Confederate Pension Application of Jefferson Atkins

 

Questions For Applicant.

 

State of Georgia,

Banks County.

Jefferson Atkins of said State and County, desiring to avail himself of the Pension Act (Section 1254, Code), hereby submits his proofs, and after being sworn true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows:

1. What is your name and where do you reside? (give State, County and post-office.)

Jefferson Atkins.  Banks County, Ga.  Maysville, Ga.

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

All my life.

3. When and where were you born?

In 1841 Jan. 18th, Jackson County Ga.

4. When and where and in what company and regiment did you enlist or serve?

In 1861, August.  Homer, Ga.  Co. A 24th Ga.

5. How long did you remain in such company and regiment?

About 2 years.

6. When and where was your company and regiment surrendered and discharged?

Near Richmond, Va., 9th April 1865.

7. Were you present with your company and regiment when it was surrendered?

No.

8. If not present, state specifically and clearly where you were, when you left your command, for what cause and by whose authority?

I left Company and Regiment at Washington, N. C., sick with Measles, on furlough from Dr. Starr.

9. How much can you earn (gross) per annum by your own exertions or labor?

Nothing.

10. What has been your occupation since 1865?

Had none.

11. Upon which of the following grounds do you base your application for pension, viz: first, “age and poverty,” second, “infirmity and poverty,” or third, “blindness and poverty.”?

Infirmity and poverty.

12. If upon the first ground, state how long you have been in such condition that you could not earn your support?  If upon the second, give and full and complete history of the infirmity and its extent?  If upon the third, state whether you are totally blind and when and where you lost your sight?

He suffers from lung trouble all the while very weak.  Not able to do any kind of manual labor for a support.

13. What property, real and personal, or income, do you possess, and its gross value?

I own no property of any kind.

14. What property, real or personal, did you possess in 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1902, and what disposition, if any, by sale or gift, have you made of same?

Nothing whatever.

15. In what County did you reside during those years, and what property did you return for taxation?

In Banks county and gave no property for taxation.

16. How were you supported during the years 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1902?

Kept getting little jobs in stores etc.

17. How much did your support cost for each of those years, and what property did you then return for taxation?

Not but little.  I contributed but little.

18. What was your employment during 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1902?  What pay did you receive each year?

I had no employment.

19. Have you a family?  If so, who composes such family?  Give their means of support?  Have they a homestead, or other property?  Their ages and how employed?

I have no family.

20. Are you receiving any pension?  If so, what amount and for what disability?

No.

21. Have you ever made application for pension before?

No.

22. How many applications have you ever made and under what class?

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Signed: Jefferson Atkins, Applicant.

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 16 day of April 1903.

T. F. Hill, Ordinary of Banks County.

 

Questions For Witness.

 

State of Georgia,

Banks County.

A. J. Sanders of said State and County, having been presented as a witness in support of the application of Jefferson Atkins for pension under section 154, Code, and after being duly sworn true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows:

1. What is your name and where do you reside?

A. J. Sanders.  I reside in Banks County Ga.

2.  Are you acquainted with “I am” the applicant; if so, how long have you known him?

All my life.

3. Where does he reside, how long and since when has he been a resident of this State?

In Banks County, Ga., and has resided in the State all his life.

4. When, where and in what company and regiment did he enlist, and how do you know?

In August 1861.  Homer, Banks County, Ga.  Co. A 24th Georgia.

5. Were you a member of the same company and regiment?

I was.

6. How long did he perform regular military duty?

More than 2 years.

7. When and where was his command surrendered?

April 9th 1865 near Richmond Va.

8. Were you present when it was surrendered?

I was not.

9. Was applicant present?

I was not.  I was at Danville Va.

10. If he was not present, where was he?

I do not know or remember.

When did he leave his command?

In 1862.

For what cause?

Sick with Measles.

By what authority he left?

Dr. Starr.

How do you know all of this?

I was with Company and Regiment.

11. What property, effects or income has the applicant? (Give you means of knowledge.)

He owns nothing.  I have known [him] all my life.

12. What property, effects or income did the applicant possess in 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1902?

He owned nothing.  I have lived as neighbor to him for 40 years.

13. Has he conveyed away any of his property in the last four years, if so, what was it, and to whom?

He has not had nothing to convey.

14. What is the applicant’s occupation and physical condition?

He has no Occupation & he’s very feeble in health and has been for the last 30 years.

15. If the applicant unable to support himself by labor of any sort, if so, why?

He is not able to do any kind of labor to make a support for himself.

16. How was he supported during the years 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1902?

His brother helped him in support.

17. What portion of his support for those four years was derived from his own labor or income?

Very little if any.

18. Give a full and complete statement of the applicant’s physical condition that entitles his to a pension under Section 1254, Code?

His appearance is very feeble, suffers from general debility.

19. Who composes family?  What property have they?  Children’s age and their earning capacity?

He has no family.

20. What interest have you in the recovery of a pension by this applicant?

None.

Signed: A. J. Sanders, Witness

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 16th day of April 1903.

T. F. Hill, Ordinary

 

Transcribed 2006 by Jacqueline King