Widows' Application for Pension for Mrs.Margaret Anna DeFee, Bowie County, Texas Pension 19712 Page #1 (Front of Form B) Submitted by William A. Sweeney CLIQUEONE@aol.com Date: 8/1/00 ************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************** Widows' Application for Pension The Commissioner of Pensions reserves the right to call for additional testimony If he deems it necessary. Name of applicant. [ Mrs. M. A. DeFee,] [Bowie] County Postoffice [Texarkana, Tex] Filed [Dec 22 1910] Approved Dec 31 1910] Pension allowed from [ Dec 1 1910] Rejected [ E.A. Bolmes ] Commissioner of Pensions Page #2 Form B For Use of Widows of Soldiers who are in Indigent Circumstances The State of Texas County of [ Bowie ] I Mrs. [ M.A. DeFee ] do hereby make application to the Commissioner of Pensions for a pension, to be granted me under the Act passed by the Thirty- first Legislature of the State of Texas, and approved March 26, A.D. 1909, on the following grounds: I am the widow of [ G.P. DeFee ], deceased, who departed this life on the [20 ] day of [Jan 1906], A.D., in the county of [Hunt], in the State of [Texas ]. I have not remarried since the death of my said husband, and I do solemnly swear that I was never divorced from my said husband, and that I never voluntarily abandoned him during his life., but remained his true, faithful and lawful wife up to the date of his death. I was married to him on the [ 30 ] day of [ November ], A.D. [1859], in the county of________, in the State of [ Georgia ]. My husband, the said [G.P. DeFee ], enlisted and served in the military service of the Confederate States during the war between the States of the United States, and that he did not desert the Confederate Service. I have been a resident of the State of Texas since prior to March 1, A.D. 1880, and have been continuously since a citizen of Texas. I do further state that I do not receive from any source whatever money or other means of support amounting in value to the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, nor do I own in my own right, nor does anyone hold in trust for my benefit or use, estate or property, either real, personal or mixed, either in fee or for life, of the assessed value of over one thousand dollars; nor do I receive any aid or pension from any other State, or from the United States, or from any other source, and I do further state that the answers given to the following questions are true: 1. What is your age? [ 68 yrs ] 2. Where were you born? [ Pike Co. Ala. ] 3. How long have you resided in the State of Texas? [ 40 yrs ] 4. How long have you resided in the county of your present residence? And what is your postoffice address? [ Resided in Bowie Co., 4 yrs. P.O. is Texarkana Tex ] 5. What was your husband's full name? [ Green P. DeFee ] 6. What was the date of his death? [ Jan 20 1906 ] 7. In what State was your husband's command originally organized? [Ala.] 8. How long did your husband serve? If known to you, give date of enlistment and discharge. [ Enlisted in 1861, Discharged 13 day of June 1865. Served all during war.] 9. What was the name or letter of the company, or name or number of the battalion, regiment or battery of artillery in which he served? If he was transfered from one branch of service to a nother, give time of transfer, description of command and time of service. [ Enlisted in Co. E 1st Ala Reg. ] 10. Name branch of service in which your husband served, whether infantry, cavalry, artillery or the navy, or if commissioned as an officer by the President, his rank and line of duty, or if detailed for special service, under the law of conscription, the nature of such service, and time of service. [ Served in Infantry ] 11. Have you transfered to others any property of any kind for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law? [ No ] Page # 3 Wherefore your petitioner prays that her application for a pension be approved and such other proceedings be had in the premises as are required by law. (Signature of Applicant) [ Margaret A. DeFee] sworn to and subscribed befor me, this [ 4th ] day of [ October ], A.D. 19 [ 10 ] Joe Hughes County Judge [Bowie ] County, Texas [Seal] Affidavit of Witnesses [note. There must be at least two credible witnesses.] The State of Texas County of [ Hunt ] Before me [ J.W. Manning ], County Judge of [ Hunt ] County, State of Texas, on this day personally appeared [ R.W. Ridley & A.W. DeFee ], who are personally known to me to be credible citizens, who being by me duly sworn, on oath state that they personally know that Mrs. [ M.A. DeFee ], applicant for a pension as the widow of [ G.P. DeFee ] deceased, is in truth and fact the widow of [G.P. DeFee ] deceased.; that they personally know that she has not remarried since the death of her husband, for whose service in the army she claims a pension, and that they have no interest in this claim. (Signature of Witness) [R.M Ridley] (Signature of Witness) [ A.W. DeFee ] Sworn to and subscribed before me, this [4th ] day of [October ], A.D. 19 [10]. J.W. Manning County Judge [ Hunt ] County, Texas. [ Seal] Affidavit Of Witnesses [Note. There must be at least two credible witnesses.] The State of Texas County of [ Hunt ] Before me [ J.W. Manning ], County Judge of [Hunt ] County, State of Texas, on this day personally appeared [R.W. Ridley & A.W DeFee ], who are personally known to me to be credible citizens, who, being by me duly sworn, on oath state that they personally know the above named applicant for a pension, and that they personally know that the said [ Mrs. M.A. DeFee ], has been a bona fide resident citizen of the State of Texas since prior to March 1, A.D. 1880, and that they have no interest in this claim. (Signature of Witness) [ R.W. Ridley ] (Signature of Witness) [ A.W. DeFee ] Sworn to and subscribed before me, this [ 4th ] day of [October ], A.D. 19 [10]. [ J. W. Manning ] County Judge [Hunt ] County, Texas. Page # 4 Affidavit of Witnesses ( If possible, the two witnesses should have served with the applicant's husband in the army, and if so, let them, or either of them, state it in their oath; also any information regarding the army service of applicant's husband.) The State of Texas County of [ Hunt ] Before me [ J.W. Manning ], County Judge of [Hunt ] County, State of Texas, on this day personally appeared [R.W. Ridley ], who are personally known to me to be credible citizens, who being by me sworn, on oath state they are personally acquainted with the foregoing applicant, and that the facts set forth and statements made in her application are correct and true, to the best of their knowledge and belief, and that they have no interest in this claim. And further make oath to the following facts touching the service of the applicant's husband in the Confederate Army:( State fully your source of knowledge). [ Capt. R.W. Ridley states that he was in the same company with G.P. DeFee and Silas G. Lackey says that he was in Co.D. Both know that he served as soldier as stated. ] (Signature of Witness) [R.W. Ridley ] (Signature of Witness) [Silas G. Lackey ] Sworn to and subscribed before me, this [4th ] day of [October ], A.D. 19 [10] . [ J.W. Manning ] County Judge[ Hunt ] County, Texas. [Seal ] Certificate of State and County Assessor I, [Will H. Davis ] , State and County Assessor in the County of [ Bowie ], State of Texas, do hereby certify that Mrs. [ M.A. DeFee ] , whose name is signed to the foregoing application for a pension, under the Act of the Thirty-first Legislature, approved March 26, A.D. 1909, is charged on the land and personal property rolls of the said county, in her name, or the name of a trustee, with estate, real, personal and mixed, at the assessed value of [ Nothing ] dollars. Given under my hand, this [15th ] day of [ Dec ], A.D. 19 [10]. [Will H. Davis ] State and County Assessor. Page # 5 Office of Commissioner of Pensions State of Texas Austin [Seal of Texas] E.A. Bolmes, Commissioner To the Adjutant General War Department Washington, D.C. Dear Sir: I have the honor to request the military record of [ G.P. DeFee ] who is reported to have enlisted in company [ E. ], Regiment [1st Alabama Infantry ] in the service of the Confederate States Army. Purpose: The [widow of the] person above named is an applicant for a Confederate pension granted by this state, and I desire to verify his proof of service. Very respectfully, [ E. A. Bolmes ] Commissioner of Pensions Page # 6 WAR DEPARTMENT The Adjutant General's Office Washington, December 28, 1910. Respectfully returned to [the Commissioner of Pensions, State of Texas, Austin. ] The records show that Green P. Defee, private, Company E, 1st Alabama Infantry, Confederate States Army, enlisted February 14, 1862; was captured December 17, 1864 , at Franklin, Tennessee, and that he was released June 13, 1865, at Camp Chase, Ohio, upon taking the oath of allegiance. [Signature not legible] The Adjutant General Submitted by William A. Sweeney, the Great Grandson of Green Pinkham and Margaret Anna DeFee. Both had a hard life. R.I.P.