lafayette Filed Sept. 5th, 1902 Allowed Quarterly Allowance Pension Allowed from Rejected R Sept 23/02 Married after 1st Jany 1870 President (Signed) E.F. Brian, Secretary Cause of Death of Widow’s Husband? When did he die? Where? Date of Granting Pension? Monthly Amount Date of Application? -------------------------------------------------------------------- Second Document -------------------------------------------------------------------- Widow’s Application for Pension State of Louisiana Parish of Lafayette On this 3rd day of September, 1902, personally appeared before me, Ed G. Voorhies, Clerk of the District Court, within and for said Parish and State, Mrs. Euphemie Decou, aged 48 years, a resident of the parish of Lafayette (“Parish of” crossed out) 7th Ward and State of Louisiana, who being duly sworn according to law, declares she is the widow of Napoleon Melancon who entered the service of the Confederate States during the civil war under the name of Napoleon Melancon at Lafayette Parish on the 27th day of March 1862, in Company A, 26th La. Infantry as a private from the State of Louisiana, that he served honorable until the end of the war at on the ; and that he remained true to the Confederate States until, the surrender, at which time he was (“in” scratched out) near Alexandria, La, as a private, that she was married to the said soldier under the name of Euphemie Decou on the day of 1891 by Rev. L.J. Chabier (?) at Youngsville, La; 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 21st day of Feby 1902; at Lafayette Parish, La; that she has resided in the State of Louisiana for all her life 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: He died at home this parish after a spell of sickness 2. Where is he buried: Answer: He is buried at Youngsville, Lafayette Ph, La. 3. What are your means of support? Answer: I have no means of support 4. What is the value of your property, real and personal, if any? Answer: I have none 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: None 7. Give your postoffice address and that of your two witnesses: Answer: My post office is Lafayette, La. The post office address of the witnesses is Broussard, La. Witness my hand on this 3rd day of September 1902. [Signed] Euphemie Decou [x her mark] widow Napoleon Melancon Applicant Witnesses: (Signed) Desire Bernard (Signed) Onezime Langlinais Also personally appeared Onezime Langlinais residing at Broussardville, La. and Desire Bernard residing at Broussardville, La., 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. Euphemie Decou, widow N. Melancon, 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 20 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) Onezime Langlinais (Signed) Desire Bernard Sworn and subscribed to me this, the 3rd of September 1902, 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) Ed. G. Voohries -------------------------------------------------------------------- Third Document -------------------------------------------------------------------- Widow’s Application for Pension Parish of Lafayette No. 10384 Widow’s Application for Pension The Board Reserves the Right to Call for Additional Testimony Mrs. Euphemie Melancon Widow of Napoleon Melancon Company and Regiment A 26 La. Inf P.O. Youngsville, La Filed June 14, 1916 Allowed Dec 13, 1916 Quarterly Allowance Pension Allowed from Rejected Married after 1st Jany 1870 [Signed] A.C. Allen, President , Secretary Cause of Death of Widow’s Husband? Jaundice When did he die? 22d Feby 1901 Where? Youngsville, La Date of Granting Pension? Monthly Amount Date of Application? 10th June 1916 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fourth Document -------------------------------------------------------------------- Widow’s Application for Pension State of Louisiana Parish of Lafayette On this 10th day of June, 1916, personally appeared before me, Andre M. Martin, (Clerk of the District Court lined out) Notary Public, within and for said Parish and State, Mrs. Euphemie Decou widow Napoleon Melancon, aged 65 years, a resident of the town of Youngsville, Parish of Lafayette, and State of Louisiana, who being duly sworn according to law, declares she is the widow of Napoleon Melancon who entered the service of the Confederate States during the civil war under the name of Napoleon Melancon at Lafayette La on the day of , in from the State of , that he served honorable until the close of at Natchitoches on the 5th day of May in the year 1865; and that he remained true to the Confederate States until, the surrender, at which time he was at Natchitoches, as a private Co. A Eraste Mounton Capt 26 La Reg, that she was married to the said soldier under the name of Euphemie Decou on the day of 1888 by Father Chabier (?) at Youngsville; 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 22 day of Feb. 1902; at Youngsville, Lafayette, La; that she has resided in the State of Louisiana for life 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: Yellow Jaundice 2. Where is he buried: Answer: Youngsville, La 3. What are your means of support? Answer: none 4. What is the value of your property, real and personal, if any? Answer: I have no property 5. Have you conveyed property to any one in the past few years? Answer: None 6. If any, how much and to whom conveyed? Answer: None 7. Give your postoffice address and that of your two witnesses: Answer: Youngsville, La Witness my hand on this 10 day of June, 1916. [Signed] Euphemie Decou [x her mark] Applicant Witnesses: (Signed) (Signed) Theo Melancon Also personally appeared Joseph Bernard residing at Lafayette, La. and Jules Morvant residing at in Vermillion Parish, La 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. Euphemie Decou, widow, 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 ten years and twenty 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) Jules Morvant (Signed) Joseph Bernard Sworn and subscribed to me this, the 10 of June, 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) (Clerk of Court lined out) Notary Public [Written in bottom margin] Lafayette P.O. R.F.D. no. 1 Box 38 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fifth Document -------------------------------------------------------------------- No. 15228 Judge A.C. Allen, President Franklin, La. E.F. Brian, Secretary, Baton Rouge, La. State of Louisiana, Office of Board of Pension Commissioners. Baton Rouge, LA., June 14, 1916 To Chief of the Record and Pension Office, War Department, Washington, D.C. Dear Sir, This Board, in discharge of its duties under Article 303 of the Constitution of 1898 of the State of Louisiana, and of Act No. 125 of its General Assembly of the same year, creating a Board of Pension Commissioners, respectfully apply for information from your records, relative to Napoleon Melancon of Company 26th Regt La Inf Claimed enlisting at Lafayette, La under Capt Eraste Mouton + served in 26th Regt La. Inf until the close of the war Paroled or discharged at Natchitoches La. Very Respectfully, [Signed] A.C. Allen President -------------------------------------------------------------------- Sixth Document -------------------------------------------------------------------- 15228 War Department The Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, June 20, 1916 Respectfully returned to the President, Louisiana Board of Pension Commissioners, Baton Rouge. The records show that Napoleon Melancon, private, Co. A, 26th Louisiana Infantry, CSA., enlisted March 10, 1862, and that he was surrendered at New Orleans, La,., May 26, 1865, and paroled at New Iberia, La., in July or August, 1865. [Signed} H.J. The Adjutant General. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Seventh Document -------------------------------------------------------------------- State of Louisiana Parish of Lafayette Before me, Ed G. Voorhies, Clerk of Court ex-officio Notary Public I and for said parish and State, personally came and appeared Messrs Desire Bernard and Onezime Langlinais, personally known to me and who I certify to be credible persons, who being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says each for himself as follows --: That they were personally acquainted with Napoleon Melancon, deceased, having been acquainted with him for fifty years and forty-five years respectively. That they, the said affiants, entered the service of the Confederate States in the year 1862, under Captain Eraste Mouton, Company A, 26th Louisiana Regiment. Hazard Eastin was 1st Lieutenant and William Campbell 2d Lieutenant. That they, the said affiants, remained in the same company until the close of the war. That the deceased Napoleon Melancon joined the army + entered in the Confederate service at the same time with them, the said affiants, in the same company, and remained in service in the same company until the close of the war. That the deceased Napoleon Melancon did not take the oath of allegiance during the war, but remained faithful to the cause of the Confederate States. That the deceased Napoleon Melancon during the time of his service was a brave and courageous soldier; his conduct as a soldier and a man during that time was irreproachable. [Signed] Onezime Langlinais [Signed] Desire Bernard Sworn to + subscribed before me this Sept. 3/1902 [Signed] Ed G. Voorhies Clerk of Court -------------------------------------------------------------------- Eighth Document -------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a copy of a pension check from the board of pension commissioners dated November 30, 1938 for $60.00. It is stamped Dec 5, 1938 and has “Died Nov. 23, 1938 - $46.00” written across the address. The address reads Mrs. Euphemie Melancon, Milton, LA. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Ninth Document -------------------------------------------------------------------- State of Louisiana Parish of Lafayette Before me the undersigned authority duly commissioned and qualified me as such in and for the parish of Lafayette, state of Louisiana on this 3rd day of December 1938 personally came and appeared Theo Melancon and Rene Melancon, both of age both resident of the same parish and state and Vermillion parish, who after being duly sworn by me officer deposed and said; that they are the only surviving heirs of Mrs. EUPHEMIE MELANCON who departed this life on the 23rd day of November 1938, and was buried in the cemetery in the Village of Youngsville, La., on the 24th day of November 1938; that the said Euphemie Melancon was on the pension rolls of the state of Louisiana as a widow of a confederate veteran under No. 10384; that there is due to them as heirs of the said Mrs. Euphemie Melancon for the 23 days that she lived in the month of November the sum of $46.00; that they do hereby make claim for the said amount as heirs of the said Mrs. Euphemie Melancon and do hereby appoint the said Rene Melancon, whose post office address is at MILTON, LOUISIANA to collect the said amount of $46.00 for he and his brother. Sworn to and subscribed before me on this 3rd. day of December 1938. [Signed] Rene Melancon Rene Melancon. [Signed] Theo Melancon Theo. Melancon. [Signed] Felix H. Mouton Felix H. Mouton, Clerk of Court and Ex. Officio a Notary Public in and for the parish of Lafayette, La. [Beneath this is a copy of a 3x5 card with the following typed information; 10384, Mrs. Euphemie Melancon, Milton, La. Written on his card is the following: 452 Lafayette Died Nov 23, 1938 - $46.00 Napoleon A, 26 La. Inf] -------------------------------------------------------------------- End of File -------------------------------------------------------------------- It is interesting to note that the date of marriage changed from 1891 to 1888 in the second application. It would be interesting to see if there was a requirement for widows to be married before 1890 to be eligible for pension. According to my records, Napoleon and Euphemie were married 8 April 1891 in Youngsville, Louisiana. She was born in 1861, and he 14 March 1836 in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. Napoleon had married twice previously, first to Cleonide Broussard on 26 Nov 1855 (died unknown), then to Marie Estelle Hulot on 16 Feb 1876 (died 5 Aug 1888). Additionally, Marie Estelle Hulot, Napoleon’s second wife, was first married to Belizaire Morvant on 27 July 1854 in Lafayette, Louisiana. Belizaire Morvant was also a Confederate soldier who served in Company A, 26th Louisiana Infantry. He died in October, 1872. USGenWeb Archives Project Notice: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. 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