Amos Greenham's civil war pension, Irving, Barry County, Michigan SUBJECT: Pension Record of Amos Greenham Copyrighted by Lori Buchanan EMAIL: bbuchan1@voyager.net DATE: Jul 24, 1999 SURNAMES: Amos Greenham, Thurza Greenham Pension Documents of Amos & Thurza Greenham Transcribed as written (mostly by hand) July 17, 1999 by Lori L. Buchanan Affidavit of Claimant State of Michigan County of Barry On the matter of the claim for pension of Thurza Greenham widow of Amos Greenham who was a private in Company “E” 1st Regiment Mich. L.A. claim no 433611 – Personally came the above named claimant before me the undersigned Notary Public who is duly authorized to administer oaths. The above named claimant Thurza Greenham, who being by me duly sworn depores and says – My said husband Amos Greenham died at our house in Irving Barry County Michigan in August 1874, I think it was the 18th of the month, but can not state particularly at this time the exact day of the month – I was married on the last Sunday in July in 1843 on the island of Gurnsey – There is no one living that was present at our marriage – neither of us were ever married before – We lived together as husband and wife until my husband died in 1874, and I have never remarried since his death – At my husbands death he owned forty acres of land what was mortgaged for eight hundred dollars, and a lot of accrued interest, and I owned forty acres of wild land adjoining it – my husband willed this forty acres to me for life and then to our daughter now Mrs William McNee – This eight hundred dollars mortgate served both parcels – About eighteen years ago my daughter and her husband moved on to the farm, built a small house on the place, and paid two hundred dollars on the mortgate – The back forty which stands in my name subject to the __________, is all wild unimproved land and I have never been able to get anything from it – My daughter and her husband live on the place and denny that I have any rights there, and will not give me any of the proceeds of the farm – they pay the taxes. Although I understand it is assessed to me – Our account of the claims of my daughter andmy son in law who has occupied the farm for about eighteen years I can not sell or mortgage any of said land and I havnt ____ anything from the place for the past eighteen years – I have staid there part of the time, and at such times have had my board, but have had to work out to buy my clothes – I am now working out at house work at fifty cents a week, and it is my only means of support I was seventy four years old in May 1895, and am not able to do but little labor, but am obliged to live from what I can earn at housework, as the land does not and has not for the past eighteen eyears contributed anything toward my support. This affidavit was written by H E Hendrick from my oral deceration at the time and I was not aided by any persons. (signed by) Thurza Greenham State of Michigan County of Barry On this 15th day of January 1896 personally cam the above named Thurza Greenham who signed the written affidavit and I certify that the same was read over to her and the contents fully made known to her before signing and I further certify that I am not interested in said claim. (signed by) Ethel A. Hendrick Notary Public (document is stamped “US PENSION OFFICE, JAN 20, 1896”) Declaration for Original Pension of a Widow –Child or Children under Sixteen years of age surviving. (The following is a form document filled in by hand) State of Michigan, County of Barry, ss: On this – day of June, AD, one thousand eight hundred and ninety personally appeared before me ______the same being a court of record within and for the county and State aforesaid, Thurza Greenham aged sixty nine years, who, being duly sworn according to law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain the pension provided by Acts of Congress granting pensions to widows: That she is the widow of Amos Greenham who enlisted under the name of Amos Greenham at Grand Rapids on the 13th day of August, A.D., 1864 in Company E, 1st Regiment Michigan Light Artilery in the war of the Rebellion, who died at the township of Barry County Michigan on the 13th day of August, A.D., 1874 who bore at the time of his death the rank of Private, in said service; that she was married under the name of Thurza Lawrence to said Amos Greenham on the 30th day of July, A.D., 1841 by Rev. Ayers at Gurnsey England, there being no legal barrier to such marriage; that neither she nor her husband had been previously married. She claims a pension under the recent act of congress – that she has not in any manner been engaged in, or aided or abetted, the rebellion in the United States; that no prior application has been filed, that shehereby appoints Carveth & Hendrick her attorney to prosecute her claim; that her residence is No. Irving, Barry Co., Mich and that her post office address is Middleville Mich – (Claimant’s signature) Thurza Greenham Also personally appeared Orlando Thomas residing in Thornapple and Ethel A Hendrick residing in Middleville, 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 Thurza Greenham, the claimant, sign her name (make her mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be; and they they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. (Signed by) Orlando Thomas Ethel A Hendrick Sworn to and subscribed before me this 7th day of July, A.D. 1890 and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration, &c, were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing …and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim. (Signed by) Charles W. Armstrong, Judge of Probate (Date stamped “US PENSION OFFICE JULY 11, 1890) (The following is a hand written statement attached to the Declaration for pension document) Claimant further says that said Greenham died leaving one child now thirty three years old – Mrs Martha McNee – nee Greenham and 40 acres of land – rough and unproductive land – and containing some marsh & swamp and only twenty five acres ____ on it – and did not leave sufficient personal property to pay his debts – that there was no house or barn on the same – that the husband of said Martha Wm McNee built a small house on said land and lives thereon – said land was willed to her for life time but her said son in law who is ___ lives on said land and has the income thereof – that the highest income she could derive from said land – if she could have it would not exceed thirty five dollars per anum – The will of aforesaid has never been probated. She depends on her own labor in her support and has ever since the death of her husband – That she works out by the week and does washing & cleans houses to get her support and is obliged so to do in order to live – but that she is now getting so old and feble that she can not much longer earn her support that deceased served about eleven months in said service that when said Amos Greenham died said land was morgaged in more than one thousand dollars which was nearly the entire value of said land which morgage was paid by a brother of claimant by his will. (Document is stamped “US PENSION OFFICE, July 11, 1890) (hand written document) State of Michigan County of Barry In the matter of the claim for pension No 433611 of Thurza Greenham as widow of Amos Greenham of Company “E” 1st Regiment Michigan L.A. Personally came Simeon R Lawrence residing at Middleville Michigan, aged 44 years who being duly sworn declared in ____ to said claim as follows. I am well acquainted with the above named claimant have known her and her deceased husband ever since I was about seven years old – I remember when claimant and her husband came to Livingston County Mich from the old country. It was about 38 years ago. The next year they came to Barry County where they lived as husband and wife until some time in August 1874 when he died at his home in the Township of Irving in this County. I was born on the island of Gurnsey where claimant and her husband lived when they were married – my father came from England and knew claimant and her husband before they were married, and I have heard him say that neither of them were married before. And I know that claimant has never married since the death of the soldier – The claimant has no property except that there is eighty acres of land in Irving worth perhaps fifteen hundred dollars which belongs to her and her daughter; But about eighteen years ago her son in law William McNee took possession of said land and has lived there ever since, and pays the taxes and has the entire proceeds of the place, and claims that he and his wife own the place, or at least assumes entire possession of the farm, and claimant who is old and in poor health has to work out to earn her support, and is now working at house work at fifty cents a week She has no income at all from said land, and what she is able to earn is her only means of support – This affidavit was written by Hartley E Hendrick in my presence from any oral declaration made to him at the time and in making the same he was not aided or prompted by the oral or written statements of any other person. (Signed by) Simeon R. Lawrence State of Michigan County of Barry On this 15th day of January A.D. 1896 personally appeared the above named Simeon R. Lawrence who signed the above affidavit, and the same was read over to him, and the contents fully made known to him making all erasures and additions before signing and I certify that I am not interrested in said claim. (Signed) Ethel A. Hendrick Notary Public (Stamped “US PENSION OFFICE JAN 20, 1896) (Form letter filled in by hand) STATE OF MICHIGAN County of Barry In the matter of the claim for pension of Thurza Greenham widow of Amos Greenham deceased of Company “E” 1st Regiment Mich L.A. Vols: Personally came before me, a notary public in and for aforesaid County and State, Thurza Greenham, the claimant of Middleville in the County of Barry, State of Michigan reputable and entitled to credit; who being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim as follows: My Post Office address is Middleville Barry Co Mich. My age is Seventy three years. My said husband enlisted in the above Company “E” 1st Regiment Mich L.A. on the 13th day of August 1864 and was discharged from the service on the 30th day of July 1865 – He was not engaged in the military or naval service of the United States prior to August 18th 1864, or subsequent to July 30th 1865. I have never been divorced from said Amos Greenham and am now his legal widow. this affidavit was dictated by me to Hartley E. Hendrick at Middleivlle, Michigan, who reduced the same to writing in my presence and from my oral statements to him made, and that in making the same I was not aided by the oral or written declarations of anyone – (Signed) Thurza Greenham (Form letter filled in by hand) STATE OF MICHIGAN County of Barry In the matter of the claim for pension No 33611 of Thurza Greenham widow of Amos Greenham deceased of Company “E” 1st Mich Regiment L.A. Vols: Personally came before me, a notary public in and for aforesaid County and State, Thurza Greenham of Middleville in the County of Barry, State of Michigan reputable and entitled to credit; and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the afore-said claim as follows: My Post Office address is Middleville Mich. My age is 70 years. Hereby certify that I was married to the deceased soldier in July 1841 – I cant remember the day of the month but it was the last Sunday in the month – we were mrred at St Petersport on the Island of Gurnsey England- I never got a marriage certificate. I think both of the witnesses to my marriage are dead – we came to Michigan about 35 years ago, and I lived with the deceased soldier in Barry County Mich as his wife, until he died in August 1874. He was never married before, and I have never married except to him. The only child we had which is living is Martha McNee. She is now 35 years old. Our other children all died when they were young – (Signed) Thurza Greenham (Form letter filled in by hand) STATE OF MICHIGAN County of Barry In the matter of the claim for pension of Thurza Greenham widow of Amos Greenham who was a private of Company “E” 1st Mich Regiment L.A. Vols: Personally came before me, a notary public in and for aforesaid County and State, Mark Coykendall of Thornapple in the County of Barry, State of Michigan reputable and entitled to credit; and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim as follows: My Post Office address is Middleville. My age is 64 years. I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the above named claimant Thurza Greenham, and have been for about thirty years. I was well acquainted with her husband in his life time – I lived within about two mils of them when he enlisted in said company “E” and also when he came home from the service – He died I think in the summer of 1874 – He left a piece of land, but there was only a small amount improved, and it was heavily mortgaged, and barely produced enough to pay the taxes on the land and the interest – the deceased did not leave enough personal property to pay his debts, and at his death the claimant was obliged to work out to earn money to support herself – she has worked a great deal for my family and also for the other neighbors – she was compelled to do so in order to get the necessaries of life – she is now in feble health and is able to do but very little and ought not to do anything. Her said husband was Amos Greenham above named and I know that they lived together and were husband and wife – I further declare that I have no interest in said claim and am not concerned in its prosecution. (Signed) M Coykendall (Form letter filled in by hand) STATE OF MICHIGAN County of Barry In the matter of pension number 33611 of Thurza Greenham widow of Amos Greenham deceased of Company “E” 1st Regiment Mich L.A. Vols: Personally came before me, a notary public in and for aforesaid County and State, Wilbur Cutler of Irving Township in the County of Barry, State of Michigan reputable and entitled to credit; and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim as follows: My Post Office address is Middleville Barry Co Mich. My age is 51 years. I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the abovenamed claimant have known her since year 1857 when she and her husband the above named Amos Greenham came to Michigan – I knoew him well up to his death in 1874 – They lived together as husband and wife in Barry County Michigan from the year 1857 up to his death – I worked for Mr Greenham a great many times during his life and I know that they actually lived as husband and wife. I have lived within a quarter of a mile of claimant ever since her husbands death and know she has not remarried since. They left no children but one. Martha. She is now Martha McNee and she is about 35 years old – The claimants only means of support is a dower interest in 80 acres of unimproved land which does not bring her in over ($15) fifteen dollars a year – She is in poor health and isn’t able to work – claimant and her husband came from Gurnsey England. From the time they came to this country in 1857 up to the time of his death I know that ofll of his relatives, and all of her relatives, and all of their friends looked upon them as husband and wive and I knew that Amos Greenham in his life time claimed that they were mrred about 1841 in the Island of Gurnsey - I further declare that I have no interest in said claim, and am not concerned in its prosecution. (Signed) Wilber Cutler (Form letter filled in by hand) STATE OF MICHIGAN County of Barry In the matter of the claim for pension of Thurza Greenham widow of Amos Greenham deceased of Company “E” 1st Regiment Mich L.A. vols: Personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for aforesaid County and State, George C Smith of Middleville in the County of Barry, State of Michigan reputable and entitled to credit; and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim as follows: My Post Office address is Middleville Barry co. Mich. My age is 64 years. I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the above named claimant and the deceased soldier – we were comrades in the above named company we enlisted together and came home together in 1865 – I often heard him speak of claimant as his wife – after the war they lived together in the township of Irving on the farm ajoining mine – I knew them well up to the time of his death in 1874. And I know that they lived and cohabitated together as husband and wife all these years. And I know that his widow has not remarried they had one child when I first knew him in 1863 and she is still living – her name is Martha McNee – They have never had any children since – The claimants only means of support besides her own labor is a dower interest in 80 acres of land which does not bring her in scarce by anything. I barely pays the taxes an it is poor land and ______ ____ and she is not able to manage it – She is in poor health and not able to earn a living. I was well acquainted with Simeon Lawrance, now deceased, of Thornapple, who was her brother in law and I know that he as well as all their relatives acknowledged them to be husband and wife and the fact was never questioned item at the neighborhood – I further declare that I have no interest in said claim, and am not concerned in its prosecution. (Signed) Geo. C. Smith (Form letter filled in by hand) STATE OF MICHIGAN County of Barry In the matter of the claim for pension Number 33611 of Thurza Greenham widow of Amos Greenham deceased of Company “E” 1st Regiment Mich L.A. vols: Personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for aforesaid County and State, John Swegles of Irving Township in the County of Barry, State of Michigan reputable and entitled to credit; and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim as follows: My Post Office address is Middleville. My age is 62 years. I hereby certify that I have been acquainted with the above named claimant and her deceased husband Amos Greenham since the year 1857 – They stayed all night at my house the first night they were in Barry County in 1857 – from my home they went to her brother in laws house, Simeon Lawrence who lived in Thornapple Barry Co. I have known them well from that time up to the time of Amos Greenhams death in 1874. He died in the month of August 1874 at his home in Irving Township. I was present at his death and at his funeral – I know that they lived and cohabited together as husband and wife during all there years – They had a little girl when I firt saw them about a year old – she is still living – her name is Martha McNee – They had no children since – I know that his widow has not remarried since her said husbands death she has a dower interest in 80 acres of land – It is porr unimproved land and only brings in to her but a very small amount – I thinknot over fifteen dollars a year – She hasno other means of support but her own labor, and she is in poor health and not able to earn a support. She is really in destitute circumstances and in sure need of help. I further declare that I have no interest in said claim, and am not concerned in its prosecution. (Signed) John Swegles (Form letter filled in by hand) STATE OF MICHIGAN County of Barry In the matter of the claim for pension of Thurza Greenham widow of Amos Greenham deceased claim no 433611 of Company “E” 1st Regiment Mich L.A. vols: Personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for aforesaid County and State, Wilbur Cutler of Middleville in the County of Barry, State of Michigan reputable and entitled to credit; and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim as follows: My Post Office address is Middleville Barry co. Mich. My age is fifty six years. I am well acquainted with the above named claimant, and have known her and her late husband up to the time of his death ever since the year 1857 – At that time I was living with Simeon Lawrance a brother of claimant in Livingston County this state – Claimant and her husband were there and staid nearly all summer – In the following winter claimant and her said husband Amos Greenham came to this county, and I came here with said Simeon Lawrance the following spring – I know from what her brothers folks claimed at the time true that neither claimant or her husband was ever married before, and I know that they lived together in this county as husband andwife till his death, and I know that she has not remarried since – Claimant is in feble health and destitute circumstances – This affidavit was written by H E Hendrick at Middleville Mich on the 14th day of February 1895 from my oral statements made to him at this time in making the same I was not aided or prompted by the oral or written statements of any other persons. I further declare that I have no interest in said claim, and am not concerned in its prosecution. (Signed) Wilbur Cutler (Form letter filled in by hand) date stamped 2/16/1895 STATE OF MICHIGAN County of Barry In the matter of the claim for pension No 433611 Thurza Greenham widow of Amos Greenham of Company “E” 1st Regiment Mich L.A. vols: Personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for aforesaid County and State, Thurza Greenham of Middleville in the County of Barry, State of Michigan reputable and entitled to credit; and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim as follows: My Post Office address is Middleville Barry co. Mich. My age is Seventy three years. I am the above named claimant and have applied for pension under the above number. when my late husband Amos Greenham died about twenty years ago We owned 80 acres of land in Irving Township with about thirty acres improved – the front forty stood in his name and the back forty in mine, there was a mortgage on the 80 of one thousand dollars held by my brother who died a good many years ago and willed this mortgage interest to me and my daughter after me about seventeen years ago my said daughter and her husband moved on to said farm and built a small house on it, and assumed the entire control of the farm and from that time on my said daughter and her husband have refused to allow me anything from said land – I was allowed to live with them until about a year ago when on account of his treatment of me I was obliged to leave and work out at housework in a family in Middleville – For a time I got a dollar a week and during this past winter hair _____ fifty cents a week – the money & hair earned in this way has been my only income – On account of the forty acres of land that stood in my name being unimproved and encumbered with the one thousand dollar interest held by my daughter, who utterly refuses to join with me in selling the land or encumbering it by mortgage I am unable to realize anything whatever from it – The entire 80 acres would not sell for more than $1000# if one could give a clear title but as my interest in it is so small on account of the interest of my daughter and the claim of her husband that he can hold it by right of possession. I am utterly unable to get anything from the place and it is of no value to me whatever – I am getting old and feeble, and am not fit to do anything and unless my pension is allowed I fear I shall be dependent on the charity of friends or the county – Ihave not remarried since the death of my said husband and neither of us were ever married to any one else – During all the years I remained with my daughter I worked out at intervals and earned money to buy my clothes – I was married to said Amos Greenham on the Island of Gurnsey, when I was twenty two years old and he was twenty three – Neither he or I had been married before – We livedin Gurnsey until theyar 1857 when we came to this country and moved into Barry County the following year where I lived with my husband until he died – My said son in law has paid the taxes for the past sixteen years and keeps the house insured in his own name, but claims that he and his wife own the land – I have no doubt that if I had themeans to litigate, and felt dispared to do so I might recover some interest in the land, but I prefer to live on charit or even to to the ocunty house than to be obliged to go to law against my daughter and as I have no personal property whatever I could not raise the means to ______ any legal proceedings if I would. (Signed) Thurza Greenham The foregoing affidavit was written by H E Hendrick at Middleville on the 7th day of February 1895 from my oral statements made to him at the time and in making the same I was not aided or…. (last page missing?) Civil War ----------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent.