James T. Nichols Pension Applictiaon, Rapides, LA submitted by: Jane Stafford Ryan Date: Mar 2003 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** * Milford, Rapides Parish, LA Civil War Pension Application James T. Nichols Soldier's Application for Pension, Milford, Rapides Parish, Louisiana filed Nov 24, 1898 Submitted by: Jane Stafford Ryan, Great Great Granddaughter (Lartolady@aol.com) Soldier's Application For Pension I, James T. Nichols, a native of Tennessee and now a citizen of Louisiana, and who was a soldier, (sailor or marine as the case may be) in the war between the United States and the Confederate States, do hereby apply for aid under Act 123 of the General Assembly of the State of Louisiana of 1808; and I do solemnly swear that I served the Confederate States honorably from the date of my enlistment until the close of the Civil War, (or until discharged or paroled as the case may be,) as shown by my answers below, and that I remained true to the Confederate cause until the surrender, and that I am now in indigent circumstances, and unable to earn a livelihood by my own labor or skill, and that I am not salaried or otherwise provided for by the State of Louisiana or by any other State or government, and am entitled to receive the benefits of said Act No. 123 of 1808, as further shown by my answers to the questions below, which I swear to be true and correct: 1. In what town, county, State, country and year were you born? Answer: Don't know town or county, left there very young. born in 1821 2. When and where did you enlist, and in what command? Answer: In 1863 in Rapides Parish, 6th La Cav 3. Give the names of the regimental and company officers under whom you enlisted and under whom you were serving at the date of your discharge or parole. Answer: Col Wm Harrison, Capt Wm Ivy, 1st Lieut Taylor; same offficers at time of discharge. 4. Were you wounded? If so, in what battles, and if not, state under what circumstances during the war you received injury or injuries. Answer: Not wounded 5. What was the precise nature of your wound or wounds, if any? Answer: None 6. If you have lost a limb or an eye, state when, where and how. Answer: No 7. Were you discharged from the army by reason of wound, wounds, or from the effects of service? Answer: No 8. If discharged or paroled from the army, where were you and what did you do until the close of the war? Answer: Discharged at Natchitoches, La. End of war. 9. What was the name of the surgeon who attended you when discharged? Answer: None 10. Where were you at the surrender? Answer: Natchitoches, La. 11. If a prisoner, in what camp, and when were you released, and to where sent? Answer: No 12. Did you take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government at any time during the war? Answer: Never 13. If so, when, where and under what circumstances? Answer: Never 14. How long have you been a resident of the State of Louisiana next preceding the date of this application? Where have you resided during that period? Answer: Since 1858 Resided all the time in Rapides Parish. 15. Are you married or have you been married? Answer: Yes 16. If so, what is the size of your family? Answer: Wife, two children with us - 6 children _____ (illegible) 17. What are the respective ages of your wife and children? Answer: 52 years, children 48, 46, 44, 42, 16 and 9 18. How many children have you, and how many of each sex? Answer: 6 - Two Boys - 4 girls 19. Are you engaged in any business? If so, what do you earn? Answer: No Earn nothing 20. Have you any estate in your own right, real or personal and what is its value? Answer: No 21. Has your wife any estate in her own right, real or personal, and what is its value? Answer: Ninety acres, pine woods land, timber cut; worth about $1.00 per acre. 22. How have you derived support for yourself, and family if you have one, for the last five years, and what prevents you from earning a living now? Answer: Farming; have lived mighty hard. Old age and bad health; I am not able to work. 23. Do you use any intoxicants to any extent? Answer: No 24. Have you an attorney to look after this application? Answer: Yes 25. Give his name, address, and the compensation agreed between you. Answer: J. T. Blackwell; Elmer P O Louisiana 75 cents 26. Give names of two or more of your comrades with their post office addresses. Answer: Jesse Price - Hineston, La; Martin Ingles - Hicks, La. 27. Give your postoffice address and that of the two witnesses. Answer: J T Nichols, Milford, La.; Dr H N Gray, Hineston, La; W M Walding, Quadrate, La. Witness my hand this 22nd day of November 1898. his Jas T x Nichols mark WITNESSES his W M x Walding mark H N Gray APPLICANT MUST GO BEFORE CLERK OF COURT STATE OF LOUISIANA Rapides PARISH Personally appeared before me C L RANSDELL Clerk of the District Court of said Parish, the above named James T Nichols the applicant, with whom I am personally acquainted, and having the application read and fully explained to him as well as the statements and answers therein made, made oath that the statements and answers are true. Witness my hand and seal of office this, 22nd day of November 1898 C L RANSDELL CLERK (If possible, the two witnesses as to character should have served with the applicant in the army, and if so, let them, or either, state it in their oath; also any other information regarding applicant's army service) STATE OF LOUISIANA Rapides PARISH Personally appeared before me C L RANSDELL Clerk of the District Court of said Parish, the above named DR H N GRAY and W M WALDING, two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing application, with whom I am personally acquainted, and known to be citizens of veracity and standing in this community, and who make oath that they are personally acquainted with the foregoing applicant, and that the facts set forth and the statements made in his application are correct and true, to the best of their knowledge and belief, and that they have no interest in this claim, and that said applicant's habits are good and free from dishonor. Witness my hand and seal of office, this 22nd day of November 1898 C L RANSDELL Clerk of Court