Confederate Pension Application of Reuben H. Brooks

 

Questions for Applicant

State of Georgia

Banks County.

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

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

R. H. Brooks-Banks Co., Ga.-Gillsville, Ga.

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

I have resided in the State of Georgia all my life.

3. When and where were you born?

10th Nov. 1837.  Gwinnett County, Ga.

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

 Dec. 1861, Banks County, Ga.  Co. G 25th N. C. Regiment.

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

I was with the Company and Regt. 3 years and 6 months.

6. For how long a period did you discharge regular military duty?

3 years and 6 months.

7. When, where and under what circumstances were you discharged from service?

9th April 1865 at Lee’s surrender in Virginia.

8. What is your present occupation?

I have no occupation now.

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

Nothing.

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 you could not earn your support?  If upon the second, five 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?

I have had the rheumatism for the last 8 or 10 years.  My legs and hips are so stiff that I can hardly go at all.

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

Nothing.

14. What property, effects or income did you possess in 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898 and 1899, and what disposition, if any, did you make of same?

Nothing.  Haven’t had any property for the last 8 or 10 years.  I live with my friends and relations.

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

Banks & Hall.

16. How were you supported during the years 1898 and 1899?

My friends supported me most of the time for 10 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 do not know.  I could do nothing.

18. What was your employment during 1898 and 1899?  What pay did you receive in each year?

I have no employment.

19. Have you a family?  If so, who composes such family?  Give their means of support?  Have they a homestead?

I have no family.

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

No.

 

Signed: R. H. Brooks, Applicant

Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 15 day of October 1900,

T. F. Hill, Ordinary of Banks County.

 

Questions for Witness.

State of Georgia

Banks County.

A. J. Phipps, of said State and County, having been presented as a witness in support of the application of R. H. Brooks for pension under Section 1254, 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. Phipps.  I reside in Banks County, Ga.

2. Are you acquainted with I am [R. H. Brooks’ name should have been entered in this space], the applicant; if so how long gave your known him?

Since 1862.

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

He resides in Banks County, Ga.

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

Co. G 25 N. C. Regiment in (1861, Dec.).

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

I was.

6. How long did he preform 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?

He was with Co. & Regt. up to the surrender in Va. 9th April 1865 and made a good soldier.

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

He owns no property fo income.  I reside near him as a neighbor.

8. What property, effects or income did the applicant possess in 1896, 1897, 1898, and 1899, and what disposition, if did he make of same?

In 1896 he owned 1 wagon and mule and in 1897 he sold same for support & hasn’t owned any since.

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

He sold an old mule and wagon in 1897.

10. What is applicant’s occupation and physical condition?

He has no occupation.

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

[Blank]

12. How was he supported during the years 1898 and 1899?

His children supports him since he sold the wagon and mule in 1897.

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

None.

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

[Blank]

15. What interest gave you in the recovery of a pension by this applicant?

[Blank]

 

Signed: A. J. Phipps, Witness

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 15th day of October 1900, T. F. Hill, Ordinary.

 

1926 Application for Pension Due Deceased Pensioner Under Act 1919, To pay expenses of last illness and funeral.

W. M. Thomas, Ordinary For R. H. Brooks.

Date of Death 3/19/1926.

 

Homer, Ga. 3/22/1926

R. H. Brooks, Decd.

On account with T. M. Carter for following burial expenses:

3/19/26 1 Suit                                                     $20.00

3/19/26 Lumber for Coffin                          $  7.00

3/19/26 Arthur Parker for making Coffin  $  6.00

                                                            Total               $33.00

The above and foregoing account is considered for burial expenses of R. H. Brooks who died without sufficient property to pay this bill.

Signed: T. M. Carter (X his mark)

 

Above account sworn to and subscribed before me this March 22, 1926.

W. M. Thomas, Ordinary

Paid 6/14/26 to T. C. Carter $30.00

 

Transcribed 2006 by Jacqueline King