Confederate Pension Application of John W. Carroll

Questions for Applicant.

State of Georgia,

Banks County.

J. W. Carroll 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.)

J. W. Carroll and I reside in Banks County, Ga., Homer.

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

38 years since September 1866.

3. When and where were you born?

April 29^th 1841 at Pickens, S. C.

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

November 1863, at Petersburg, Va., Co. L 2^nd S. C. Rifles.

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

Until surrender.

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

Augusta, Ga. Appomatox Court House, April 1865.

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

Yes.

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

By authority of my command.

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

Nothing.

10. What has been your occupation since 1865?

Farming when I could.

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?

I was attacked by rheumatism in 1899 afterwards became chronic. Also later took christel’s [sic] and prostatitis which rendered me unable to do anything.

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

Nothing.

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

Nothing.

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

In Banks County and returned no property for tax.

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

By my wife and generous neighbors.

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?

$60.00 and I contributed nothing by my labor.

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

Nothing.

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

I have only my wife who has 3 acres of land.

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

I am not receiving any pension.

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

No.

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

None.

Signed: J. W. Carroll [X his mark], Applicant.

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 15 day of July 1904.

T. F. Hill, Ordinary of Banks County.

[The 1904 Application was rejected because the 2^nd South Carolina Regiment did not surrender at Augusta, Ga., as originally stated in the application, but at Appomatox. The Pension Office also questioned Mr. Carroll’s inability to work. Below is a statement of John W. Carroll’s clarifications.]

Georgia, Banks County.

Personally came before me Ordinary of said County, J. W. Carroll applicant for pension who after being duly sworn says on oath, that his only way of making a living has always been by manual labor. That he can neither read or write or do other mental labor for a living. That is now much worse with the diseases mentioned by the Physician in his attached application and can do nothing for a support.

That there was a mistake made by the scrivener, in stating that I was discharged at Augusta, Ga. I was honorably discharged at Appomatox Court House, Va., and I have so changed that part of my application that it may speak the truth. I was in Co. “L” 2^nd S. C. Rifles Regiment under Capt. Greggs at the Surrender, but Capt. Bowen when I first went enl. This was in April 1865, the 9^th day I think. Regular Confederate soldiers.

Signed: J. W. Carroll [X his mark]

Sworn to and subscribed before me July 1^st 1905

T. F. Hill, Ordinary.

Transcribed 2006 by Jacqueline King