Cocke County, Tennessee
Abstracted Civil War Pension Records
(in alpha order)
contributed by Bruce Price
A LIST OF CIVIL WAR PENSIONERS - ABSTRACTED
Allen, James
Served as a private in Co D, 9th Tenn Cavalry. His widow, Louisa, filed for a pension starting 11/06/1864.
Their children:
·
Mary Elizabeth
12/28/1852
·
William L.
01/30/1854
·
John Gilbert
03/20/1855
·
Margaret Jane
02/10/1857
·
Sarah Malissa
06/28/1859
·
Isaac Milbourn
02/10/1862
James enlisted 09/27/1863 and died 11/05/1864 in Gallatin,
TN, of piles. He and Louisa married
02/27/1851.
On 04/06/1867 Louisa Allen, age 34, a resident of the 7th
Civil District, filed her claim before William H. Wood, County Court Clerk.
She was married to James Allen on 02/27/1851 in Cocke County by Willis
Gray, a JP. Her maiden name was
Louisa Holder.
John Griffin and Marion M. Tucker, residents of the 7th Civil
District of Cocke County witnessed Louisa’s signature.
They also confirmed the names of her children.
A transcript of the marriage license on James Allen and Louisa Holder is
included in the file.
Louisa was dropped from the pension rolls 01/20/1898 for failure to
claim, after last being paid on 11/04/1893.
Alfred Nicely swore that he was 2nd LT of Co D, 9th
Reg Tenn Cavalry and that James Allen was a private in that company and that he
died in the hospital at Gallatin, TN, on 11/05/1864.
P. W. Anderson sent an explanatory note to the pension department with
information on Louisa Allen and Patsy Ellenburg, claim #110, 005.
This indicates that Patsy also lived in Cocke County.
Bible, William M.
Served as a private in Co D, 8th Tenn
Volunteers. He was a resident of Cocke County with a Greeneville post office
box. He enrolled 04/14/1863 and died
at Andersonville prison 10/06/1864, having been captured by the enemy
06/12/1864.
William M. Bible and Rachael Ottinger married 07/25/1960.
They had two children:
·
Florence S.
09/26/1861
·
Mary J.
08/13/1864
On 08/19/1865, Rachael L. Bible, aged 25 years, a resident
of District #4 of Cocke County, filed for a pension in Greene County.
She was married to William M. Bible on 07/25/1860 by Joel Ren, a JP.
Joel Ren and Joseph Woods, also residents of District #4, testified that
they knew Rachael and William were married and lived together.
On 10/01/1866, William H. Wood, Cocke County Court Clerk,
certified that Rachael L. Bible was a resident of the 3rd Civil
District and that she was the widow of William M. Bible.
William died of fever while in the rebel prison at Andersonville, GA.
He stated that Joel Ren was a minister rather than JP.
But he also stated that both daughter were born in 1861 in Cocke County.
Joel Ren and Abraham Dawson, both residents of Cocke
County, witnessed Rachael’s signature and stated that they had known her 5 years
and that she was the widow of William M. Bible.
A certified copy of their marriage license is included in
the file.
Elizabeth Ren and Jane Dawson testified that they were
present at the births of Florence L. and Mary J. Bible, children of William and
Rachael Bible. James M. Hale and
Alfred Knisley witnessed their signatures.
On 10/11/1869, Rachel L. Bible, a resident of Parrottsville
District in Cocke County, aged 29 years, renewed or reapplied for her pension.
She revoked the power of attorney she had previously set up and asked
that all communication come to a Greeneville PO box.
James C. Beeks and James D. Carlisle witnessed her signature.
Elizabeth Ren and Jane Dawson also testified that they saw Rachael sign
her name. John M. Baer and James D.
Carlisle witnessed their signatures.
__________________________
Bird, James
Served as a private in Co E, 2nd
Tenn Cavalry. He died 11/10/1864 in
Decatur, AL, leaving widow Nancy and 3 children:
·
Albert
02/13/1851
·
Mary Jane
12/27/1854
·
John
03/04/1857
He enlisted 09/16/1862.
James Bird married Nancy Butler on 12/02/1847.
Nancy filed her claim on 05/07/1866.
She was 37 and a resident of the 9th Civil District or Cocke
County. She was married to James
Bird in Cocke County on 12/02/1847 by John Murrell, JP.
Isaiah Butler and David F. Simmons, residents of Cocke County, swore they
saw Nancy Bird make her mark to the document.
Nancy Murrell deposed that she was acquainted with Nancy Bird and lived
within 1 mile of her. She was
present when Mary Jane Bird was born.
She was not present at the birth of John Bird but was there shortly
thereafter. She was not present at
the birth of Albert Bird but was in sight of the house when he was born.
Rebecca Gregory swore that she was present at the birth of Albert Bird
and that Rachel Odell acted as chief physician and that she is now dead.
David F. Simmons and James Manning witnessed her signature.
Nancy Bird swore that she had not remarried and still supported her
children. Martha M. Templin and C. D. Fairfield witnessed her signature.
John Henry, who was captain of the company James Bird served in, swore to
the service and death of James Bird.
William Denton and Orpha Bryant witnessed his signature.
This was 10/15/1870.
_______________
Bird, John
Served in
Co C, East Tenn Cavalry [2nd Reg Tenn Cavalry].
He enrolled 09/16/1862 and died of typhoid fever at Murfreesboro, TN,
02/13/1863. He married Martha M.
Click 08/31/1856. Martha remarried
to David S. Templin on 09/04/1865.
John and Martha had two children:
·
Andrew Jackson
08/17/1857
·
Nancy Ann
08/01/1862
By 02/16867, David S. Templin was guardian of the minor
children of John Bird. He stated
that John Bird and Martha M. Click were married in Cocke County on 08/31/1856 by
Y. J. Morris, MG.
David S. Templin and Martha Bird were married in Cocke
County by Alexander McNabb, JP.
Martha filed a claim on 06/13/1864 in Sevier County.
She lived in the 9th Civil District of Cocke County and was 25
years old.
There is a transcript of the marriage license of John Bird
and Martha M. Click in the file.
David S. Templin and William V. Hartsell, residents of
Cocke County, swore that they were acquainted with John Bird and Martha Bird and
knew that the couple was married. This document was dated 06/13/1864.
________________
Fox, Robert N. :
Served as a private in Company K,
8th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry.
He enrolled 07/01/1863 and died 09/06/1864 in General Hospital,
Knoxville, TN, of typhoid fever. He
left minor children Jesse, Nancy Jane, and Isaac Fox.
Robert N. Fox and Martha Woody
were married 11/09/1849 by W. N. Hays, who at the time of the pension
application was in “parts unknown”.
There was no widow’s case because Martha died 10/01/1864.
The dates of birth of the children were:
·
Jesse
06/06/1850
·
Nancy Jane
05/04/1855
·
Isaac
05/15/1858
Andrew J. Fox, age 31 as of
02/14/1867, and a resident of the 1st Civil District, was appointed
guardian of the minor children of Robert N. Fox.
This document states that Robert Fox died 09/04/1864 of chronic diarrhea
and that the mother of the children died 01/05/1864.
___________
Huskey, Welcome:
Served as a private in Co G, 2nd
Tenn Cavalry. He enrolled
09/16/1862 and died in the hospital in Nashville of erysipelas [an acute
bacterial skin infection] on 12/31/1862.
Another report said he died of typhoid fever.
Welcome Huskey and Rhoda Valentine married 04/01/1849.
They had one child, Welcome, born 12/21/1862.
Rhoda when to Sevierville to file paperwork, but she lived in the 10th
Civil District of Cocke County. On
01/06/1866, she filed her declaration for a widow’s Army pension.
She was 37. She married
Welcome Huskey at William Lindsey’s in Sevier County.
They were married by F. L. Emert, a JP.
She had 2 children by Welcome:
Henry Huskey & Welcome Huskey.
Her son Henry was living with James Noe near Morristown in Jefferson
County. Her son Welcome lived at
home with her in the 10th District of Cocke County.
Henry was 14 and Welcome was 3.
Her maiden name was Rhoda Valentine.
William Valentine and Robert Valentine, residents of the 3rd
District of Sevier County and the 10th District of Cocke County,
witnessed Rhoda’s signature.
Rhoda remarried to Noah Murr on 08/17/1871.
They were married by Cary Dennis, a JP.
On 03/27/1868, Sarah Wilson and Elizabeth Valentine swore under oath that
on 12/21/1862 in Cocke County, they were present and witnessed the birth of a
male child of Rhoda Huskey, that the child is living, and that the said Welcome
Huskey was the father of the child, and that the child is called by name
“Welcome”. They also stated that
Elizabeth Smith, who officiated as midwife, had left the country and did not
know where she was. Robert
Valentine and William Baxter witnessed their signatures.
On 03/21/1867 in Cocke County, Elizabeth Smith swore that she was midwife
at the birth of Welcome Huskey, son of Welcome and Rhoda Huskey.
Henderson McMahan and William R. McGaha witnessed her signature.
Rhoda died 02/23/1907.
On 11/29/1902, Rhoda Huskey
reapplied for a pension, having divorced Noah Murr on 02/24/1897.
J. I. Waters and P. A. Valentine witnessed her signature.
_________
Inman, Joseph :
Served as a private in Co E,
2nd Tennessee Cavalry Volunteers.
He enrolled 12/15/1862 and died while on parole at Annapolis, MC, on
04/10/1823, of pneumonia. He and
his wife Susanna married 10/18/1851.
She was pensioned to 0-5/28/1867 when she remarried to James Whitehead.
His minor children then received a pension.
·
Nancy Jane
07/09/1853
·
Martha Elizabeth
06/23/1857
On 09/08/1869, Susannah Whitehead, formerly Susannah Inman,
about 34, a resident of the 10th Civil District of Cocke County,
filed a claim for pension for the minor children of Joseph Inman as their
guardian. (Her application for a
pension was Certificate #127392 and was referred to for proof for this claim.)
On 057/1866, David Hicks and Perry Murrell swore oath that
they were present at the marriage of Joseph Inman and Susannah Rose by John
Murrell, JP.
James Whitehead and Susannah Inman were married by Thomas
J. Keener, a JP, on 05/28/1867.
Nancy Murrell deposed that she present at the house of
Joseph and Susan Inman when Jane was born and acted as chief physician at the
birth of said child. She was not
present when Martha Elizabeth was born, but she saw the child shortly after the
birth. Anderson Walker and John
Gregory witnessed her signature.
This was dated 06/03/1868.
________________
Perry Large:
Served as a private in Co. E, 2nd
Tenn Cavalry. He married Nancy
McMahan on 01/22/1852. She
remarried to Robert Ball on 12/08/1867.
He died 03/05/1863 in the hospital at Murfreesboro of typhoid fever.
She applied for a pension on 12/04/1868 but was rejected because she had
remarried. She had minor children
by Perry Large who did qualify for a pension.
·
Janie
01/11/1853
·
Mary M.
12/29/1854
·
Samuel
11/11/1857
·
Rhoda A.
12/24/1959
·
Matilda
05/22/1862
Their pension was approved and made payable to Sanders
McMahan [brother of Nancy].
Sanders McMahan, age about 35, resident of the 1st Civil
District of Sevier County, was appointed guardian of the minor children of Perry
Large. Their mother, Nancy Large,
had remarried to Robert Ball on 12/08/1867 in Sevier County.
Perry and Nancy were married on 01/22/1852 in Cocke County by James
Baxter, a JP.
A transcript of the marriage license of Perry Large and Nancy McMahan is
included in the file.
A transcript of the marriage license of Robert Ball and Nancy Large in
Sevier County is included in the file.
Lucy Large made oath that she was present as the attending midwife at the
birth of Jane Large, Mary M. Large, Samuel Large, Rhoda A. Large, & Matilda
Large. She confirmed the dates of
birth. R. S. McMahan and Wm. A.
Matthews witnessed her signature.
Nancy filed another affidavit that, among other things, stated that she
married Perry Large at her father’s house.
___________________
Messer, Christian Sarget:
Served as a private in Co A, 9th Tennessee Cavalry Voluteers.
His widow, Mary A., was a resident of Cocke County.
Christian Messer was captured near Norristown, TN, 11/13/1864.
He was in the hospital at Annapolis, NC, on 02/20/1865.
Records on file reported him delivered on parole at James River, VA,
02/22/1865, & died 04/22/1865 at Annapolis, VA.
He enrolled 07/13/1863.
Christopher S. Messer and Mary A. Toby married 12/26/1861
On 11/09/1865, Mary A. Messer, a resident of Newport, Cocke County, age
38, swore that she was the widow of Christopher S. Messer.
Her maiden name was Mary A. Toby and they were married on 12/26/1861 in
Cocke County by A. McNabb, JP. She
stated that Christopher S. Messer died at Indianapolis, IN, on 05/22/1865 of
“disease unknown”. She also
declared that she never had any children since she was married to the said
Christopher S. Messer. Humphrey
Kirkpatrick and Henry Reece witnessed her signature.
Christian Messer was enrolled 07/13/1863 at Tullahoma in Co A, 9th
Reg of Tenn Cav volunteers.
A transcript of their marriage license is included in the file.
Mary A. Messer died 04/03/1915.
In March 1879, Mary A. Messer applied arrears of pension due her.
S. H. Stanberry and Jacob Toby witnessed her signature.
___________________
Ricker, George W.
Served as a private in Co K, 8th Tenn
Volunteers. He was mustered in
08/11/1863 and was killed in action near Atlanta, GA, on 08/06/1864; he was shot
through the head.
His widow was a pensioner and was paid to 08/05/1868.
George and his widow were married 04/25/1839.
Daughter Mary Jane Ricker was born 09/30/1859.
The mother died 12/01/1868.
Mary Jane applied for a minor’s pension.
Daniel Rodgers, age 51, a resident of the 3rd Civil District
of Cocke County, was guardian of the minor child of Delila Ricker, dec’d.
Mary Jane Ricker was the daughter of George and Delila Ricker.
George was killed at Utoy Creek near Atlanta, GA.on 08/06/1864.
Delila died at her residence in Cocke County on 12/01/1868 of
consumption. George and Delila were
married in Greene Co, TN.
Ambrose Willett and J. M. Shelton, residents of the 3rd Civil
District, swore that the saw Daniel sign his name.
This document is dated 05/18/1869.
A certified copy of the marriage license of George Ricker and Delila
Willett in Greene Co, TN, is included in the file.
On 02/11/1865, Delila Ricker, age 41, a resident of the 3rd
Civil District of Cocke County, filed for a pension as widow of George Ricker.
George Buckner and Rebecca Cline, residents of Jefferson & Cocke
Counties, swore that the were acquainted with George Ricker and Delila Ricker
and that they were married and the parents of Mary Jane.
John M. Shelton swore that he knew George Ricker and fought side by side
with him.
Robert A. Ragan, late Captain of Co K, 8th Reg Tennessee
Infantry, swore that George Ricker was a private in his company.
He stated that George Ricker was killed by the Confederate forced on
08/06/1864 while charging the enemy fortifications before Atlanta, GA, by a ball
passing through his head from the enemy guns.
Another document states that George Ricker and Delila Willett were
married 04/25/1849 by Samuel L. Stephens, a JP.
Smith, William
Served as a private in Co K, 8th Tenn
Volunteers. He was a resident of Cocke County.
He enrolled 07/01/1863. He
was killed in action on 08/06/1864 near Atlanta, GA.
William Smith and Jane E. Swatzell werer married on 02/01/1849 by
Jonathan Easterly, a JP. They had
two children under 16:
·
Polly D.
11/06/1851
·
Reuben G.
09/24/1853
A certified copy of the marrieage of William Smith and Jane
Swatzell in Greene Co, TN, is included in the file.
Jane E. Smith, age 39, a resident of Civil District #3 in Greene County,
applied for a pension on 05/19/1865.
Joseph Renner and Andrew Renner, also residents of District #3 in Greene Co,
witness Jane making her mark.
_______________________
SolomomCatherine J. ,
Widow of Balden H. Solomon, a private in Co E, 8th
Tenn Volunteers, was awarded an additional $4 per month for her 2 children under
age 16. Based on the dates they
would turn 16, their dates of birth were:
·
Mary M.
06/24/1860
·
Nancy A.
08/12/1862
Webb, Chrisley:
Served as a private in Co K, 2nd Reg Tenn
Calvary Volunteers. He was a
resident of Cocke County. He
enrolled 12/01/1862, was mustered in 01/26/1863, and died 03/30/1863 at
Murfreesboro of typhoid fever.
Chrisley Webb married Lydia Mathews on 01/05/1857.
They had 3 children:
·
Polly
02/17/1857
·
Jane
11/30/1858
·
Nancy
07/13/1861
The declaration states that the first named child was
illegitimate and the last dead.
This document was dated 11/21/1870.
The County Court Clerk filed an affidavit that Chrisley
Webb and Lydia Mathews were married 01/05/1857 by W. N. Smith, a minister.
On 12/03/1865, James C. LaRue, County Court Clerk, filled
out the application for Lydia Webb.
She was 30 years old and a resident of Cocke County.
They were married 01/05/1857 by Wm. N. Smith, a minister.
It listed the children:
·
James Madison Webb
10/26/1851
Wise, Charles
Served as a private in CO K, 8th Tenn
Volunteers. He was a resident of
Cocke County. He was mustered in on
08/08/1863 and died 03/13/1864.
Another report says he died 03/20/1864 at the Regimental hospital on
inflammation of the brain. Capt.
Robert A. Ragan swore that he died 03/20/1864 of brain fever.
Charles Wise and Caroline Sartin were married on 10/05/1843 bu William
Ogdon a JP. They had two children
under 16:
·
Eveline
09/27/1855
·
James
09/01/1859
Caroline Wise, age 36, a resident of the 5th
district of Cocke County, filed for a pension on 08/16/1864.
She stated that her husband died at Mossy Cree, TN, on or about
03/15/1864 of brain fever. She
married Charles Wise on 10/05/1843 in Cocke County.
As of that date, she had four children under 16:
·
Andrew
01/20/1850
·
Joseph
04/16/1953
·
Eveline
10/27/1855
·
James
02/25/1860
All four were alive and still living with her in Cocke
County.
William Murphy and John Rorex swore they saw Caroline Wise make her mark
and that they were acquainted with Charles Wise and knew that he and Caroline
were married. This document was
dated 08/16/1864.
On 03/03/1866, Caroline filled out a pension claim.
She was 36 and a resident of the 5th Civil District of Cocke
County. In this document, she only
reported Eveline and James as being her only children under 16.
This indicates that Joseph must have died before this date, as he would
have been about 13. Andrew Wise and
Polly Jones, residents of the 1st District of Knox County, swore they
saw Caroline make her mark.
On 07/20/1866, Caroline Wise, age 37 and a resident of Cocke County,
filled out a pension claim. This
document also reported only Eveline and James, further narrowing down the date
that Joseph died. George B. Rogers
and Thomas Ellison witnessed her signature.
A certified copy of the marriage of Charles Wise and Caroline Sartin is
included in the file. The Cocke
County Court Clerk provided the copy.
Caroline Wise died 06/27/1901.