Confederate Pension Application of John W. Brewer
State of Georgia
Banks County.
J. W. Brewer of said State and
County, desiring to avail himself of the Pension Act approved December 15th,
1894, hereby submits his proofs, 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? (Give State, County and post office.)
J. W. Brewer. Banks County, Ga. Belton, Ga. P. O.
2. How long and since when have
you been a resident of this State?
Came to Ga., in 1857.
3. When and where were you born?
I was born in South Carolina in
1824.
4. When and where and in what
company and regiment did you enlist or serve?
April 1863, Richmond, Va. “A” 2nd Ga. Regiment.
5. How long did you remain in said
company and regiment?
To the close of the war in April
1865.
6. For how long a period did you
discharge regular military duty?
All the time to the close.
7. When, where and under what
circumstances were you discharged from service?
Was discharged April 1865-at the
surrender in Va.
8. What is your present
occupation?
Farmer.
9. How much can you earn (gross)
per annum by our own exertions or labor?
But little support $25.00.
10. What has been your occupation
since 1865?
Farmer.
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 a
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 has been suffering with
rheumatism for all the while since the surrender but for the last few years he
has been worse.
13. What property, effects or
income do you possess and its gross value?
None.
14. What property, effects or
income did you possess in 1894, 1895, 1896 and 1897 and what disposition, if
any, did you make of same?
I [gave in?] for my wife a small
tract of land in 1894 & 1895. I did
not own anything.
15. In what County did you reside
during those years and what property did you then return for taxation?
I resided in Banks County 1896
& 1897.
16. How were you supported during
the years 1896 & 1879?
By my boy helped me to live those
years.
17. How much did your support cost
for each of those years and what portion did you contribute thereto by your own
labor or income?
I suppose it cost $41.00.
18. What was your employment
during 1896 and 1897? What pay did you
receive each year?
Trying to farm.
19. Have you a family? If so, who composes such family? Give their means of support? Have they a homestead?
I have a wife very feeble and not
able to support herself.
20. Are you receiving any pension,
if so, what amount and for what disability?
None.
Signed: J. W. Brewer, Applicant
Sworn to and subscribed before me
this the 23 day of March 1898.
T. F. Hill Ordinary of Banks
County.
Questions for Witness.
State of Georgia
Banks County.
J. C. Allan, of said State and
County, having been presented as a witness in support of application of J. W.
Brewer for pension as a witness in support of the application of J. W. Brewer
for pension under the Act approved December 15th, 1894, 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?
J. C. Allan and reside in Banks
County Georgia.
2. Are you acquainted with J. W.
Brewer, the applicant, if so how long have you known him?
Since April 1861.
3. Where does he reside and how
long and since when has he been a resident of this State?
In Banks County Georgia since
1851.
4. When, where and in what company
and regiment did he enlist, and how do you know?
In 1861, in the 24th
Ga. Regiment, and in the 2nd Georgia Regiment April, 1863. Was in service with him.
5. Were you a member of the same
Company and Regiment?
Yes.
6. How long did he perform regular
military duty, and what do you know of his service as a Confederate soldier,
and the time and circumstances of his discharge from the service?
Barly (sic) four years-served
faithfully until Lee’s surrender-was at the surrender of Lee’s army.
7. What property, effects or
income has the applicant? (Give your means of knowledge)
He has no property that I know of.
I am Tax Receiver of Banks County and received no return from him & I am
familiar with his circumstances.
8. What property, effects or
income did the applicant possess in 1896 and 1897, and what disposition, if
any, did he make of same?
In 1864 & 1865 [probably
should be 1894 & 1895 but that is the way it is written] he returned for
taxes a small piece of land for his wife, in 1896 & 1897 he owned no
property.
9. Has he conveyed away any of his
property in the last three years, if so, what was it and to whom? None that I know of.
10. What is the applicant’s occupation and physical condition?
He is a farmer and is disabled and
crippled from hard service in the army.
11. If the applicant unable to
support himself by labor of any sort, if so, why?
He is unable to support himself on
account of being crippled rheumatism and is ruptured.
12. How was he supported during
the year 1895 & 1896?
By the labor of one son.
13. What portion of his support
for these two years was derived from his own labor or income?
None.
14. Give a full and complete
statement of the applicant’s physical condition that entitles him to a pension
under the Act of December 15th, 1894?
He is in a very crippled and weak
condition, is quite poor and dependent on others for his living.
15. What interest have you in the
recovery of a pension by this applicant?
None.
Signed: J. C. Allan, Witness
Sworn to and subscribed before me,
this 23rd day of March 1898.
T. F. Hill, Ordinary.
Note- John Wilson Brewer is buried
at Homer Presbyterian Church cemetery in Homer, Ga., alongside his wife,
Cynthia Caroline Bowden Brewer. Dates
on his stone read “Born Dec. 4, 1824-Died Jan. 19, 1900"
Transcribed 2006 by Jacqueline
King