Some several years before the outbreak of the civil war I first got acquainted with the claimant Hester J. MITCHELL commonly known as Jane MITCHELL a few years after her and William MITCHELL was married. I knew William MITCHELL before he was ever married and while he was a young and single man. he was never married prior to his marriage to the claimant. He and the claimant lived and cohabited together as husband and wife from the date of their marriage some time about 1848 as I understood it. down to the date of his death which occurred about Sept 1863 as I understand the date, however I was in the army at that time (Co ‘F’ 98th Ills Inf). They lived together and were never seperated or divorced from each other. I knew them during the aforsaid time as neighbors to each other. I know all the children of these parties. towit Amanda, F. Washington, L. James, M. Sarah, E. John, S. and Mary, S. MITCHELL. (now Mary, S. TUCKER) James M. Sarah E. and John S. are dead. but all three of them lived to be over 16 years old or even over 21 years. and had families. I have known the widow continously and well as neighbor from several years prior to my Joining the army and after my return from the army down to this date as neighbor and know that she has never re-married since the death of William MITCHELL I am in nowise interested in this case and am not concerned in its prosecution and make these statements from personal knowledge, near neighborship & c. his John (X) TUCKER Sr Mark Attest John TUCKER Jr. John F TUCKER Sworn to & subscribed before me on the above day and date. & I certify that the foregoing affidavit was fully read & explained to the affiant before he executed the same. He is to me well known and is a credible person and that I have no interest in this case and I am not concerned in its prosecution L G PUCKETT N.P. State of Tennessee In the matter for widow’s pension No 960.784 of Hester J. Mitchell widow of William Putnam County Mitchell late of Co "C" 1st Regt Tenn Mtd Infty Vols. War 1861-1865 on this May 11th 1911. Personally appeared before me Walter JONES a Justice of the Peace within & for said State and County, Prettyman JONES age 69 years a residence of said County and whose Post office address is Silver Point Tenn, R.F.D. No ?? who being duly sworn states in relation to the aforesaid case as follows. About the year 1857, I first got acquainted with William MITCHELL & family. I knew them personally & thence forward until said MITCHELL was killed by the Rebel bushwhackers in the fall of 1863, is my best recollection. The soldier & his wife Hester Jane, generally known as Jane MITCHELL lived and cohabitted together as husband & wife continouslly from that date until said Soldier was killed as above stated and was never seperated or divorced from each other, and I have known the claimant Hester J. MITCHELL commonly and generally known as Jane MITCHELL personally & well ever since lived a neighbor to her most of the time since her husband was killed as stated and know the fact from personal knowledge that she has not re-married since his death. I know and did know all the children of William & Hester J. (Jane) MITCHELL towit Amanda F. Washington L. Sarah E. John S. James M. and Mary S. MITCHELL. James M. Sarah E. and John S. are dead but all of them lived to have families of their own, and all three of them were over sixteen years of age at the dates of their deaths. My information is and has always been that Wm & Jane MITCHELL were married in White County and lived in that county for some nine or ten years before they moved to Buffalo Valley, Putnam County. Where I then as well as now lived & live. I have no interest in this case and am not concerned in its prosecution and make the foregoing knowledge observations and near neighborship. Prettyman JONES Sworn to & subscribed before me on the above day & date and I certify that said witness is personally known to me and that he is a credible person and that I have no interest in this case and am not concerned in its prosecution. Walter JONES State of Tennessee Attest her John TUCKER Jr Hester J. (X) MITCHELL Emma PIPPIN mark Sworn to and subscribed before me on this May 13th 1911, and I certify that the foregoing affidavit was fully read over to and fully explained to the affiant before she executed the same and that she was made to fully understand its contents and meaning before I swore her to it. That I have known her for the passed several years and that she is a woman of an exceptionally good character and has borne an excellent good name since my first knowledge of her about 22 years ago. That I am in nowise interested in this case and am not concerned in its prosecution. I futher certify that Mrs Hester J. MITCHELL is now confined to her bed and room and has been so confined for several months in very feeble health, and that she is of a very dote old age. Robt. P. GIBSON N.P. State of Tennessee I was at my father’s house in Putnam County Tennessee, when and where Mary S. MITCHELL daughter of William and Hester J. (Jane) MITCHELL was born it was some time during the late civil war but I do not now remember the month or year it was, but I think it must have been something like 60 days after uncle William was killed, but I don’t remember the exact date he was killed. I think it was in the fall season of the year. The only other living person that was present at the time of said birth that I now remember about is Amanda ROBERTS (MARTIN). I have no interest in this case and am not concerned in its prosecution but I am a nephew of the soldier and claimant. A. MITCHELL sworn to & subscribed before me May 16, 1911, and I certify that I have no interest in this case and am not concerned in its prosecution. J B THOMPSON N.P. for said county. State of Tennessee In the matter for Widows pension No 960.784 of Hester. J. MITCHELL widow Putnam County of William MITCHELL late of Company "C" 1st Regt Tenn Mtd Infty Vols war 1861 to 1865. on This the 23 day of May 1911. Personally appeared before me R.P. GIBSON a Notary Public within and for said State and County Dr J I ALLISON age 46 years a residence of said County and whose Post Office address is Bloomington Springs Tennessee. Well and personlly known to me to be reputable and entitled to full faith and credit as a witness and who I also certify to be regular practicing physician in first class standing as such and who being by me first duly sworn states in relation to the aforesaid case as follows. I am now and have been well and personly acquainted with the claimant Hester J. MITCHELL. for about ten years and state that during the whole of said time she has borne the name of a woman of first class character and that all the older and better acquainted citizens who know and have known her for a much longer time than myself say that she has always been a woman of an exceptionaly good character all of her life. She is now according to appearances and credible information about eighty one years old. She says that she was 81 years old last April 27th 1911. she has been confined to her bed and room continuously ever since last Dec 1910. and is now so confined. She is indeed in exceedingly feeble health and is exceedingly liable to die at any moment. She has severe attacts of colic I was first called to see her about Feb 23rd 1911. and she has been confined continously ever since and has to have her meals brought to her bed and has to be set up with a great deal of the time at nights and this has been the case ever since Feb 23rd 1911. and it is my private and professional opinion that if she is not granted a pension at an early date that she will never live to enjoy any of the same. This claimant is a poor woman without any means of support and now and has been supported by her Daughter Mary S. TUCKER and her husband John TUCKER for the passed five or six years. and that during this period of time she has been unable to labor on account of her extreme and dote old age and her exceedinglly feeble health and run down condition. In fact she has been confined most of the time for at least four and a half or five years and has been confined continously ever since last Feb to my certain, personal and professional knowledge and observation. It is my best judgement that if there ever was a case that should be taken up out of its regular order and settled at once that it is certainlly this case that should be taken up out of its regular order and settled at once that it is certainlly this claim. I futher state that I am in nowise intersted in this case and am not concerned in its prosecution. . John T. ALLISON M.D. Sworn to and subscribed before me on the above day and date and I hereby certify that the affiant read over and fully understood the contents of the foregoing affidavit before he executed the same and that I am in nowise interested in this case and am not concerned in its prosecution. R.P. GIBSON N P DEPOSITION A On this 5 day of June 1911, at Double Springs county of Putnam State of Tenn, before me,W L SULLIVAN, a Special Examiner of the Bureau of Pensions, personally appeared Hester Jane MITCHELL, who being be me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogations propounded to her during this special examination of aforesaid claim for pension, deposes and says: I am 81 years of age: my post office address is Double Springs Tenn. I am the identical Hester Jane MITCHELL who claims pensions as the widow of William MITCHELL. I do not know what organization he belonged to but he was with Capt ANDERSON. His service with Capt ANDERSON was all that he ever had. Wm MITCHELL was killed by a number of Rebels. Dave CROWELL and Jeff BENSON were among the party who killed him. I do not know who was in command of the force which killed my husband. No; it was not Capt ANDERSON’S men who killed my husband. Yes, I reckon that my husband was with Capt ANDERSON’S men when he was captured My husband was shot to death so I was told. I never saw him after he was dead. No, I did not go and find his dead body. I do not know when nor where my husband was captured He was killed in Sept 1863 No they did not kill any one else at that time, His brother Crockett MITCHELL was shot across the nose at the same time. Several of Capt ANDERSON’S men were with him at the time he was captured – I do not know whether or not he was out on some sort of a raid at the time he was captured and killed. I can’t say how long it was after the capture of my husband before he was killed I was married to Wm H MITCHELL in Aug 1848, on Aug 23, Thursday I was between 17 yrs and 18 yrs of age when I married Wm H MITCHELL I had not been married prior to my marriage to him Wm H MITCHELL was 5 years older than I. He had not been married prior to his marriage to me, I had known him for two or three years before we married I have lived in Putnam Co. Tenn ever since the death of Wm H MITCHELL I have not remarried since the death of Wm H MITCHELL. I had five living children at the time my husband was killed, and one born two months after he was killed. Their names and dates of birth are as follows: Amanda Frances born June 3, 1849. Sunday Washington L " July 18, 1851 Friday James M " Jany 13 or 14 – Sat night about 2 ½ years after birth of Washington L Sarah E born Nov 3. Sat night, not quite two years after birth of James M. John S born Aug 18, 1859. Thursday Mary Susan born Nov 17, 1863. Tuesday All six of those children lived to be past sixteen years of age – all married. Amanda F Washington L and Mary S are still living My old original record of dates of birth of my children is the only proof I can furnish as to dates of births except my own statement. The entries of dates of birth in this book were copied from my original record soon after this Bible was bought. By whom can you prove that neither you nor your deceased husband Wm MITCHELL had been married prior to your marriage to each other, and that you have not remarried since the death of your husband Wm MITCHELL Prettyman JONES and John TUCKER Sr. of Buffalo Valley, or Silver Point. T.W. TALLMADGE & Co of Washington D.C. are my attorneys. I have not made any agreement to pay them any fees. I have understood the questions asked I have heard this deposition read and my statement is correctly recorded. Attest her Buena TUCKER Hester J (X) MITCHELL No other attesting witness available Mark Subscribed and sworn to before me this 5 day of June 1911, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing. W. L. SULLIVAN Special Examiner DEPOSITION B On this 5 day of June 1911, at Silver Point, county of Putnam State of Tenn, before me, W L SULLIVAN, a Special Examiner of the Bureau of Pensions, personally appeared Matilda MITCHELL, who being be me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogations propounded to her during this special examination of aforesaid claim for pension, deposes and says: I am 77 years of age: my post office address is Silver Point Tenn. I am the widow of Crockett MITCHELL who was a brother of Wm MITCHELL. I know Jane MITCHELL who was the wife of Wm MITCHELL. She is the only wife that Wm MITCHELL ever had and Wm MITCHELL was the only husband that she has ever had. She has not remarried since. Wm MITCHELL was killed. She has lived in this county ever since Wm MITCHELL was killed. While I was not acquainted with either of them before they married yet I know from common report that neither had been married prior to their marriage to each other. I knew her six children. Frances Wash. Jim, Easter, John & Sue They all lived to be more than 16 years of age, Three died after they were grown up and three are still living, to wit Frances Wash and Sue or Mary Sue Wm MITCHELL belonged to a gang of "Republican Bushwhackers" He and my husband were taken by some Confederate Guerillas. My husband had not been with the Bushwhackers so they turned him loose, but they killed Wm MITCHELL. My father, (decd) helped bury him. I do not remember the date of his death. I have no interest in this claim I have understood the questions asked. I have heard this deposition read and my statement is correctly recorded. I do not know that Wm MITCHELL belonged to the Bushwhackers, but he had been with them was why he was killed. her Attest Matilda (X) MITCHELL Cora MITCHELL mark No other attesting witness available Subscribed and sworn to before me this 5 day of June 1911, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing. W. L. SULLIVAN DEPOSITION C On this 5 day of June 1911, at Silver Point, county of Putnam State of Tenn, before me, W L SULLIVAN, a Special Examiner of the Bureau of Pensions, personally appeared John TUCKER, who being be me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogations propounded to him during this special examination of aforesaid claim for pension, deposes and says: I am 76 years of age: my post office address is Silver Point Tenn. I am a farmer. I know Hester Jane MITCHELL. I had known her and her husband Wm MITCHELL before the war. I had known Bill MITCHELL or Wm MITCHELL before he married. This claimant, Hester Jane MITCHELL is the first wife he ever had. He had not been married prior to his marriage to her. I have always understood that Hester Jane had not been married prior to her marriage to Wm MITCHELL. I heard of the killing of Wm MITCHELL by the "Rebel Bushwhackers. I do not know whether or not he belonged to any military organization I have heard that he joined Capt ANDERSON’S Company. I have seen Jane MITCHELL occasionally since the killing of her husband Wm MITCHELL. She has lived about Silver Point and Double Springs, this county ever since Wm MITCHELL was killed. She has not remarried since the death of her husband Wm MITCHELL All six of her children lived to be more than 16 years of age. (Former statement read to deponent) That statement is correct. W. L. SULLIVAN I am 61 years of age: I reside in Silver Point Tenn. I am a merchant I know Jane MITCHELL. I knew her husband William MITCHELL. He was killed by some bushwhackers who stayed around on Indian Creek. It is my recollection that they did not belong to either army. I saw the party – about a dozen men, – about half an hour before they captured Wm MITCHELL. Jane MITCHELL has not remarried since her husband Wm MITCHELL was killed. I knew her children Frances Wash, James, Easter John, Susan. They all lived to be more than16 years of age I have never heard that either Wm MITCHELL or his wife Jane had been married prior to their marriage to each other. I am not related to claimant. I have no interest in her claim I have understood the questions asked. I have heard this deposition read and my statement is correctly recorded B. L. JONES Deponent Jurat? ??? |
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