Morgan County TN Archives Military Records.....Potter, Absolom/Nancy Civilwar - Pension ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Robin Marshall robin_marshall@urscorp.com August 15, 2008, 6:04 pm Civil War Pension Application Absolom/Nancy Potter Pension Application Papers Obtained from NARA APPLICATION FOR WIDOWS PENSION State of Tennessee Morgan County On this 21 day June 1880 personally appeared before me a clerk of a court of record in and for the County and State aforesaid, Nancy Potter, a resident of 8th district in the county of Morgan and State of Tennessee aged 66 years, who being duly sworn, makes the following declaration in order to obtain the pension provided by the act of Congress approved July 14, 1862, that she is the widow of Absolom Potter who was a private in Company F commanded by E. Langley in the 1st regiment of Tennessee in the war of 1861 that her maiden name was Nancy Howard and that she was married to said Absolom Potter on or about the 2d day of December 1840 at Jno. Howards in the county of Morgan and State of Tennessee by H. Jones Esq. and that there is no record evidence of marriage. She further declares that said A. Potter her husband died after being in the services of the United States, as aforesaid, at home in the State of Tennessee on or about the 19th day of April 1873 of chest disease. She also declares that she has remained a widow ever since the death of said Absolum and that she has the following named children of her deceased husband and herself who are now living, the dates of whose births are as given below, to wit: J.W. Potter born Sept 9th 1846 L.T. Potter born July 14 1848 Sarah Potter born March 15 1850 Solomon Potter born April 10 1858 P.M. Potter born April 14 1856 She hereby appoints Samuel V. Niles of Washington D.C. to prosecute this claim. She further declares that she has not abandoned the support of any one of the children above named, nor permitted any one of the same to be adopted by any person or persons that they are the only legitimate children of herself and the deceased and that she has not in any manner been engaged in or aided or abetted the rebellion in the United States. My post office address is Island Ford, Tenn. Nancy (her mark) Potter Attest. /s/ John L. Scott /s/ Saml F. Scott WAR DEPARTMENT LETTER January 24, 1881 Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your office of application for Pension No. 273,455, and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this Office. It appears from the Rolls on file in this Office that Absalom Potter was enrolled and mustered into service as a Corpl on the 1 day of Sept 1861, at Camp Dick Robinson, in Co. F, 1 Regiment of Tenn. Infty. Volunteers, to serve 3 years, or during the war. In the Muster Roll of Co. F of that Regiment he is reported Oct 31, 1861 Present. Dec 31, 1861 (not on file). Feby 28, 1862 name not found. April 30, 1862 absent sick in Hospl Barboursville Ky name dropped from sub rolls to April 30, 1863. June 30, 1863 Present with remark deserted Augt 10, 1862 returned to regt & co. May 30, 1863. sub rolls to August 31, 1864 Present. Mustered out Sept 17, 1864. [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee Morgan County Personally appeared before me Jeremiah Hurst Justice of the Peace of said county, William Howard age 53 years Post office address Kismet who deposes & saith that he was well acquainted with Absalom Potter for 40 years or to his death and knew him to be as stout as common men until he joined the US army and after he got in camp some time after he was then he was taken sick and was taken to the Hospital and I think we left him there when we left camp dick & his health was bad while I staid with the army and when he returned home his health was bad and he complained until his death my best recollection is that he complained of his breast or chest I knew him all the time from the time he came home from the army until his death as I often seen him at his house and at my house and other places and I am well acquainted with his wife Nancy Potter and know her to remain a widow until now and I further swear that I have no interest in said case and am not concerned in its prosecution this the 9th day of June 1885. /s/ Wm Howard Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 9th day of June 1885 and I hereby certify that the contents of the foregoing affidavit were fully made know & explained to the affiant before swearing thereto and the affiant is to me well known and he’s respectable and worthy of full credit and that I have no interest direct or indirect in its prosecution of the claim. /s/ Jeremiah Hurst JP for Morgan County My certification is on file in the Pension department in the claim of Jehu Lavender. [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee Morgan County Personally appeared before me Jeremiah Hurst Justice of the Peace for said county, James O. Langley age 76 years who deposes and saith that he had known Absalom Potter for 3 years before he joined the U.S. army and new him to be as stout as common men and as the best I recollect Potter was sent to the hospital some time in Oct 1861 from that time until about one month confined to the Hospital and he complained nearly all the time while he was in the army and he was on the sick list a grate deal of the time I know this because I was temporary Hospital Sterd I had to attend on the sick and he complained of his chest in fact he had cold settle on his lungs & I new him from then up to his death and he was always complaining all the time & he told me after we got home that he would never be able to do any thing any more and he _____ to be going down health from the time he came home until his death he complained of his bust and shortness of his breath I know these facts by liven near him and I often seen him at home & at my house & other places and & also know his wife Nancy Potter and know her to be a widow yet and she has not remarried since the death of her husband Absalom Potter. My post office address is Kismet Morgan County Tenn. I further declare that I am not no interest in said case and I am not concerned in its prosecution. /s/ James O. Langley Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 9th day of June 1885 and I hereby certify that the contents of the foregoing affidavit were fully made know & explained to the affiant before swearing thereto that the affiant is to me well known and he’s respectable and worthy of full credit and that I have no interest direct or indirect in its prosecution of this claim. /s/ Jeremiah Hurst JP for Morgan County [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee Morgan County Personally appeared before me Jeremiah Hurst JP for said Co. L.T. Potter age 3? years PO address is Island Ford who deposes and said that the he was well acquainted with Absalom Potter and he died April 19, 1873. I know this from the fact that I made a record in the Bible as he was my father. This the 15 day of June 1885. /s/ LT Potter Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 15th day of June 1885 and I hereby certify that the contents of the foregoing affidavit were fully made known and explained to the affiant before swearing thee to with the word erased in line 4 that is 37 years that the affiant is to me well known and is respectable and worthy of full credit and that I have no interest direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim. /s/ Jeremiah Hurst [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee Morgan County Personally appeared before me Jeremiah Hurst Justice of the Peace Allen Howard P.O. address is Lavender age 56 years and Nathan Howard age 66 years whose P.O. address is Lavender who depose and saith that they were well acquainted with Absalom Potter and Nancy Potter his wife and have known them for 45 years and they knew them to be married about the year 1842 the reason is because they were present when they were married as they were married at our fathers house and we have known this from then until the death of Absalom Potter and have known his widow Nancy until now and know her to be a widower now. They further state they have no interest direct or indirect in this claim. /s/ Allen Howard /s/ Nathan Howard Sworn to and subscribed before me the 15th day of June 1885 and I certify that the contents of the foregoing affidavit were fully made known and explained to the affiants before swearing them to that the affiants are to me well known and they are respectable and worthy of full credit and that I have no interest direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim. /s/ Jeremiah Hurst Justice of the Peace for Morgan County WIDOW’S PENSION Claimant: Nancy Potter P.O.: Island Ford County: Morgan, State: Tenn Soldier: Absolem Potter Rank: Private, Co. F Regiment: 1 Tenn. Inf. Vol Children: JW Potter, Born Sept 4, 1846 LT Potter, Born July 14, 1848 Sara R. Potter, Born March 15, 1850 Solomon Potter, Born April 10, 1853 PM Potter, Born April 14, 1856 Important Dates: Enrolled: Aug 9, 1861 Mustered: Sept 1, 1861 Discharged: Sept 17, 1864 Died: Alleged April 19, 1873 Declaration filed: June 30, 1880 Former marriage of soldier: None alleged Claimant’s marriage to soldier: Alleged Dec 20, 1840 (Sep 1841) [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee County of Morgan In the matter of Pension claim No. 273,455 of Nancy Potter, widow of Absalom Potter decd, personally came before me an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county and state Nancy Potter whose age is 73 years and whose post office address is Whetstone, whom I know to be reputable and entitled to credit, being first duly sworn according to law deposes and says that she is the widow of Absolom Potter who was a private in Co. F 1st Regt. Tenn. Vols. Inft. and that her said husband died on the 19 day of April 1873 and that he left surviving him five children, whose ages are as follows: John Wesley Potter was borned September 9th 1846, Lewis T. July 14th 1848, Sarah C. March 22, 1850, Solomon April 10th 1853, and Patsy M. April 14th 1856 and that she is unable to furnish the testimony of family physician as to date and cause of soldiers death on account that Dr. F.A. Sinkenecht who treated him is dead and that she cannot furnish the testimony of Ast. Surgeon, B.F. Davidson as to soldiers illness in service on account he is dead that she cannot furnish the testimony of Edward M. Norwood, on account he will not make an affidavit for any soldier and that herself and soldier were never married until they were married to each other and that she has not remarried since the death of her said husband and that they were married to each other December 1840. Nancy (her mark) Potter /s/ Lindsay Cooper /s/ T.G. Cooper Sworn to and subscribed before me on this 2 day of July 1888 and I certify that the affiant is entitled to full faith and credit in a court of record and that the aff. was read over to her and the contents thereof fully known before signing the same. /s/ Sol Potter, JP [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee County of Morgan In the Pension claim No. 273,455, of Nancy Potter, widow of Absalom Potter deced, Personally came before me a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, James O. Langley, whose age is 79 years, whose post office address is Kismet, whom I know to be reputable and entitled to credit, deposes and says that he was a private in Co. F of the 1st Regt Tenn. Vols. Inf. and that he knew Absalom Potter who was a member of same organization and that while at Camp Dick Robinson Ky while in line of duty the said Potter contracted disease of measles and was sent to the hospital and that he Langley was detailed as hospital steward in August 1861 and while there the said Potter was under his care, and that the disease run into fever and settled in the breast of said soldier which became chronic and he never finally recovered from it and that he lived in same county after they were both discharged and that he saw Potter frequently and Potter was feeble and complaining of his breast until he died in 1873 and that he has no interest in this claim and is not concerned in its prosecution. James (his mark) Langley /s/ Lindsay Cooper /s/ James M. Jones Sworn to and subscribed before me on this 23 day of July 1888 and I certify that affiant is reputable and entitled to credit in a court of record and that the affidavit was read over to him and its contents made fully known before signing and that I have no interest in this claim and am not concerned in its prosecution. /s/ James Maguffee [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee County of Morgan In the matter of Pension claim No. 273,455, of Nancy Potter, widow of Absalom Potter decd, Personally came before me a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, William Howard, whose age is [blank] years and whose post office address is Kismet whom I know to be reputable and entitled to credit in a court of record, deposes and says that he was a 2nd Lt, Co. F, 1st Regt. Tenn. Vols. Inft. And that he was well acquainted with Absolom Potter who was a private in same co. and regt. in the war of 1861-4 and knew the said Potter for 20 years before he entered the army and knew that he appeared to be a stout able bodied man and that the said A. Potter while in service and line of duty at Camp Dick Robinson Ky on or about August 1861 the said Potter contracted disease of measles and fever and was sent to hospital from which disease Potter never finally recovered until he died in 1873 and that he lived neighbor to comrade Potter ever since his discharge from the army until he died, and know that he was never stout and was complaining of his breast. These facts are known to him from personal knowledge and that he has no interest in this claim and is not concerned in its prosecution. /s/ Wm. Howard Sworn to and subscribed before me on this 24 day of July 1888 and I certify that affiant read over said affidavit and that the contents thereof were fully known by him before signing the same and that I have no interest direct or indirect in prosecution of this claim. /s/ Wm. M. Jones, JP [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee County of Morgan On the matter of Pension claim No. 273,455 of Nancy Potter widow of Absalom Potter deceased, who was a private in Co. F, 1st Tenn. Vols. Inft. Personally came before me, an acting Justice of the Peace, in and for said county and state, Nancy Potter whose age is 73 years; whose Post office is Whetstone; whom I know to be reputable and entitled to credit, in a court of records, who being first sworn deposes and say, that Absalom Potter her said Husband died on April the 12th 1873 with disease of Breast, Chest and Lungs, and that Dr. F.A. Sienkenecht, who attended him in his last fatal illness is dead, therefore she cannot furnish evidence of Physician, as to his last illness and death of Absalom Potter her said Husband. Nancy (her mark) Potter Attest. /s/ J.H. Byrd /s/ Jeremiah Hurst Sworn to and subscribed before me this day by the above named affiant, and & certify that I read said affidavit to affiant, and acquainted her with its contents before she executed the same, and that I am in no way interested in this claim for Pension. Witness my hand and official seal this 10 day of December 1888. /s/ J.F. Copper JP for Morgan County GENERAL AFFIDAVIT State of Tennessee County of Morgan In the matter of Pension claim of Nancy Potter, No. 273,455 widow of Absolom Potter Decd. On this 10th day of December 1888 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the aforesaid County and State, duly authorized to administer oaths Allen Howard aged 60 years, a resident of Lavender in the county of Morgan and State of Tennessee and whose Post Office address is Lavender, well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to aforesaid case as follows: that he was present and saw Absolom Potter and Nancy Howard united in Holy Wedlock in the fall of the year 1841, that he does not remember the day of the month, and that they were married by Hiram Jones an acting Justice of the Peace for the county of Morgan state of Tennessee and he further declares that he has no interest in said case and is not concerned in its prosecution. Allen (his mark) Howard /s/ J.H. Byrd /s/ Jeremiah Hurst [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee Morgan County I T.A. Morris clerk of the County Court for the County aforesaid hereby certify that I have examined the marriage records for said county of which I am the proper Custodian and find no record of the issuance of any marriage license between Absolem Potter and Nancy Potter and I further certify that the marriage record that was used or executed prior to the late war has become destroyed & cannot be found or by some means misplaced. Given under my hand at office in Wartburgh Tenn. March 28th 1889. /s/ T.A. Morris Clerk Co. Ct. GENERAL AFFIDAVIT State of Tennessee County of Morgan In the matter of Pension claim of Nancy Potter, Widow of Absolom Potter Deceased, who was a private Co. F., 1st Tenn. Vols. Inft. On this 8th day of April 1889 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the aforesaid County and State, duly authorized to administer oaths Menan Davidson aged 68 years, a resident of Deer Lodge in the county of Morgan and State of Tennessee and who Post Office address is Deer Lodge well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to aforesaid case as follows: that he was present and saw Absolom Potter and Nancy Howard united together in Holy Wedlock on or about September in the year of our Lord 1841, and that they were married by Highram Jones, who was at the time an acting Justice of the Peace in an for aforesaid county and state. He further declares that he has no interest in said case and is not concerned in its prosecution. Menan (his mark) Davidson /s/ Amanda Davidson /s/ Edith Mason [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee County of Morgan In the matter of Pension claim No. 273,455 of Nancy Potter Widow of Absolem Potter decd. who was a Private Co. F of the 1 Regt. Tenn. Vols. Personally came before me a Justice of the Peace in and for said county and state Mahaly Ann Taylor, whose age is 64 years and whose Post office is Island Forde in the county of Morgan and state of Tenn. and John Potter, senior whose age is 67 years, and whose post office is Island Forde in the county of Morgan and state aforesaid, persons of lawful age, well known to me to be reputable, and entitled to credit in a court of records, who deposes and says, they were raised in same Neighborhood with Nancy Potter and Absolem Potter and have known them for 55 years and know of their own Personal knowledge that neither one them, Absolom or Nancy Potter were not married to any other Person until they were married to each other, and that they were married to each other in 1840 and that they have no interest in this claim and are not concerned in this prosecution. John (his mark) Potter Mahaly Ann (her mark) Taylor Attest. /s/ Lindsay Cooper /s/ Sol Potter Sworn to and subscribed on this 28 day of December 1889 and I certify that the contents of the foregoing affidavit was read to affiants and the contents fully made known to them before signing the same and that I have not interest in the matter. /s/ W.J. Osborn JP [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee County of Morgan In the matter of Pension claim of Nancy Potter, widow of Absalom Potter deceased, personally came before me Wm. M. Jones, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county and state William Howard whose age is 58 years whose post office address is Lavender in the county of Morgan State of Tenn., and L.S.C. Howard whose age is 53 years whose post office address is Kismet in the county of Morgan, State of Tenn., persons well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit in a court of record, who deposes and says that they have known Absalom and Nancy Potters family for 45 years and know that they had borned to them seven children, towit George W., John, Lewis T, Sarah C, Patsy M, Solomon, and Annie H, four boys and three girls, five of whom are yet living and two dead and that they have no interest in the matter for pension. /s/ L.S.C. Howard /s/ Wm. Howard Sworn to and subscribed before me on this 25 day of Jan 1890 and I certify that the foregoing affidavit was read to and the contents made known to affiants before signing the same and that I have no interest in this claim for pension. /s/ Wm. M. Jones, JP WAR DEPARTMENT FORM Aug 28, 1890 Respectfully returned to Com. of Pensions With the information that Absolom Potter, Co. A, 1st Tenn. Vols. was enrolled August 9th 1861 Garrard Co. Ky. The medical records show him treated as follows: as Absalom Potter, Pvt &c, in Conval. Hosp., Camp Nelson, Ky, Aug 1 to 18/63, chronic diarrhea, returned to duty; as Absalom Porter, &c, Aug 18 to Sept 23/63 (no diagnosis), returned to duty; as Absolom Potter, &c, in G.F. Hosp., A. of Ohio, Marietta, Ga., July 20 to Aug 6/64, diarrhea; as Absolem Potter, &c, in Asylum G.H., Knoxville, Tenn, Aug 8 to 16/64, debility, returned to duty. No records on file for Camp Dick Robinson, Ky. [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee County of Morgan In the matter of widow Pension claim No. 273,455, of Nancy Potter, widow of Absalom Potter deceased, Personally came before me a clerk of the court in and for said county, B.L. Bonham, whose age is 44 years, whose P.O. address is Kismet, well known to be reputable and entitled to credit, who deposes and says that he was acquainted with Absalom Potter for about one year before his death and heard him complain of his breast hurting him and that he had a cough and that he was present at the time of Potters Death and saw him Die and know of his own personal knowledge that he died on the 19 day of April 1873 and that he is not concerned in the prosecution of this claim, and has no interest therein, and that Nancy Potter is yet a widow. /s/ B.L. Bonham Subscribed and sworn to before me this March 23rd 1891 /s/ T.A. Morris [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee County of Morgan In the matter of Pension claim No. 273,455, of Nancy Potter, widow of Absalom Potter decd, Personally came before me a clerk in the court in and for said county, Jehu Lavender, whose age is 48 years and whose post office address is Kismet whom I know to be reputable and entitled to credit, deposes and says that he was a member of Co. F, 1st Regt. Tenn. Vols. Inft. and served with Absalom Potter and was present with the command and was in the hospital with Potter at Camp Dick Robinson Ky on or about September 1861 and served with him after our return to the command and knew of his own personal knowledge that the said Potter was afflicted with disease of breast so that he complained much and coughed and that he suffered with the same more or less until we were discharged in September 1864 and that we lived neighbors to each other after we returned home and he saw Potter frequently until his death and knows of his own knowledge that he had a bad cough and complained of his breast until he died in 1873 in the spring of the year and that he has no interest in this claim and is not concerned in its prosecution. Jehu (his mark) Lavender Attest. /s/ E.R. Duncan /s/ C.H. Stevens Sworn to and subscribed before me on this 23rd day of March 1891. /s/ T.K. Morris [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee County of Morgan In the matter of Pension claim No. 273,455, of Nancy Potter, widow of Absalom Potter, who was a member Co. F 1 Regt. Tenn. Vols. Inft, deceased, personally came before me a clerk of court in and for aforesaid county, John W. Lee, who was a member of the same company and regt in the war 1861-65, whose age is 77 years and whose p.o. address is Kismet, in the County of Morgan state of Tenn. well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, deposes and says that he was present with the company and regiment at Camp Robinson Ky in 1861 when the said Potter was taken to hospital with measles and that he knew when Potter came back to the company and regt and served with him through the three years, up to their discharge in 1864 and know of his own personal knowledge that Potter was diseased with weakness and his breast and hips hurting him and that after they came home that they lived near neighbors and that he saw Potter very often and that he heard Potter complaining of breast and he had a bad cough all the time until his death and he was present when he died and helped to wait on him and knows that he died with cough and complained of his breast hurting and that he died in the spring of the year 1873. These facts are known from personal knowledge he having served with Potter also living near neighbor to him and being very intimately acquainted with him until he died and that he has no interest in this claim and am not concerned in its prosecution and Nancy Potter is yet a widow. John W. (his mark) Lee Attest. /s/ T.A. Morris /s/ C.H. Stevens Sworn to and subscribed before me on this 23rd day of March 1891. /s/ T.A. Morris [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee Morgan County Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for said county and state Nancy Potter Widow of Absalom Potter deceased who was a Private Co. F. 1st Regt. Tenn. Vols. Inf. Nancy Potter who is well known to me to be reputable and entitled to full credit whose age is 76 years and whose post office is Whetstone Morgan Co. Tenn deposes and says that she is in destitute circumstances and is dependant upon her children and neighbors for her support and that she has no other means of support. Nancy (her mark) Potter /s/ R. Melton /s/ Wm Potter Sworn to and subscribed before me by the above men on this 11 day of December 1891. /s/ WJ. Osborn, J.P. in & for Morgan County, Tenn [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee Morgan County Personally appeared before me a Justice of Peace of said County and state W.G. Osborn aged 42 years address Frankfort Morgan Co. Tenn. Deposes and says that he has known the claimant Nancy Potter about 8 years when I saw her last she was complaining a good deal also she has bin hard of hearing about three years. She has no available means of support to my knowledge only through the charity of her children and friends. /s/ W.G. Osborn Sworn to and subscribed before me this Dec. 12th 1891. /s/ N.B. Melton, JP SPECIAL INDEX TO SPECIAL EXAMINER’S REPORT Claim of Nancy Potter, No. 273,455 Names of Witnesses Deposition Claimants’ Statement A Jehu Lavender B John W. Lee C Wm Howard D C.C. Scott E G.H. Taylor F L.T. Potter G J.S. Fritts H Final Statement I Lancing Sta. Apr 29 1892 Hon. Comm. Pensions Washington D.C. Sir, Herewith I have the honor to submit my report in the special claim 273,455 of Nancy widow of Absolom Potter, late of Co. F 1st Tenn. Inf. Claimant resides near Lansing on the Cinn S. RR and her P.O. is Kismet Morgan Co. Tenn. The papers were verified in the field to determine the immediate cause of soldier’s death and whether or not it was due to the ser. Soldier lived all his life on Cumberland Mountain which was, until the RR was built over it, sparsely settled. He was regarded as an industrious and thrifty man up _____ and found the accumulations of a life time swept away by bushwhackers during his absence in the serv. He was unable to recoup and his neighbors elected him to the office of Justice of the Peace and member of the County Clerk which position he held until his death. The proof herewith is the best obtainable at present time because of the inaccessibility of some of the original witnesses. I am however of the belief that there is sufficient herewith to warrant admission and I so recommend. Respectfully /s/ J.F. Fitzpatrick Spcl. Ex. Clt. is very old and feeble as well as quite deaf and I procured her brief statements through the assistance of her daughter. DEPOSITION A Case of Nancy Potter, No. 273,455 On this 29 day of Apl, 1892, at Lansing, County of Morgan State of Tenn, before me, J.F. Fitzpatrick, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Nancy Potter, who being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to her during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: My age is 76 years; no occupation and P.O. Kismet (Lansing depot) Morgan Co. Tenn. I am the widow of Absolom Potter who died Apl 19 1873 of dis. of lungs & complaining of his breast & cough and he came home from the army that way and said he never seed a well day after he did come home. I married Potter a great many years before the war. The ceremony was performed in the county by Squire Jones (now dead). I forgot the date of my marriage because the certificate was lost in a fire, neither Potter or myself were previously married. We lived together right up to the time of his death. I had by Potter seven children, five know living and two dead but all were over 16 years at the time of the soldier’s death. I have not remarried and have not lived with any man since the death of my husband. Since my husband’s death I have been residing with my son L.T. Potter. The soldier was a strong man at enlistment and after his return he could not work because his breast hurt him and he had a cough. He said time and again he got that in the army. He had Dr. Senchenct to see him a few times. He could not afford to employ a physician. He took pills mostly. I gave him teas etc. He had a bad spitting habit but no blood came. He had no hemorrhage or pneumonia. He had no dis. of Heart but he always said something was wrong with his kidneys. I saw him once in Barborsville Ky during the war (1862) and he said he was then suffering pain the kidney trouble. I heard he was dead and went there & found him with pains in his side back & breast. My husband was up and down from time to time after the war sometimes he felt pretty well and then he would get on his back . He was hauling when he fell sick at Sam Scotts (dead) and we brought him home and he lingered a week and died. The date of his death is in the bible. Can you give me any further information about your husband’s condition? No Sir. I am old and feeble all I know is that his breast hurt him and he was not able to do anything. Do you wish to be represented at the examination? My son, LT. will represent me. Are you correctly recorded in this deposition? Yes Sir. Nancy (her mark) Potter Attest. /s/ L.T. Potter DEPOSITION B Case of Nancy Potter, No. 273,455 On this 29 day of Apl, 1892, at Lansing, County of Morgan State of Tenn, before me, J.F. Fitzpatrick, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Jehu Lavender, who being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: My age is 52 years; farmer and P.O. Kismet Morgan Co. Tenn. I was a member of Co. F 1st Tenn. Inf. From 1862 to 1865. I knew Absolom Potter who served in the same company. I know him prior to enlistment and up to the date of his death, 19 or 20 years ago. He died at his home in the 8th dist of this county near Island Ford. The evident cause of his death I do not remember. He was complaining of his stomach and breast all along from the time of his discharge. He also had some rheumatics. He followed farming. He was not able bodied after the war and had his work done on the farm by his boys. What was his physical condition in the army? He was doing pretty well. He was home for a few months but don’t now remember if it was sick furlough or not. Did he incur any disease or disability in the army? I guess he did I can’t just tell you now I might miss it. You mentioned having made an aft. in this claim. I will ask you to state what was the purpose of it? I have made an aft. and have been studying what it was but I have been sick and have “cahare” in my head and my memory is not good. You will listen to the reading of your aft. & tell me how you happened to know much about this matter in 1889. I will first however ask you if he Potter was ever in any hospital. Yes Sir. I believe he was; let me study a little. Yes, I am pretty sure Potter was in Camp Dick Robinson hospital at some time. I was and he had the measles and I had the measles too; I’ll never forget that because the measles settled on my lungs and I nearly pegged out. Which of you were first discharged from the hospital? It is impossible for me now to state. Did he fully recover from the effects of the measles? Yes Sir. Did the measles leave Mr. Potter with any permanent disability? He complained of his breast and hoarse from that time on. Were his lungs affected? Think they were. He told me his were left weak from the measles. What evidence of weak lungs did you ever notice in Mr. Potter? His voice was never as strong after he had the measles. How was he physically after discharge? He was a complaining and said he was not able to do anything much. Did you notice any ev. of lung trouble in the soldier after discharge & if so what? His lungs being weaker and at times he could not hardly talk above a whisper. Was there no improvement? He declined and was worse off all along. How soon after enlistment was it that you were in the hospital with Potter? Probably a month or more. We had it made nary a more. We got the measles right there at Camp Dick Robinson. Was he in hospital after that? Cant say. Was he fit for & did he do regular duty after that spell at Camp Dick Robinson? Think so. Did he have a chronic cough & if so when? Long in time of the war and after the war. After he had the measles he had the cough. How long before his death did you last see Potter? About a month. He was just going about and he was weakly. Did you hear that he suddenly took sick at Sam Scotts & died then? He took sick at Scotts and was brought home and died soon after. Don’t remember the name of his dis. I know his widow Nancy and she has not remarried. They were not previously married before that I know of. They lived together as man & wife all the time I know them and raised a big family. The measles and breast trouble & cough is all I ever knew to ail Potter in the army or out of it. I am not interested in the claim and am correctly recorded in this deposition. Jehu (his mark) Lavender Attest. /s/ J.F. Fitzpatrick /s/ John Hall DEPOSITION C Case of Nancy Potter, No. 273,455 On this 29 day of Apl, 1892, at Lansing, County of Morgan State of Tenn, before me, J.F. Fitzpatrick, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared John W. Lee, who being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: My age is 78 years, occupation farmer and p.o. Kismet Tenn. I was a member of Co. F 1st Tenn. Inf. I knew Absolom Potter before the war during the war and after the war up to the time of his death and always lived within ½ mile of him. He contracted the measles in the army and it fell to his lungs. We all had the measles in Ky and we were most of us treated in the regtl hospital at Camp Dick Robinson. Please tell me in your own language all you know about Mr. Potter in the army & out of it and the cause of his death. Well sir, he was sound man at enlistment and in the army he had the measles and trouble with his hips & back and breast and had a bad cough and after he came home he was a coughing & complaining and started to go into Roane Co. after some yearlings and took sick in the edge of Roane Co. and some of his people went after him & brought him back and he died a short time afterwards. I was there when he died. I cant say what was the cause of his death but kept running down with the army disease and died that’s all. He got so he couldn’t go and died that’s all. Do you not know the name of the disease that caused his death? No sir. Never heard. How did that disease affect him? He just got so he couldn’t go at times and then he would creep about & get down again. Did he have consumption? His worked like consumption that I knew others to have. He coughed and spit up a good deal. How long had he been coughing & spitting up? He commenced a year or two before his discharge from the army and it remained on until his death. Do not remember if he had any doctor. Do not remember him having dis. of heart or kidneys or rheumatism. Would you call his disease lung dis? I would call it consumption because I seed so many with it and he acted just like all the rest. He died fast 19 years ago this month but the date I do not remember. His widow has not remarried and neither of them was previously married. I am not interested in the case and am correctly recorded in this deposition. John W (his mark) Lee Attest. /s/ J.F. Fitzpatrick /s/ William Howard DEPOSITION D Case of Nancy Potter, No. 273,455 On this 29 day of Apl, 1892, at Lansing, County of Morgan State of Tenn, before me, J.F. Fitzpatrick, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared William Howard, who being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: My age is 61 years, farmer, and p.o. Lavender Morgan Co. Tenn. Was second Lt of Co. F 1st Tenn. Inf. I knew Absolom Potter as a member of my company and as a neighbor prior & subsequent to the war. The soldier had the measles at Camp Dick Robinson Ky in the fall of 61 a month or two after our enlistment. The measles were prevalent among the men and I recollect that Potter was not the same after he had them. He had a cough from the time he had the measles and acted like his lungs were affected and breast hurting him. He did duty during the six months I was with the company barring the time he was in hospital at Camp Robinson. I saw very little of the soldier after July 1862 until he returned from the army. I was discharged in July 1862 because of unfitness for duty on account of the measles. Potter came home from the service complaining of this breast & lungs and continued to go down until his death in 1873. I don’t recollect the month. The immediate cause of death was reported to be lung disease. Don’t know that he had medical treatment after the war or that he did not. I was six miles from him at date of death. I am satisfied he had lung disease after the war because his sickly appearance and his coughing & spitting indicated. He was far from being a healthy man after he had the measles. A good many of our men got lung disease from the measles. Do not recollect of seeing him have a hemorrhage but heard it said he did have after the war. Don’t recollect his having pneumonia. I know that Nancy was the only wife soldier ever had and they lived together up to the date of soldier’s death and she has not remarried. They were not previously married. The soldiers death was not sudden but was expected at any time by those who knew him. I am not interested in the claim and am correctly recorded in this deposition. /s/ William Howard DEPOSITION E Case of Nancy Potter, No. 273,455 On this 29 day of Apl, 1892, at Lansing, County of Morgan State of Tenn, before me, J.F. Fitzpatrick, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared C.C. Scott, who being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: My age is 57 years, blacksmith and p.o. Lavender Tenn. I was not in the army. I knew the soldier Absolom Potter and worked with him a good deal prior to his enlistment. Did not work with him after the war. He was a strong and able bodied man at enlistment and after his discharge he was puny and not able to do anything. I can’t tell what disease he had but said he was sick and not able to work and he looked lean & poor and coughed to some extent after discharge. Don’t know the cause or date of his death. Don’t know if he had consumption but he acted and looked like his lungs were affected. He was no more account after his service and I am satisfied his army life affected him. I am not interested in the claim and am correctly recorded in this deposition. /s/ C.C. Scott DEPOSITION F Case of Nancy Potter, No. 273,455 On this 29 day of Apl, 1892, at Lansing, County of Morgan State of Tenn, before me, J.F. Fitzpatrick, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared G.H. Taylor, who being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: My age is 42 years, farmer and p.o. Frankfort Morgan Co. Tenn. I knew Absolom Potter and worked for him prior to his death. He died in Apl 1873 of consumption and pains in his breast & side. I was right there the night he died. I had been employed by him right up that time. I knew him well from the time he came home from the army and also knew that he came home from the army with pain in his breast & side and he ___ until his death. He was not able to do much labor but got his sons and hired hands to do it. He had a hacking kind of cough after the war and spit up a good deal. If he complained of his kidneys & heart I don’t know it. All I know is that he complained to me of pains in his breast & side. Don’t remember which side. It was generally thought that Potter had the consumption and his appearance showed it for he looked pale & yaller. I don’t remember his having any doctor but I saw him take liquid medicine. His death was not sudden because he had been sick for some time and down a good deal. I sat up with him the two last nights and he complained of his breast & side & coughed. Don’t know that he spit up much. He was conscious right up to the time of his death. He appeared like he was smothering towards the last and his breath was short. I did not see him eat while I was there. He told me that he thought his trouble was from cold that he caught in the army. This is all I know about the case. Yes Sir he left a widow named Nancy and she is now alive. I am not interested in the case and am correctly recorded in this deposition. /s/ G.H. Taylor DEPOSITION G Case of Nancy Potter, No. 273,455 On this 29 day of Apl, 1892, at Lansing, County of Morgan State of Tenn, before me, J.F. Fitzpatrick, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared L.T Potter, who being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: My age is 43 years, farmer and p.o. Kismet (Lansing) Morgan Co. Tenn. I am the second eldest son of Nancy and Absolom Potter. My father died Apl 19th 1873 as shown by our Bible record (verified by the exr.) of lung disease or consumption. He had no doctor in his last illness because the doctor we sent for did not get there. We were on the mountain 19 miles from the home of the doctor we sent for. Dr. Senchnect (dead) had been attending my father and said he had the breast disease and nothing could be done for him. I was residing within 2 miles of father at time of his death and my brother (Sol) & self got word that father was sick at Sam Scott’s (deceased) and we brought him home to mothers where he died in a few days or a week. He was going to Roane Co. and took sick at Scotts and took to his bed and we haulded him in a wagon over the mountain 9 miles. What were his symptoms when you found him at Scotts & during his last illness? He was coughing and spitting & vomiting and complaining of pains in one side (don’t remember which). He continued to grow worse until he died. He ate nothing and wasted away. How long had he had this breast trouble? As far back as I recollect from the war. He was stout no more after he came home. He claimed he got this trouble from the measles. Do not recollect his having dis. of heart or kidney trouble but there was something said somewhere about his having kidney disease. Were you not afraid to allow him to go away from home in his weak condition? Well at times he was right peart and again he would be down. He did not perform much labor after the war. What was his disease generally called? Consumption, kidney dis. and breast complaint. That was the talk of the people. Yes sir I saw people have consumption and father acted right smart like them. There were no children of us under 16 years at time of father’s death. Mother has not remarried. I am correctly recorded in this deposition. /s/ L.T. Potter DEPOSITION H Case of Nancy Potter, No. 273,455 On this 29 day of Apl, 1892, at Lansing, County of Morgan State of Tenn, before me, J.F. Fitzpatrick, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared J.S. Fritts, who being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: My age is 61 years, merchant and Justice of the Peace. I am now residing of Emory Gap Roane Co. Tenn. I formerly lived in Morgan Co. and was deputy sheriff. I know in his life time Absolom Potter of Co. F 1st Tenn. Inf. I had known the soldier from discharge to his death. He was a Justice of the Peace at time of his death. He died I believe at the house of a neighbor. It seems that he was taken suddenly ill on the way home and was taken to the house of Sam Scott (dead) and in a few days passed away. His family might have taken him home but I think not. Mr. Potter has been ill and complaining before this and looked very feeble and I suppose ________ out before his time. I know he was unable at times to attend the County Court of which he was a member because of his feebleness. He is said to have died of breast, kidney or heart disease. Dr. Sinchnect (dead) told me he had dis. of the chest and it is my recollection that it was that disease that killed him. He had been afflicted with this dis. upon the fall of 1865 the time when I became best acquainted with him. He always complained of his chest and talked to me a good deal about it. He had a bad cough too. He did not do much manual labor. He was a squire most of the time. He was a thin _____ and delicate man in appearance. I expect it was in 1873 he died. He left a widow named Nancy and she is now living to the best of my knowledge and has not remarried. I knew her well. I have often heard it rumored by friends that Potter’s trouble was caused in the war and in fact he told me so himself. This is all I can tell you. I am correctly recorded in this deposition. /s/ J.S. Fritts DEPOSITION I – CLAIMANT’S STATEMENT Case of Nancy Potter, No. 273,455 On this 29 day of Apl, 1892, at Lansing, County of Morgan State of Tenn, before me, J.F. Fitzpatrick, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Nancy Potter, the applicant in the aforesaid pension claim, who says: Q. If it should become necessary to further examine your claim, by taking the testimony of witnesses elsewhere, do you desire to be present in person or be represented by an attorney, or both, at such further examination? If so, you will be notified as to the place and time when it is to be made. A. No Sir. Q. Should you change your mind and desire to be present, or be represented by an attorney during any further examination of your case, will you at once address a letter to the “Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.” giving the name and the number of your claim, informing him that you have so changed your mind, and desire to be notified when your claim is to be further examined? A. Yes Sir. Q. State the name of the person or persons and their post office addresses, instrumental in the prosecution of your claim for pension. A. Chas. W. Dorsey, Washington, D.C./Rev. Lindsey Casper, Whetstone, Morgan Co. Tenn. Q. State what contract or contracts you have made with such person or persons for their services in prosecuting your claim for pension, and whether such contract or contracts were written or verbal. A. Made a written contract with Dorsey for 25.00. Q. State the amount of fees paid by you or at your instance, to whom paid, and all the circumstances connected with the transaction. A. None. Q. Please give me the names of all witnesses that you desire examined elsewhere, with heir post office addresses, and also state what you expect to prove by each witness. A. None. Q. Have you any complaint to make as to the conduct, manner, or fairness of the examination of our claim? If so, please state specifically what it is. A. None. Q. Do you desire to introduce any more testimony before me? A. No Sir. Nancy (her mark) Potter Witnesses: /s/ J.F. Fitzpatrick /s/ L.T. Potter GENERAL AFFIDAVIT State of Tennessee County of Morgan In the matter of Pension claim No. [blank] of Nancy Potter, widow of Absolom Potter Deceased. Personally came before me, a clerk of court in and for aforesaid County and State, John H. Byrd, aged 53 years, a citizen of the Town of Island Ford, County of Morgan, State of Tennessee, well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to aforesaid case as follows: that he was with the said Absolom Potter when he took with a __ and proved to be the last fatal attack of his illness and summonsed the physician to him and was with him much of the time during his illness and paid the Dr. bill after he was dead, as Administrator of his estate and know of my own personal knowledge that the said Potter died with disease of lungs or breast or chest and that he has lived near neighbor to and saw the said Absolom Potter frequently from 1867 to the time of his death and know he was complaining with his breast and lungs frequently and that he the said Absolom Potter died on the 12th day of April 1873 and that the Dr. who treated him Dr. F.A. Sienkeneicht is dead and he further declares that he has no interest in said case and is not concerned in its prosecution. /s/ John. H. Byrd January 1889 [HANDWRITTEN AFFIDAVIT] State of Tennessee Morgan County I John W. Hall Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said County do hereby certify that the names mentioned in after are a true and correct copy of the names and ages or date of birth of all the children born to Absolom and Nancy Potter as found in an Old Book known as Baxters Saints Everlasting Rest. (George Washington Potter was born the 16th of March 1845) (John Potter was born 9th day of September 1846) (Lewis Turner Potter was born the fourteenth of July 1848) (Sarah Catherine Potter was born Mch 22nd 1850. Patsey M Potter was born the 14th of April 1856, Solomon Potter was born April the 10th 1853. I also find the Record of the Deaths of Geo W Potter death date of 1862 and also Anna Haselt___ Potter died in 1862. Recorded in same Book as Births. /s/ John W. Hall File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/morgan/military/civilwar/pensions/potter364gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/ File size: 52.1 Kb