McCULLOCH COUNTY TEXAS – CONFEDERATE PENSION: MRS. MARY JANE CHURCHILL WRIGHT Contributed by: Kay Bradley [kay@heartsville.com] July 2003 ******************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ******************************************************************************** Confederate Pension Application for Mrs. Mary Jane Churchill Wright, widow of Alva Cornelius Wright, McCulloch County, Texas February 13th AD, 1918 Hon. J. C. Jones Dear Sir: Enclosed find application of Mrs. M. J. Wright for a Pension, together with proof of the Army Service of her husband which was obtained in 1900. Soon thereafter her husband died without receiving his pension. Please notify Mrs. Wright of your action at Voca, Texas. Yours Truly, W. McShan (not sure of name) From: J. C. Jones, Commissioner of Pensions State of Texas Austin, Texas To the Adjutant General, War Department, Washington, D. C. (document not dated) Dear Sir, I have the honor to request the military record of A. C. Wright, who is reported to have enlisted in Company A, Regiment Capt Patton’s Co, Col Anderson’s Rgt, Texas Calvary in service in the Confederate States Army. Purpose: The widow person above named is an applicant for a Confederate pension grant by the State, and I desire to verify his proof of service. Very Respectfully, J. C. Jones Commissioner of Pensions War Department The Adjutant General’s Office Washington Feb 23, 1918 Respectfully returned to the Commission of Pensions, State of Texas, Austin. With information that Regimental returns for Borders (also formerly known as Anderson’s) Regt, Tex. Cav. CSA, for Nov ’64 shows K. Wright, Co H absent sick in Hospital, Hempstead. Return for Jan ’65 shows A. Wright, private, Co H, absent sick Hospital Hempstead since Jan 20. Gus Patton was Captain of Co H, Borders Regt, Tex Cav. No rolls are on file for this company. Noa record of his capture or parole. Not found as A. C. Wright. (unable to read signature) The Adjutant General. For Use of Widows of Soldiers who are in Indigent Circumstances The State of Texas County of McCulloch I, Mrs. M. J. Wright do hereby make application to the Commission of Pensions for a pension, to be granted me under the Act passed by the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Texas, and approved April 7, 1913, on the following grounds: I am the widow of A. C. Wright, deceased, who departed this life on the 4th day of November, A. D. 1901, in the county of Brown 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 27th of November, A.D. 1876 in the county of Lee, in the Sate of Texas. My husband, the said A. C. Wright, 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 January 1, AD, 1900, and have been continuously since a citizen of the State 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 to the sum of $300.00 per annum, nor do I own in my own right, nor does anyone hold in trust for my benefit of use, estate or property, either real, personal or mixed, either in fee or for life, of the value of one thousand dollars, exclusive of the home of the value of not over $1000.00; 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? 60 years old 2. Where were you born? Bell County, Texas 3. How long have you resided in the State of Texas? All of my life 4. How long have you resided in the county of your present residence? And what is your post office address? 4 yrs, Voca, Texas 5. Did you husband draw a pension? If so, give his file number. No 6. What was your husband’s full name? Alva Cornelius Wright 7. What was the date of his death? Nov 4th, 1901 8. In what State was your husband’s command originally organized? Texas 9. How long did he serve? If known to you give date of enlistment and discharge. About 18 months 10. What was the name or letter of the company, or number of the battalion, regiment or battery of artillery in which you husband served? If he was transferred from one branch of service to another, give time of transfer, description of command and time of service. Co A, Capt Patton’s Company, Colonel Anderson’s Regiment 11. 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 the time of service. Country 12. Have you transferred to others any property of any kind for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law? I have not Wherefore your petitioner prays that her application for a pension may be approved and such other proceedings be had in the premises as are required by law. Mrs. M. J. Wright (X her mark) Sworn to the and subscribed before me, this 13th day of February, AD, 1918 J. E. Brown County Judge McCulloch County, Texas AFFIDAVIT OF WITNESSES The State of Texas County of McCulloch Before me, J. E. Brown, County Judge of McCullough County, State of Texas, on this day personally appeared S. T. Wright and J. P. Wright, who are personally know to me to be creditable citizens, who, being by me duly sworn, on oath that they are personally know that Mrs. M. J. Wright, applicant for a pension as the widow of ___________ deceased, is in truth and fact the widow of A. C. Wright 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. S. T. Wright J. P. Wright Sworn and subscribed before me, this 13th day of February, AD, 1918. J. E. Brown County Judge, McCulloch County, Texas AFFIDAVIT OF WITNESSES The State of Texas County of McCulloch Before me, J. E. Brown, County Judge of McCullough County, State of Texas, on this day personally appeared S. T. Wright and J. P. Wright, who are personally know to me to be creditable citizens, who, being by me duly sworn, on oath that they are personally know, the above named applicant for pensions, and that they personally know that the aid Mr. M. J. Wright has been a bona fide resident citizen of the State of Texas since prior to January 1, AD, 1900, and that they have no interest in this claim. S. T. Wright J. P. Wright Sworn to and subcripted before me, the 10th day of February AD, 1918. J. E. Brown County Judge McCulloch County, Texas CERTIFICATE OF STATE AND COUNTY ASSESSOR I, H. R. Hodges, State and County Assessor in the County of McCulloch, State of Texas, do certify that Mrs. M. J. Wright who name is signed to the foregoing application for a pension, under the Act of the Thirty-third Legislature, approved April 7, 1913, is charged on the tax roll of said county with a homestead of the value of nothing dollars, and of other property real or personal, or both, of the value of nothing dollars. Given under my hand, this 13th day of February AD, 1918. Henry R. Hodges State and County Assessor THE STATE OF TEXAS To the County Judge, Clerks of County and District Courts, or any Notary Public of Mason County, Texas, Greeting: You are hereby authorized and empowered to cause to come before Mrs. Jane Rudder, a resident of your county, and take his answers to accompanying interrogatories propounded to him in the matter of application of A. C. Wright for a pension as an indigent and disabled Confederate soldier, pending before the County Judge of Brown county, Texas, and having reduced answers to said interrogatories to writing you will cause said witness to swear to and subscribe them before you, to which you will certify officially, seal up answers, interrogatories and commission, and direct the package to County Judge of Brown County, conforming in all respected to the requisites of the statute in such cases made and provided. Witness my hand ans seal of office this 26th day of February, AD, 1900. R. P. Conner County Judge, Brown County, TX A. C. Wright} Application for a pension as a Confederate soldier, pending before County Judge Of Brown county, Texas. Answers of witness to accompanying interrogatories propounded to him in matter of application of A. C. Wright for pension as a Confederate solider, taken S. V. Wood, County Judge of Mason County in accordance with the above commission. Interrogatory 1: What is your name, age, and place of residence, and where did you reside in April, 1861? Jane Rudder, 57 years old, Katemcy, Mason County, Texas, lived 1861 in Angelina Co, Texas. Interrogatory 2: Did you ever know A. C. Wright? If you say you know him, state when and where you first met him. Where does he now reside? Yes, in Alabama about 1847 or 1848, in Brown County, Texas. Interrogatory 3: State whether or not he served in the Confederate army. If you answer yea, then state when and where and in what company he enlisted and how long he served. State if you know his present financial condition. Yes, he did in Texas. He enlisted in Captain Patton’s Company. He served about 18 months. His financial condition is not good. Mrs. Jane Rudder, witness State of Texas, County of Brown} I, S. V. Wood, do hereby certify that the foregoing answers of Mrs. Jane Rudder the witness before name, were made before me, were sown to and subscribed before me, by said witness. Given under my hand and seal of office this 2nd day of April AD, 1900. S. V. Wood County Judge, Mason Co, TX THE STATE OF TEXAS To the County Judge, Clerks of County and District Courts, or any Notary Public of Mason County, Texas, Greeting: You are hereby authorized and empowered to cause to come before A. P. Rudder, a resident of your county, and take his answers to accompanying interrogatories propounded to him in the matter of application of A. C. Wright for a pension as an indigent and disabled Confederate soldier, pending before the County Judge of Brown county, Texas, and having reduced answers to said interrogatories to writing you will cause said witness to swear to and subscribe them before you, to which you will certify officially, seal up answers, interrogatories and commission, and direct the package to County Judge of Brown County, conforming in all respected to the requisites of the statute in such cases made and provided. Witness my hand and seal of office this 28th day of June, AD, 1899 R. P. Conner County Judge Brown Co, TX Ex parte, Application for Pension as Confederate soldier, pending before County Judge of Brown County, Texas. A. C. Wright Answer of witness to accompanying interrogatories propounded to him in matter of the application of A. C. Wright for pension as a Confederate soldier, taken before E. L. Allison, (unable to read title), Mason County, Texas in accordance with above commission. Interrogatory 1: What is your name, age, and place of residence, and where did you reside in April 1861? Answer to Interrogatory 1: A. P. Rudder. I am 64 years old. I live in Mason County, Texas. In April 1861 I lived in Angelina County, State of Texas. Interrogatory 2: Did you ever A. C. Wright? If you say you know him, state when and where you first met him. Where does he now reside? Answer to Interrogatory 2: I know A. C. Wright. I first met him in Trinity County, Texas in 1855. He enlisted at Columbus, Texas. He now resides in Brown County, State of Texas. Interrogatory 3: State whether or not he served in the Confederate army. If you answer yea, then state when and where, and in what company he enlisted, and how long he served. State if you know his present financial condition. Answer to Interrogatory 3: He served in Confederate Army at Tyler, Texas in 1864 and 1865 in Captain Patton’s Company, Colonel Anderson’s regiment, he served for 18 months. STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF MASON} I, E. L. Allison, J. P. ex of N. P. , do hereby certify that the foregoing answers of A. P. Rudder, the witness before named, were made before me, were sworn to and subscribed before me, by the said witness. Given under my hand and seal of office this 26th day of December, AD, 1899. E. L. Allison, JP Mason County, Texas APPLICATION FOR MORTUARY WARRANT THE STATE OF TEXAS, County of McCulloch } I, J. D. Wright, do hereby certify that I am the person whom is entrusted the paying of the accounts and indebtedness of the late Mrs. M. J. Wright, who was a pensioner of the State of Texas, and whose file number was 34955 and whose original county was McCulloch. The said pensioner Mrs. M. J. Wright died on the 1st day of September, 1926 in the town of Voca, County of McCulloch, Texas. The pensioner died in the home of Joe Elliott ho was related to the pensioner as brother-in-law. That the warrant, which application is hereby made for, shall be applied to paying all or part of the funeral expenses incurred by the said pensioner Mrs. M. J. Wright. I further certify that the warrant for the current quarter has not been cashed by the pensioner, to the best of my knowledge and belief. I am related to the pensioner as Son and that my post office address is Brady, Texas, Route No 1. J. D. Wright Sworn to before me this 30th day of September, 1926 Boyd Commander District Clerk McCulloch County, Texas CERTIFICATE OF UNDERTAKER I, Roy O. Wilkerson, do certify that I am undertaker in the town of Brady, County of McCulloch, State of Texas, and that I had charge of the body of Mrs. M. J. Wright, who died in the town of Voca, County of McCulloch, State of Texas on the 1st day of Sept 1926. That the body was prepared for burial by me on the 1st day of Sept, 1926, and that I am of the opinion that warrant herein applied for should be issued to the said J. D. Wright who makes the foregoing application. Roy O. Wilkerson Undertaker County of McCulloch State of Texas I J. G. McCall, MD do hereby state that Mrs. M. J. Wright of Voca, McCulloch County, Texas is deceased, and that she died Sept 1, 1926. J. G. McCall Before me, the undersigned authority, personally appeared the above named party, well known to me, who stated under oath that the statement herein contained is true and correct. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 21st day of September, AD 1926. C. L. Garrett County Judge McCulloch Co, Texas