RUBEN GRISSOM HALE

Submitted by Theodore Urbanski

SOURCE: TN "Colored" Pension Application: #6

Reuben Grissim Hale

Company “C” Fourth Tennessee Cavalry

Colored Man’s Application for Pension

Cover page

(A July 12, 1921) Accepted

No………..6

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State of Tennessee

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Colored Man’s Application for Pension

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Reuben Grissim Hale

………………………………...........................................................................

Co. “C” Fourth Tennessee ………………………………....................Regt.

2.………….M Dept……………………………….......................................

Filed………….June 13, 1921.……………………………..............................

Allowed……………………………….............................................................

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Card June 13, 1921

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All blank spaces on this page must be filled in by the Pension Board

_____________________________________________________________

Lebanon

Page 2

Colored Man’s Application for Pension

I…… Reuben Hale Grissim a native of the State of Tennessee ……………..

and said State of Tennessee, resident at … Lebanon ……………. in the County of. …WWilson

In the State of Tennessee and who was a servant from the State of Tennessee in the war between the United States and the Confederate States do herby apply for aid under the Act of the General Assembly of Tennessee 1921. And I do solemnly swear that I was with Quartermaster (Capt.) John Marcellus Grissim in co. “C” 4 th Tennessee Regiment until his death but remained with said company until the close of the war in the service of the Confederate States, and that by reason of indigence I am now entitled to receive, the benefit of this Act. I further swear that I do not hold any National, State, or county office, nor do I receive aid or pension from any other State, or from the United States. I do further solemnly swear that the answers given to following questions are true:

In what county, State and Year were you born?

Answer…… Smith County …1846 or 1847.……………………………........................

When did you go with the army? Give name of regiment and company officers under whom your master served.

Answer………….. Capt. Nat. Saunders . 1861 -Col. Baxter Smith, Capt. Hamlet, Lt. Col. Paul Anderson,

Give the name of your owner…John Marcellus Grissim, & J. W. Grissim

Answer………. Jno. Marcellus Grissim

What estate do you have in your own right, real and personal and what is its actual cash value?

Answer…………… All I have is a little restaurant and all it is valued at $100.00

State gross income of yourself and your wife from all sources from past year. This must include all money received either from wages, rent, or interest on loaned money if any. Also family supplies raised or received from rents and used by your family.

Answer……. I have been running a lunch stand for several years and have barely made a living. I have no family, as my wife is dead and have one son and he has grown and left here.

Page 3

What estate has your wife in her own right, real and personal, and what is the actual cash value?

Answer……. I am a widower ………………………………............................

How long have you been an actual resident of the State of Tennessee?

Answer……….. All my life ………………………………........................................

Have you an attorney to look after this application

Answer…………… No ……………………………….........................................................

If so give name and address

Answer………….. I Have F. M. McDonald County Court Clerk ……………

Witness my hand this….. 9 th Day of June 19 21

Ruben X (Grissim) Hale

His Mark

WITNESSES

J. G. Grissim ……..witness Street and No. if any North College Street

Postoffice Address…. Lebanon, Tennessee ………….P.O. Lebanon, Tennessee

S. M. Conley

J. L. Barry Witness R.F. D. if any

Postoffice………. Lebanon, Tennessee ………………………………...............

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State of Tennessee

… Wilson ………..County D. McClain ……..Trustee of said County

Certify that… Reuben Grissim Hale ……………………………..…………….and his wife…… (died) ……………………….are………………………………..........................

Assessed with… No …………acres valued at $… No …….and with …personal property.

Witnessed by my hand this… 9 th Day of…………..19 21

W. D. McClain ……………………..Trustee

If Applicant and wife have no property the Trustee must so certify

Page 4

State of Tennessee

Wilson ….County Personally appeared before me T.M.M. Stuart ………. Clerk ………….of said County, the above named Ruben Grissim Hale is the applicant, with whom I am personally acquainted and having the application read and fully explained to him, as well as the statement and answers therein made, made oath that the said statement and answers are true………………………………...............................

Witnessed my hand and seal of office this… 9 ….day of … June ……….19 21 .…………..

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(If possible the two witnesses as to character should have served with the applicant in the army and if so let them either state in their oaths also any other information regarding applicant’s army service.)

State of Tennessee Personally appeared before me… T. M. M. Stuart …

Co. Clerk ………..of said County, the above named J. M. Grissim and …………………….. Two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing application with whom I am personally, and known to me to be citizens of veracity and standing in the community and who make oath that they are personally acquainted with the foregoing applicant, and that the facts set forth and statements made in this application are correct and true, to the best of their knowledge and belief, and that they have no interest in this claim, and that said applicant habit’s are good and free from dishonor.

And…… J. M. Grissim

Further made oath to the following facts touching the applicants service___in the

Confederate Army

State here what witnesses know of their own knowledge.

That Reuben Grissim Hale left their home with my brother J. M. Grissim in 1861 - He stayed with him until he was felled and then remained with his company until the close of the war & returned home on May 4, 1865. I was not in the army but was about 13 years old when he left home.

J. L. Barry states that he was in the 4 th Tennessee Regiment & that Ruben Grissim Hale from the beginning in 1861 until the close of the war in May 1865.

Witness my seal and office this 11 th day of June 19 21

T. M. M. Stuart

Letter # 1

F. M. McDonald, Clerk

Office of

County Court Clerk

Wilson County

Lebanon, Tennessee

June 11 th, 1921

Hon. Jno. P. Hickman

Nashville, Tennessee

Sir:--

Enclosed fin application of Ruben Grissim Hale for pension under the new law for Negroes who served during the war.

This man was owned by and lived with the Grissim’s but his father’s name was “Hale” and after the war closed he took his father’s name. He is known here as Ruben Hale. One witness, J. M. Grissim is a brother to Jno. Marcellus Grissim with whom Ruben went away with. Said Jno. Marcellus Grissim was killed, as well as his brother Bob Grissim; Seth McCorley lived at Rome (where they all went from) and he too knows that Ruben served all during the war; Mr. Barry who was in Company “F” (I think) but he knew that Ruben stuck until the close even after the death of his Master.

If further proof is needed please advise me.

Respectfully

T. M. M. Stuart

Letter # 2

F. M. McDonald Clerk

Office of

County Court Clerk

Wilson County

Lebanon, Tennessee

November 25, 1924

Hon. John P. Hickman

Secretary Pension Board

Nashville, Tennessee

Dear. Sir:

Ruben C. Hale, colored who was a Confederate Pensioner and whose papers I mailed into the comptrollers a few days ago, died yesterday. Mr. Edward Hewgley is adjusting his matters, and if you can, you may send his check for the last quarter to Mr. Hewgley at Lebanon, Tennessee who will apply the name to the burial expenses.

With Best personal regards, I am

Yours truly

T. M. M. Stuart

County Clerk of Courts

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Ruben Grissim Hale died on November 24, 1924 at the age of seventy-eight years old.

At the time of his death he was receiving ten dollars per month. The state of Tennessee paid him quarterly.

His total pension for one year was that of one hundred and twenty dollars.

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Tennessee State Archives Nashville, Tennessee

233 Willington Hill Road

Willington, Connecticut 06279-1921

tedsuedoghouse@sbcglobal.net

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