DeKALB COUNTY, TN - MILITARY - Mary Polly Baine Widow's Pension Application ==================================================================== USGENWEB 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 or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Ronald H. James jamesbears@mmcable.com ==================================================================== Questions for Applicant STATE OF TENNESSEE } White County. } Polly Bain of said State and County, desiring to avail herself of the pension allowed to Indigent Widow’s of Soldiers, under Act of General Assembly, approved April, 1905, being Chapter 202 of the Acts of 1905, and Senate Bill No. 41, Acts of 1909, hereby submits her proofs, and after being duly sworn true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows: 1. What is your full name and where do you reside? (Give State, County, and Post Office) Polly Bain, Walling RTD # 1 White County Tennessee. 2. How long and since when have you been a resident of this State? 69 years 3. When and where were you born and what was your maiden name? Don't remember what year nor month born in White County. Polly Skurlock 4. When and where was your husband born-state his full name, and when and where were you and he married, and who performed the marriage ceremony? (Attach certified copy marriage license in every case) 1816, 16 Dec in DeKalb Co Tenn, William Baine, 1890, in White County Tennessee J. K. Waumack Esquire married us. 5. When and where and in what Company and Regiment did your husband enlist or serve during the war between the States? 6. How long did you husband serve in said Company and Regiment? 7. When and where did your husband’s Company and Regiment surrender? 8. Was your husband present at the time and place when his Company and Regiment surrendered? 9. If not with his command at surrender, state clearly and specifically where he was when he left command, for what cause and by what authority? 10. Was your husband a pensioner or an applicant for pension, under the laws of Tennessee? He was a pensioner. 11. When and where did your husband die? At his home in White County Tenn June 1910. 12. At the time of your husband’s death, were you living with him as his lawful wife? Yes 13. Have you married since the death of your soldier husband? No 14. How many children did you have by your said husband? Give sex and age at this time. None 15. What property, real or personal, or income do you have or possess, and its gross value. I have a dowry & Homestead during my live [sic] valued at $400.00 16. What property, real or personal, did you possess at death of husband or did he leave you, and what disposition if any, by sale or gift have you made of the same? None 17. Have you a family? If so, who compose such family? Give their means of support. Have they any lands or other property? No her Sworn to and subscribed before me, this } Polly X Baine 23 day of May 1911 } mark W. L. Dibrell wit of Clk White County W. L. Dibrell Clk _________________________________________________ Questions for Witnesses STATE OF TENNESSEE } White County. } Jasper A. Knowles & J. P. Lewis of said State and County, having been presented as a witness in support of the application of Mrs. Polly Bain for a pension under Chapter 202, Acts of 1905, and Senate Bill No. 41, Acts of 1909, and after being duly sworn true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows: 1. What is your name and what is your post office address? Jasper A. Knowles Walling #1 Tennessee 2. Are you acquainted with the applicant Mrs. Polly Bain If so, how long have you known her: I/We have known her 60 years 3. Where does she reside, and how long and since when has she been a resident of this State? In White County Tenn. Has been a resident of Tennessee all her live ever since I have known her. 4. When and where was she born? In White County Tennessee. Don’t know when. 5. Were you ever acquainted with her husband? Yes 6. When and by whom were they married? Can’t say where nor by whom married 7. Where either or both of you present at the marriage? Knowles was not 8. How long did you know him? Over 50 years. 9. When and where did William Bain enlist in the war between the States, and in what Company and Regiment did he enlist, and how do you know this? 1861 in White County I think he was in Shields Company and knew he was in 16th Tennessee Infantry Col Savages Regt 10. Were you a member of the same Company and Regiment at the close of the war? I was a member of same Regiment But not same Company 11. How long did he perform regular military duty? Can’t say I was in prison 12. When and where was his Company and Regiment surrendered? Can’t say for above reason 13. Were you with the command when it surrendered? No, I was in prison 14. Was William Bain the husband of applicant present? Can’t say for above reason 15. If not present where was he? (There was no answer to this question just a straight line) 16. When and where did he leave his command? Don’t know that he left For what cause? (There was no answer to this question just a straight line) By whose authority did he leave? (There was no answer to this question just a straight line) How do you know all this? (State fully and clearly) I was a member of same Regt and since war have lived something like 4 miles from William Bain and saw him frequently. 17. When and where did William Bain die die? At his home on the Bank of Caney Fork in 1910 18. Where did he reside at his death and how long had he been a resident of Tennessee at his death? In White County Tenn 19. Do you know of your own knowledge that applicant is the lawful widow of William Bain? I do 20. Has she remained unmarried since her soldier husband’s death, and is she now a widow? Yes she is too old to remarry. 21. What property, effects or income has the applicant, if any, and how do you know this of your own knowledge? She has a poor and neglected little piece of land for a homestead and dowry Has applicant conveyed any property in the last two years or given any away. If so, what was it and to whom? She had none to convey Note--Let the witness who can answer the greatest number of the questions do so; then let the other witness state in the space below how much of the testimony of the first witness he concurs in, and whether or not he can answer any of the questions not answered by the first witness. J P Lewis comes and adopts all or most all of Jasper Knowles answers as his answers Sworn to and subscribed before me this 8 his day of July 1911 Jasper A X Knowles mark W L Dibrell J P Lewis (Original Signature) County Ct Clk wit Witnesses W L Dibrell The following Certificate of the County Trustee Must be Filled Out. I, J W Little Trustee of White County, Tennessee, hereby certify that the property assessed on the tax books of this County to Mrs. Polly Bain the widow of Wm Bain Sr amounts to $400.00 real estate and $ [wave line] personal J W Little Trustee Her land is assessed to her husband For: White County, Tenn. deceased and none to her, J W Little Certificate of Clerk of Court or Notary Public. STATE OF TENNESSEE } White County } I, W L Dibrell Clerk (or Notary Public [lined out]) in and for said county, hereby certify that the applicant Mrs. Polly Bain resides in said County, and has been a bona fide resident of this State, since the I first knew her some 40 years and that the witnesses Mr. Jasper A. Knowles & J P Lewis are of trustworthy character, and that their statements are entitled to full faith and credit. I do further certify that before answering the foregoing questions, the applicant and said witnesses took the oath herein prescribed, and the full text of the affidavits was read to the applicant and witnesses before the same was signed and subscribed. Witness my hand and official seal this 8 day of Jul 1911 (Seal) W L Dibrell, Clk __________County Questions for Applicant STATE OF TENNESSEE } White County. } Mary Baine of said State and County, desiring to avail herself of the pension allowed to Indigent Widow’s of Soldiers, under Act of General Assembly, approved April, 1905, being Chapter 202 of the Acts of 1905, and Senate Bill No. 41, Acts of 1909, hereby submits her proofs, and after being duly sworn true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows: 1. What is your full name and where do you reside? (Give State, County, and Post Office) Mary Baine, Walling # 1, White County Tennessee. 2. How long and since when have you been a resident of this State? 73 years 3. When and where were you born and what was your maiden name? I forget Born and raised in White County. 4. When and where was your husband born-state his full name, and when and where were you and he married, and who performed the marriage ceremony? (Attach certified copy marriage license in every case) Don’t know where But in DeKalb County Tenn, 5. When and where and in what Company and Regiment did your husband enlist or serve during the war between the States? 6. How long did you husband serve in said Company and Regiment? 7. When and where did your husband’s Company and Regiment surrender? 8. Was your husband present at the time and place when his Company and Regiment surrendered? 9. If not with his command at surrender, state clearly and specifically where he was when he left command, for what cause and by what authority? 10. Was your husband a pensioner or an applicant for pension, under the laws of Tennessee? Yes-s.a. 2236. (Note: s.a. believed to mean soldier’s application) 11. When and where did your husband die? Been dead 3 years died in White County Tenn. 12. At the time of your husband’s death, were you living with him as his lawful wife? Yes 13. Have you married since the death of your soldier husband? No 14. How many children did you have by your said husband? Give sex and age at this time. None 15. What property, real or personal, or income do you have or possess, and its gross value. None only 1 pig worth $2 16. What property, real or personal, did you possess at death of husband or did he leave you, and what disposition if any, by sale or gift have you made of the same? 1 cow & an old horse. Horse died soon after my husband and the cow died this last winter. 17. Have you a family? If so, who compose such family? Give their means of support. Have they any lands or other property? No her Sworn to and subscribed before me, this } Mary X Baine 24 day of May 1913 } mark W. L. Dibrell Clk of White County _________________________________________________ Questions for Witnesses STATE OF TENNESSEE } White County. } J W McPeak and Geo H Hudson of said State and County, having been presented as a witness in support of the application of Mrs. Mary Bain for a pension under Chapter 202, Acts of 1905, and Senate Bill No. 41, Acts of 1909, and after being duly sworn true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows: 1. What is your name and what is your post office address? J W McPeak Sparta Geo H Hudson Sparta Tenn. 2. Are you acquainted with the applicant Mrs. Mary Bain If so, how long have you known her: We are and we have known her 25 years 3. Where does she reside, and how long and since when has she been a resident of this State? In White County Ten. And has been since we can remember. 4. When and where was she born? We can’t say 5. Were you ever acquainted with her husband? We were 6. When and by whom were they married? Can’t say 7. Where either or both of you present at the marriage? No 8. How long did you know him? We knew him 25 years 9. When and where did _______ enlist in the war between the States, and in what Company and Regiment did he enlist, and how do you know this? 10. Were you a member of the same Company and Regiment at the close of the war? 11. How long did he perform regular military duty? 12. When and where was his Company and Regiment surrendered? 13. Were you with the command when it surrendered? 14. Was William Bain the husband of applicant present? 15. If not present where was he? (There was no answer to this question just a straight line) 16. When and where did he leave his command? For what cause? (There was no answer to this question just a straight line) By whose authority did he leave? (There was no answer to this question just a straight line) How do you know all this? (State fully and clearly) I was a member of same Regt and since war have lived something like 4 miles from William Bain and saw him frequently. 17. When and where did William Bain die? Don’t remember the date But he died in White County 3 or 4 years ago 18. Where did he reside at his death and how long had he been a resident of Tennessee at his death? In White County, ever since we knew him 19. Do you know of your own knowledge that applicant is the lawful widow of William Bain? We do 20. Has she remained unmarried since her soldier husband’s death, and is she now a widow? She was and is still his widow 21. What property, effects or income has the applicant, if any, and how do you know this of your own knowledge? She has but little property Has applicant conveyed any property in the last two years or given any away. If so, what was it and to whom? We don’t know Note--Let the witness who can answer the greatest number of the questions do so; then let the other witness state in the space below how much of the testimony of the first witness he concurs in, and whether or not he can answer any of the questions not answered by the first witness. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 24 day of May 1913 J W McPeak (Original Signature) W L Dibrell Geo H Hudson (Original Signature) County Court Clerk Witnesses The following Certificate of the County Trustee Must be Filled Out. I, J W Little Trustee of White County, Tennessee, hereby certify that the property assessed on the tax books of this County to Mrs. Mary Bain the widow of William Bain amounts to $ None real estate and $ None personal J W Little Trustee For: White County, Tenn. Certificate of Clerk of Court or Notary Public. STATE OF TENNESSEE, } White County } I, W L Dibrell Clerk (or Notary Public [lined out]) in and for said county, hereby certify that the applicant Mrs. Mary Bain resides in said County, and has been a bona fide resident of this State, since the some 25 or 30 years, and that the witnesses Mr. J W Mc Peak & Geo H Hudson are of trustworthy character, and that their statements are entitled to full faith and credit. I do further certify that before answering the foregoing questions, the applicant and said witnesses took the oath herein prescribed, and the full text of the affidavits was read to the applicant and witnesses before the same was signed and subscribed. Witness my hand and official seal this 24 day of May 1913 (Seal) W L Dibrell __________County Notes: (1) On Mary’s application questions 5 to 9 have one large “X” through them. (2) On the witnesses questionnaire questions 9 to 16 have one large “X” through them. _________________________________________________ Oct. 8, 1913 Mary Baine 4940-W Walling, Tenn., Route #1, Dear Madam: In your application for pension the marriage certificate shows that you were married December 30, 1890. Under our law we cannot pension a widow unless she was married before January 1st, 1890. Yours truly, Special Examiner. July 2, 1915 Mrs. Mary Bain No. 4940 Hon. W.L. Dibrell Sparta, Tenn. Dear Sir: We have received from you an application signed by Polly Bain, who is said to be the Widow of William Bain. In May 1913 an application was filed by Mary Bain, Widow of William Bain. I suppose Polly Bain and Mary Bain are the same persons. It seems she was married in 1890, December 29th. Our old law requires marriage before Jan. 1st, 1890. The last legislature passed a law extending the time of marriage to 1895, but they failed to give us any appropriation to cover those who should be added to the roll by the new law. Our appropriation is barely enough to take care of those we already have on the roll, and so we must ask those who were married between 1890 and 1895 to wait until we have the money before we can consider their cases. Yours truly, Special Examiner _________________________________________________ Sparta Tennessee 5 July 1915 Hon. Frank A Moses Nashville, Tenn. Yours of 2nd July read. Mary Bain and Polly Bain are the same persons. She is very old and feeble and crippled up so I am afraid she will not live to enjoy her pension having to wait for another Legislature and appropriation. I hope you will place her on this next payroll, so she may have the benefit of it awhile. I sent two applications for widows since your last meeting - Hope to see both in your next payroll - Mrs J B Hudley and Mrs T B Biles. I hope you are holding up all right. Yours Very truly, W L Dibrell HEADQUARTERS Tennessee Board of Pension Examiners Nashville, Tenn Jan 1 1916 Mr F W Hobson Dear Sir: In answer to your letter of Nov 26 and Dec 28, will say; Mary Bain No 4940 has been considered and rejected; Her husband Wm Bain was a pensioner, but she was married Dec 29. 90. The last Legislature passed a law increasing the date of marriage from Dec 31. 89 to Dec 31. 96. But no appropriation was made to cover the increase. I enclose you a circular of the subject. The cases of Elestra Titsworth No 5939, and Rebecca Turner No 6100, were both considered, and passed over for further investigation. They are now in the hands of the Special Examiner, and not in this office. He will report them for reconsideration at the meeting, which begins on the 12th inst. Very Respt Jno P Hickman _________________________________________________ Polly Bain #4940 William Bane Liberty Tenn Jan 15/16 Gen Jno P Hickman Nashville Tenn Dear Sir: I received letter from you, of date Jan. 1st 1816, stating above cited claim did not come with in the extended marriage limitation, and rejected. I am just in receipt of letter from her for explanation. I understand the statute extended marriage limitation from Dec^31st 1889 to Dec 31st 1906. Court records show she was married Dec. 29 1890. Evidently her marriage comes with in the statutory provision. So does claim of Mrs. Electra Titsworth No 5939. If I am in error it is not intentional. If the legislation makes appropriation to meet this class of claim, I suppose they will come up for adjudication during this meeting of the Board. Respt F.W. Hobson Liberty Tenn Feb 11/16 Gen Jno P Hickman Nashville Tenn Dear Sir I am requesting by claimant, under application 4940, for an explanation of your letter of date Jan 1/16 (enclosed). It seems you construe the law to be a Statutory prohibition against her claim. The last legislature passed the act amending the limitation of the marriage of confederate widows, from Dec. 31 1889 to Dec. 31/96. Applicant married Dec. 29/90. Why does she not come within the extended limitations? Mrs. Elestra Titsworth [number] 5939 married May 19th 1891. You say her claim was considered & in hands of special examiner. We know why action is not taken on those claims-no funds appropriated, by why is No 4940 rejected? She was married between 1889 & 1896. Respt F. W. Hobson _________________________________________________ [Not dated] If additional evidence is required I will ask you to advise me at once, as I want claim ready for next meeting. Respt [For] Polly Bain Rfl # 1 Walling Tenn. _________________________________________________ Final Notes: (1) Spellings are as they were initially written, except for obvious mistakes, which were corrected from the actual document for clearness. (2) On the front cover of William Bain’s Soldier’s Application for pension the following information appears: (a) His name is written Wm Bain and he first filed for a pension on Oct. 18, 1899, his file number was 2236 and was stamped “ACCEPTED” on May 02, 1905. His widow (Mary) file number also is given as #4940. (b) Two hand written notes state (1) wrote him Apr 14/05 and (2) W.L. Dilrell Apr 17/05. (c) Additional information concerning the unit William served in can be found in “Tennesseans in the Civil War” (d) The surname Moses is given, which can be referring to Lt. Frank A. Moses, Special Examiner. (3) These documents make reference to two different men with the same first name William. One is stated as Senior and the other as Junior. This designation was used perhaps to distinguish between these two men. William Sr. may not have fathered any children. The only child ever listed in his household each census year was Henry Rose and the children of Isaiah Bain (William’s brother). William Jr. stated in these documents is believed to have been the son Lucinda Carolyn Bain. (4) Both applications file by Mary/Polly Bain were “REJECTED.” (5) Polly Bain’s application for “Widow’s Indigent Pension” was signed on May 23, 1911, but was not filed until June 23, 1915, under file No. 2940 . The cover also states “Married Dec 29 90. Must have married before 1890 can’t file. (5) Mary Bain’s application for “Widow’s Indigent Pension” was signed and filed in May 1913, under file No. 4940. The cover states Wm Bain Combs’ Battalion, s.a. # 2236, and “New application under new law.” (6) Mary “Polly” (Skurlock) Bain had two children born out of wedlock. She was originally the family’s housekeeper. After Williams first wife died family members did not think it was proper for Mary to remain in his home and basically forced William to marry her. (7) Two marriage licenses appear in Mary “Polly” Bain’s widow application. Both licenses state that William Bain and Mary Skurlock married on December 29, 1890, but were signed by J.V. Williams and J.D. Goff, respectively.