Polk County, TX - Civil War Pension Application - Richard Wiggins **************************************************************** Contributed by Margie Kinney Butler Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm **************************************************************** REPRODUCED FROM THE HOLDINGS OF THE TEXAS STATE ARCHIVES State of Texas Civil War Pension Application for Richard Wiggins (Pg. 1) Filed 6/24/99 -- 10 ˝ ???? (Hand written across top) Endorsements Hereon for Comptroller’s Use Exclusively. Form No. 1. CONFEDERATE PENSION APPLICATION Name of Applicant, RICHARD WIGGINS POLK County Post Office LIVINGSTON Comptroller’s File No. 3374 I have carefully examined the within application for Pension, together with the proof in support thereof, and I recommend that the application be APPROVED This 7 day of OCTOBER A.D. 1899 WILLIAM J. SWAIN Pension Clerk. I hereby APPROVE the within application For pension, this 7th day of October A. D. 1899 R. W. Stuley, Comptroller No Application Rejected by County Judge or County Commissioners Should be Forwarded to Comptroller. (Pg. 2) File #3374 Form No. 1. APPLICATION of Indigent Soldier or Sailor of the late Confederacy for pension under the Act of May 12, 1899 THE STATE OF TEXAS} County of POLK } To the Honorable County Judge of POLK County, Texas. Your petitioner, RICHARD WIGGINS respectively represents that he is a resident citizen of POLK County, in the State of Texas, and that he makes this application for the purpose of obtaining a pension under the act passed by the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Texas, an approved May 12 A. D. 1899, the same being an act entitled “An act to carry int0 effect the amendment to the Constitution of the State of Texas, providing that aid may be granted to disabled and dependent Confederate soldiers, sailors, and their widows under certain conditions, and to make an appropriation therefore, “ and I do solemnly swear that the answers I have given to the following questions are true. NOTE—Applicant must make answer to all of the following questions, and such answers must be written out plainly in ink. Q. What is your name? RICHARD WIGGINS Q. What is your age? I WILL BE SEVENTY FOUR YEARS OLD IN OCTOBER 1899. Q. In what county do you reside? POLK Q. How long have you resided in said county and what is your post office address? I HAVE RESIDED IN POLK COUNTY FOR EIGHT YEARS Q. Have you applied for a pension under the Confederate Pension Law heretofore, and been rejected? If so, state when and where. NO Q. What is your occupation if able to engage in one? FARMING Q. What is your physical condition? VERY BAD Q. If your physical condition is such that you are unable by your own labor to earn a support, state what caused such disability. BONE EN----?-------. Q. State in what company and regiment you enlisted in the Confederate army, and the time of your service. CAPTAIN BEVOLEYS COMPANY Q. If you served in the Confederate navy, state when and where, and the time of your service. -------------------left blank------------------- Q. State weather or not you have received any pension or veteran donation land certificate under any previous law, and if you answer in the affirmative state what pension or veteran donation land certificate you have received. I HAVE RECEIVED NONE Q. What real and personal property do you now own, and what is the present value of such property? Give list of such property and value. I OWN THREE COWS AND TWO CAVES WORTH $40.00 AND ONE HORSE WORTH $20.00. (pg. 2) Q. What property, and what was the value thereof have you sold or conveyed within two years prior to the date of this application? I HAVE SOLD TWO YEARLINGS FOR $8.50 EACH. Q. What income, if any, do you receive? NONE Q. Are you in indigent circumstances? I AM Q. Are you unable by your labor to earn a support? I AM Q. Have you transferred to others any property of value of any kind for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law? I HAVE NOT Q. Have you continuously since the first day of January, 1880, a bona fide resident citizen of this State? YES Wherefore your petitioner prays that his application for pension be approved and that such other proceedings be had in the premises as are required by law. (Signature of Applicant) Richard [his X mark] Wiggins Sworn to and subscribed before me this 24th day of June A. D. 1899 J. Holhausen (SEAL) County Judge Polk County, Texas AFFIDAVIT OF WITNESS. (Note---- There must be at least two credible witnesses) THE STATE OF TEXAS} COUNTY OF POLK } Before me, J. Holhausen County Judge of Polk County, State of Texas, on this day personally appeared J. G. MOYE and WILLIAM WIGGINS who are personally known to me to be credible citizens, who being by me duly sworn on oath state that they personally know that the said RICHHARD WIGGINS the above named applicant for a pension, and that they personally know that the said RICHARD WIGGINS enlisted in the service of the Confederacy, and performed the duties of a soldier as claimed by him in the above and foregoing application, and that they further know that he, the said applicant, is unable to support himself by labor of any sort. (Signature of Witness) J. G. Moye (Signature of Witness) William [his X mark] Wiggins Sworn and subscribed before me this 24th day of June A. D. 1899. (Seal) J. Holhausen County Judge, Polk County, Texas (Pg. 3.) AFFIDAVIT of PHYSICAN THE STATE OF TEXAS} County of POLK } Before me--------left blank---------------- County Judge of POLK County, state of Texas, on this day personally appeared DR. B. C. MARSH, who is a reputable practicing physician of this County who being by Me duly sworn on oath, states that he has carefully and thoroughly examined RICHARD WIGGINS applicant for a pension, and finds him laboring under the following disabilities which render him unable to labor at any work or calling sufficient to earn a support for himself: HAS HAD “SORE SHIN” & SEVERAL ABSCESSES IN REGION OF KNEE JOINT CAUSING ATROPHY OF MUSCLES ABOVE KNEE. COMPLETE STIFFNESS OF KNEE JOINT WITH LEG FLEXED BACKWARDS MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO WORK. (Signature of Physician) B. C. MARSH Sworn to and subscribed before me this 24 day of JUNE A. D. 1899 J. HOLSHANSEN (SEAL) County Judge POLK County, State of Texas CERTIFICATE OF COUNTY JUDGE THE STATE OF TEXAS } County of POLK } I, J. Holhausen County Judge of POLK County, State of Texas, do hereby verify that on the 24th day of JUNE A.D. 1899, before me came on to be heard the application of RICHARD WIGGINS for a pension under the Confederate Pensions Law of this State, approved May 12, A. D. 1899; that the answers of said applicant to the questions propounded were made under oath as the same appear in writing in the foregoing application; that the affidavits of the witnesses who are credible citizens were made before me as the same hereinbefore appear, and that the foregoing affidavit of Doctor B. C. MARSH who is a reputable practicing physician of this County, was made before me. I also certify that the said applicant RICHARD WIGGINS, is not an inmate of the Texas Confederate Home, nor otherwise disqualified under the provisions of Section 12, of the Confederate Pension Law. I further certify that after considering all proceedings had before me relative to the said application for a pension by the said RICHARD WIGGINS I find that the said applicant is lawfully entitled to the pension provided by the Confederate Pension Law of this State, and I hereby approve said application. Witness my hand and seal of office at LIVINGSTON this 14 day of AUGUST A.D. 1899 J. Holhausen (SEAL) County Judge POLK County, State of Texas CERTIFICATE OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THE STATE OF TEXAS } County of POLK } We, the undersigned members of the Commissioners Court of POLK County, Texas, hereby verify that the foregoing application of RICHARD WIGGINS for a pension, together with the proof in support thereof was duly submitted by Hon. J Holhausen County Judge of this POLK County, to the Commissioners Court of this POLK County, at regular term thereof on this 14th day of August A. D. 1899, and after a careful consideration of the same we find the said applicant is lawfully entitled to the pension provided for by the Confederate Pension Law of this State, and we hereby approve said application. Witness our hands and seal of office at LIVINGSTON TEX this 14th day of August A. D. 1899. J. H. Galloway J. M. Singletary (Signatures of Commissioners.) M. Parrish (SEAL) E. F. Gibbs ==================================================== Further research from service record. Military history from Danny R. Franklin Shown as a private, Co F, 7th TX Cavalry, Bagby's Regiment. Listed as a “straggler” from the New Mexico Campaign in Capt. B.F. Lilley's Cavalry Co (Pardoned deserter) Re-enlisted Co K, Morgan's TX Cavalry Battalion (Regiment), 1 Jan 1864, Polk Co, TX present for duty at the boat-building facility, Magnolia, Anderson Co, TX, Sept 1864. Company disbanded at Magnolia, May 1865. Surrendered by E. Kirby Smith, 2 June 1865, Galveston.