Confederate Pension Application of James L. Brooks

 

State of Georgia

Banks County

J. L. 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 and answers as follows:

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

James L. Brooks, Banks County, Ga. Lula P. O.

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 July 11th, Franklin Co. Georgia.

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

In July 1861.  Co. G 25th North Carolina.  Ashville, N. C. Where I joined the Co. & Regt.

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

Up to the time I was wounded at Petersburg, Va., 21st August 1864.

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

I was not with my co. & regt. any more after I was wounded at Petersburg, Va. August 21st 1864.  Not able to go back until surrender.

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

I was not.

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

I was at home on furlough after I was wounded at Petersburg, Va., 21st August 1864.

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

Very little.

10. What has been your occupation since 1865?

Farming.

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”?

General debility and want a pension.

12.  If upon the first ground, state how long you have been in such a 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?

I was shot through the middle of my right foot which caused it to be stiff & not able to walk without difficulty also I am suffering from general debility.

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

[Blank]

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?

I own no property of income.

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

In Jackson, Hall and Banks counties.

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

With what little I could do & my wife.

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 $40.00.

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

I had no employment.  I worked when I could.

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 a wife & one child two years old and a feeble wife.

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

No.

21. Have you ever made and application for pension before?

No.

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

None.

 

Signed: J. L. Brooks, Applicant

Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 14 day of May 1903.

T. F. Hill, Ordinary of Banks County.

 

Questions for Witness

[Note-there are lot of sidenotes written in the margins.  They will be recorded as written at the end of this Affidavit.]

State of Georgia

Hall County

B. F. H. Jackson of said State and County, having been presented as a witness in support of the application of J. L. 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?

B. F. H. Jackson-at Gillsville, Hall County, Ga.

2. Are you acquainted with J. L. Brooks, the applicant; if so, how long have you known him?

Since 1861.

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

In Banks Co., Ga.  Don’t know.

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

July 1861.  Ashville, N. C. Co. G 25 Regiment.

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

Yes.

6. How long did he perform regular military duty?  From July 1861 two [sic] July 27th 1864.

[Questions 7-10 regarding the surrender of the command, and whether J. L. Brooks or B. F. H. Jackson were present are left blank.]

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

He has nothing or property or income or effects.

12. What property, effects or income did the applicant possess in 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1902, and what disposition, if any did he make of same?

He has nothing neither property or income.

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

None.

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

He is a farmer.  His health is general debility.

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

He is unable to support himself by labor of any sort for the reason he is generally debilitated.

[Questions 16-18 regarding how the applicant was supporter for the previous five years are not answered.]

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

Wife and one child.  They have no property.  The child is 1 and ½ years old and unable to work.

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

[Blank]

 

Signed: B. F. H. Jackson, Witness

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 20th day of May 1903.

W. N. Dyer, Ordinary of Hall County.

 

Additional handwritten notes:

1.Georgia, Hall County-I, W. N. Dyer, Ordinary in and for said County do hereby certify that B. F. H. Jackson is of trustworthy character and his statements are entitled to full faith and credit.

Signed: W. N. Dyer, Ordinary this May 22nd 1903.

 

2. B. F. H. Jackson answer[ed] questions from 7 to 14 (?)

W. N. Dyer, Ordinary

 

3. Sworn to and subscribed before me C. C. Dodd Questions 11-14-15-19.

Signed: C. C. Dodd

T. F. Hill [Ordinary of Banks County]

 

Witness Affidavit of C. T. Brooks

Georgia

Jackson County.

Personally comes before the undersigned, C. T. Brooks, a witness on behalf of J. L. Brooks, applicant for pension, who on oath says that he served in Co. G 25th Regiment North Carolina Volunteers, and that the applicant was a member of the same Company and Regiment, that said applicant while in battle in the Confederate Army, on the 21st day of August, 1864, was wounded in the right foot, at a place near Petersburg, Va., which wound disabled the applicant who was then sent to the hospital.  Deponent swears that he knows this of his own knowledge having been present when the applicant received the wound.

 

Signed: C. T. Brooks

Sworn to and subscribed before me May 16th 1903.

 

Georgia-Jackson County.

I, J. N. Ross, Ordinary in and for said County do hereby certify, that C. T. Brooks is a bona fide resident of said County, that he was qualified to the above statements and that his statements are entitled to full faith and credit.

Witness my official signature and seal of office, this May 16th 1903.

J. N. Ross, Ordinary of Jackson County, Ga.

 

Transcribed 2006 by Jacqueline King