CONFEDERATE PENSION APPLICATION #694. Filed 21 Nov. 1898 (housed at La. Archives, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.) Submitted by: Sherry Wilson Manuel swman@centurytel.net ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** SOLDIER'S PROOF AS BENEFICIARY. #344. Under act #55 of 1896. Dated 3 Sept. 1897. AFFIDAVIT STATE OF LOUISIANA Parish of Rapides Before me the undersigned authority personally came and appeared Johnathan Musslewhite now residing in Ward #____ in the Parish of Rapides, Louisiana, who after having been sworn by me deposes and sayst that during the late Civil War he enlisted in the service of the Confederate States from the State of Louisiana, where he was at the time of said enlistment and that whilst in said service as a private in Company C of the 27th Louisiana Infantry Regiment, Thomas' I believe brigade, he was wounded by a minnie ball in left arm at Vicksburg, Mississippi during the siege at that place, my arm was broken and a part of the bone taken out which injury permanently disqualified him from the active vocations of life; that he did not subsequently desert from the Confederate service, but served until honorably discharged from said command; is not a beneficiary of the State in the soldiers' home at New Orleans; did not avail himself of the privilege of the acts #96 of the General Assembly! of this state, approved 10 July 1894, and #116 approved 8 July 1896 and he hereby makes this application as a beneficiary under act #35 approved 1896. Signed Johnathan X (His Mark) Musslewhite Before me the undersigned authority also personally came and appeared T.R. Delaney and W. L. Dove now residing in the Parish of Rapides who after having been sworn by me depose and say that they are personally acquainted with the above named applicant and know that he is a person of credibility and good moral standing in the community in which he lives; that they believe the above affidavit as set forth by him to be true and correct in each and every one of its details. Physicians Certificate. Under act # 55 of 1896. Filed 19 August 1897, S. T Meeker, MD (Physicians signature to faded to read) Gun shot wound to left arm middle third carrying away the greater portion of the ulna passing out above the articulation of the carpal bones- resulting in a condition which renders his arm useless for manual labor. 2nd physician John D Everett. SOLDIERS APPLICATION FOR PENSION. Lecompte, Louisiana. Johnathan M. White (M. White scratched through and Musslewhite written at the top.) Filed 23 Nov. 1898. Allowed $5.12 per month. I, Johnathan Musslewhite, a native of Georgia and now a citizen of Louisiana, resident at Lacompte, in the Parish of Rapides, in said State of Louisiana and who was a soldier from the state of Louisiana in the Confederate States army 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 1898; 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, 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 #123 of 1898, as further shown by my answers to the questions below, which I swear to b! e true and correct: 1.. In what Town, County, State, Country and Year were you born? Born in 1838 in Georgia, Telfair County. 2.. When and where did you enlist and in what command? I enlisted at Camp Prat in 1865, May I think, in Capt. J. T Hatch's, Co. C. of 27th Louisiana Infantry, Col. Marks Regiment. 3.. Give the names of the regimental and company officers under whom you were serving at the date of your discharge or parole. Capt. Joe Moore Commander the Co. I don't know who was the colonel because there true was commander swapping Brigadier General Thomas was commander the Brigade of that time. 4.. Where you wounded? If so in what battle, and if not, state under what conditions during the war you received injury or injuries. I was wounded at the battle of Vicksburg. Shot lengthwise through the left arm. Shooting below the elbow and coming out at the wrist joint. 5.. What was the precise nature of your wound or wounds if any? It has disabled my left arm. 6.. If you have lost a lime or an eye state when, where and how. I have lost nothing. 7.. Were you discharged from the army by reason of wound, wounds, or from the effects of service. I was never discharged. 8.. If discharge or paroled from the army where were you and what did you do until the close of the war? --- 9.. What was the name of the surgeon who attended you? Dr. Cutlief attended my arm. 10.. Where were you at the surrender? I was with my command at Natchitoches, Louisiana. 11.. If a prisoner, in what camp and when were you released, and to where sent: Was captured at battle of Vicksburg and was paroled soon after. 12.. Did you take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government at any time during the war? Never took it. 13.. If so when where and under what circumstances? 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? I have lived in Louisiana since 1858 continuously. 15.. Are you married or have you ever been married? Been married two times. 16.. If so what is the size of your family? Wife and 5 children. 17.. What are the respective ages of your wife and children? Wife 62, my oldest 32- 26- 22- 19- 21. 18.. How many children have you and how many of each sex: 5 children 3 girls and 2 boys. 19.. Are you engaged in any business? arming a little 20.. Have you any estate in your own right, real or personal and what is its value: 120 acres pineland 10 acres cleared. 21.. Has your wife any estate in her own right, real or personal and what is its value? None 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? I am crippled up being and getting old. All my children are married off and gone but a boy 19 years old. 23.. Do you use any intoxicants to any extent? I do not. 24.. Have you an attorney to look after this application? Yes 25.. Give his name address and the compensation agreed between you. Judge H.O. Daigre, Alexandria, Louisiana. I promised to pay him $5.00 out of my 1st pension. 26.. Give names of two or more of your comrades with their post office addresses. Christopher Martin- Hineston, Louisiana. Leonard Shiah??, Boyce La. 27.. Give your Post office address and that of the two witnesses. My address is Lecompte, Louisiana. John Perkins and Basil Gray are from Elmer, Louisiana. Witness my hand this 21st day of November 1898. Signed Jonathan X (his mark) Musslewhite. Applicant. Witnesses: John X (His Mark) Perkins. Basel Gray APPLICANT MUST GO BEFORE CLERK OF COURT. State of Louisiana. Rapides Parish, Personally appeared before me C. M. Kilpatrick Deputy Clerk of the district Court of said Parish, the above named Jonathan Musselwhite 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 21day of November 1898. Signed C.M. Kilpatrick, Deputy Clerk. If possible the two witnesses as to character would 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 the applicants army services. State of Louisiana Rapides Parish. Personally appeared before me C. M. Kilpatrick Deuputy Clerk of the district Court of said parish the above named John Perkins and Basil Gray 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 made oath that they are personally acquainted with the foregoing applicant, and that the facts set forth and 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 applicants habits are good and free from dishonor. Witness my hand and seal of office, this 21 November, 1898. C.M. Kilpatrick Deputy Clerk of Court. *Note. Attached to the top of this application is a note stating that Johnathan Musslewhite has 40 acres of real estate assessed in his name at $145.00. WIDOWS APPLICATION FOR PENSION. Parish of Rapides. #7629. Polly F. Musselwhite (Musslewhite) Widow of Johnathan Musselwhite Company and Regiment C of the 27th Louisiana Infantry. P.O. Lecompte Louisiana Filed 8 April 1913. Allowed $4.10 per month Cause of Death of Widows husband: Heart disease When did he die? 16 March 1913. Where? Lecompte, Louisiana. Date of Application? 8 April 1913. STATE OF LOUISIANA PARISH OF RAPIDES On this 7th day of April 1913 personally appeared before me E.S. Hardy, Notary Public within and for said Parish and State Mrs Polly Finley Musselwhite, age 78years, a resident of Lecompte, Parish of Rapides and State of Louisiana, who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of Jonathan Musselwhite who entered the service of the Confederate States during the Civil War under the name of Johnathan Musselwhite at ____ on the ____ day of _____ 18__, in ______________________ from the state of ____________that he served honorably until ______________ at __________ in the ____________; and that he remained true to the Confederate States, until the surrender, at which time he was in ____________, an ____________________that she was married to the said soldier under the name of Polly Finely on the _____ day of ________ 1866, by _______________ near Leesville, Louisiana, that she has not married again, and that she is now in indigent circumstances and unable t! o 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 16th day of March 1913 at near Lecompte, Louisiana, that she has resided in the State of Louisiana, for 25 years next preceeding the date of the application and that she claims the aid and benefit of Article 303 of the Constitution of 1898 and subsequent Acts of the Legislature of the State there under 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? Old age and heart disease. 2.. Where is he buried? Paul's Graveyard near Lecompte Louisiana 3.. What are your means of support? None except my children. 4.. What is the value of your property real and personal, if any? An interest in a small hill farm. 5.. Have you conveyed property to anyone in the past few years? No. 6.. If any how much and to whom conveyed? --- 7.. Give your post office address and that of your two witnesses. Lecompte, Louisiana for myself and one of the witnesses signed hereto, the other Forest Hill, Louisiana. Witness my hand on this 7th April 1913. Polly Finley X (Her Mark) Musselwhite, applicant. Richard Nugent, Witness M.R. Earnest, Witness. Also personally appeared Richard Nugent, residing at Forest Hill, Louisiana and M.R. Earnest, residing at Lecompte, Louisiana, 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. Polly Finley Musselwhite, the claimant, sign her name to the foregoing declaration, and that they truly believe that the facts an declarations of said claimant are true and correct, that their acquaintance with her for 8 years and 12 years respectively justify them in making this statement and that she is the identical person this represents herself to be, and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. Signed Richard Nugent, M. R. Earnest. Sworn to and subscribed before me on this the 7th of April 1913 and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration were fully made known and explained to applicant and witnesses and that I have no interest direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim. E S Hardy, Notary Public. The following letter was attached to this application: Mayors office Town of Lecompte I. K. Moore, Mayor E.S. Hardy, Clerk Lecompte, Louisiana. 7 April 1913 Secretary, Board of Pension Commissioners, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dear Sir: Enclosed I am sending you an application for pension of Mrs. Polly Finley Musselwhite, widow of Jonathan Musselwhite, who died on 16 March 1913 and who was drawing a pension at the time of his death. This old lady's memory is very poor and she has lost all documentary evidence of her marriage to Mr. Musselwhite. Neither can she supply the data relative to his service in the confederate army but this you can doubtless obtain from papers now on file in your office if such be necessary. In compliance with your request, I call your attention to foot note on letter returned to me regarding the sending of voucher up to the 16th of March. I hope your board will be justified in granting this old lady the pension as she is a cripple, very old and infirm and undoubtedly entitled to some support on account of her husbands service. Very truly yours, E.S. Hardy, Notary Public.