John W. NICHOLS

Submitted by Theodore Urbanski

SOURCE: TN Confederate Pension Application: #W6098

Notice to Applicant

The Widow’s Pension Law, passed by the Tennessee Legislature provides for the widows of soldiers only, and they must have been residents of the State of Tennessee for three years before making application.

There is only one class of Widows pensionable

Widow must have married prior to 1890

To be eligible the applicant must have remained a widow after the death of her soldier husband, and must indigent.

Read the questions in the application carefully and answer them fully.

Read the law, and unless you come clearly under the law it will be useless to file application.

The Board meets on the second Tuesday in January, April, July and October.

Accepted

A. Jancy 11/16

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Order to Dec, 17, 1915

No. 6098

S. A. # 6275

________________________________________________________________________

Widows

Indigent Pension

===============================================================

Name Mary R. Nichols

Filed October 9, 1915

Widow of {Capt.} J. W. Nichols

G 4 th Tennessee Cavalry.....................................................................................................

6275-3

===============================================================

All blanks must be filled in by Pension Board

Murfreesboro, Rutherford {County}

________________________________________________________________________

Questions for Applicant

STATE OF TENNESSEE

Rutherford County,

Mary R. Nichols of said State and County, desiring to avail herself of the pension allowed to Indigent Widows of Soldiers, under the General Assembly, approved April 1905, being Chapter 202 of the Acts of 1905; Acts of 1907; Chapter 18, Acts of 1909 and Chapter 7, Acts of 1911, hereby submit proofs, and after being duly sworn true answers to make the following questions deposes and answers as follows:

1. What is your full name and where do you reside? (Give State, County, and Postoffice)

Answer-Mary Reading Nichols Murfreesboro, Tennessee

2. How long and since when have you been a resident of this State?

Answer-All my life

3. When and where were you born and what was your maiden name?

Answer-April 5, 1846

4. When and where was your husband born---state his full name, and where you and he were married and who preformed the marriage ceremony. (Attach certified copy of marriage license in every case.)

Answer-February 26 th 1839, Readyville Tennessee, John W. Nichols married in Readyville, Tennessee on December 20, 1866 by the Rev. W. H. Goodloe.

5. When and where and in what Company and Regiment did your husband enlist or serve during the War Between the States?

Answer-

6. How long did your husband serve in said company and Regiment?

Answer-

7. When and where did your husbands Company or Regiment surrender?

Answer-

8. Was your husband present at the time and place when his Company and Regiment surrendered?

Answer-

9. If not with his command at surrender, state clearly and specifically where he was, when he left command, for what cause and by what authority?

Answer-

10. Was your husband a pensioner or applicant for a pension under the laws of Tennessee?

Answer-See 6275

11. Have you heretofore applied for a pension of this state?

Answer-No

12. When and where did your husband die?

Answer-September 13, 1915

13. At the time of his death were you living with him as his lawful wife?

Answer-Yes

14. Have you married since the death of your soldier husband?

Answer-No

15. How many children did you have by your said husband? Give sex and age at this time.

Answer-Ten children all married and living out of this state except three living in this state and D. E. Lyons and E. Patsy ---Nichols.

16. What property real or personal, or income do you have or posses, and its gross value.

Answer

17. What property real or personal, did you posses at death of husband or did he leave you and what disposition if any, by sale or gift, have you made of the same?

Answer-None with the exception of some bunch of furniture

18. Have you family? If so who compose such family? Give their means of support. Have they any lands or other property?

Answer-Only one daughter living with me who is a sick nurse

19. Name some friend, giving his name and Postoffice address, who will be willing to have us write to him about your case if necessary?

Answer-G. S. Smith, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Sworn and subscribed before me this 6 th day of October 1915 Mrs. Mary R. Nichols

Richard Bond Notary Public of Rutherford County

20. Has she remained unmarried since her soldier husband’s death and is now his widow?

Answer-Yes

21. What property effects or income has the applicant, if any, do you know this of your own knowledge?

Answer-None except some household items

==============================================================

Note---Let the witness who can answer the greatest number of questions do so; then let the other witness state in space below how much of the testimony of the first witness he concurs in, and whether or not he can answer any of the questions not answered by the first witness.

I, Joe P. Smith have knowledge of J. W. Nichol’s wife for 60 years and the answers of J. C. Carnahan are true.

Sworn and subscribed before me this 6 th day of October 1915

Richard Bond Witness J. C. Carnahan

Notary Public Joe P. Smith

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The following Certificate of the County Trustee Must be Filled Out Whether the Applicant Owns Any Taxable Property

I, W. G. Woods Dept. Trustee of Rutherford County, Tennessee hereby certify that the property assessed on the tax books of this County to Mrs. Mary R. Nichols the widow of J. W. Nichols acres -------amount to $ ------ real estate and No personal

H. G. Hood Dept. Trustee

For Rutherford County, Tennessee.

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Certificate of Clerk of Courts or Notary Public

State of Tennessee

Rutherford County

I Richard Bond [Notary Public] Clerk or Notary Public, in and for said County, hereby certify that the applicant Mrs. Mary R. Nichols resides in said County and has been a bona fide resident of this State since the {all her days} 19----and that Mr. J. C. Carnahan and Joe P. Smith are witnesses are of trustworthy character, and that their statements are entitled to full faith and credit.

I do further certify that before answering the foregoing questions the applicant and said witness took the oath herein prescribed and full text of the applicant and witnesses before same was signed and subscribed.

Witness my hand and official seal this 6 th day of October of 1915

(Seal) Richard Bond N. P. Rutherford County

Note 1. Before any questions are answered the Clerk or Notary shall swear the applicant and the witnesses in the following words “ You do solemnly swear that you will true answers make oath to each questions asked of you and that the evidence you shall give will be the whole truth so help you God”.

2. Additional affidavits may be attached if blank spaces insufficient.

3. All affidavits must be made before and officer using a seal.

4. Only widows who were the wives of soldiers need apply--and are now widows. Those married since December 31, 1889 not entitled.

5. Two witnesses are needed to make out claim.

6. Attach certified copy of marriage license in every case, or certificate of County Clerk, under seal, that license is filed in his office duly certified of the officiating minister or the affidavit of the witness of the ceremony of the affidavit of the two witnesses who knew them as man and wife prior to January 1, 1890, and knew that they were living together on the date of his death.

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Marriage Document

Page 225

J. W. Nichols License issued Dec. 19 th, 1866

To Josephus Finley Clerk

Miss Mary R. Holmes

I solemnized the Rite of Matrimony between the within named parties on the 20 th of December 1866.

State of Tennessee

I W. B. Woods Clerk of County Court of Cannon County Tennessee do hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the marriage record as appears on record in my office.

This day October 5, 19---

B. F. Woods Clerk

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Mrs. Mary R. Nichols was the wife of Captain Jonathan Nichols of Company G 4 th Tennessee Cavalry [Smith’s]

Date of death unknown

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Transcribed by Theodore Urbanski from Confederate Pension Widow’s File # 6098

From the State of Tennessee roll # 33

If any questions please e-mail at tedsuedoghouse@sbcglobal.net

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