Confederate Widow’s Pension of Frances E. Martin Kesler

[Widow of James M. Kesler]

 

Questions for Applicant.

State of Georgia

Banks County.

F. E. Kesler of said State and County, desiring to avail herself of the Pension allowed to Indigent Widows of Confederate Soldiers, under Act of General Assembly, passed [blank], hereby submits her 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?

F. E. Kesler.  Georgia, Banks County.  Cost 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?

29th Sept. 1839 in Franklin County, Ga.

4. When and where was your husband born-state his full name, and when were you married?

April 1836.  I was married Jan. 9 1859 in Banks County. [Marriage recorded in Franklin County, Ga.]

5.When and where, and in what Company and Regiment did your husband enlist or serve during the war between the States?

At Atlanta May 28th 1864.  5th Regiment Co. B 2nd Brigade Georgia Militia.

6. How long did your husband serve in said Company and Regiment?

From May 28th to September 11th 1864.

7. When and where did your husband’s Company and Regiment surrender or was discharged?

I do not know.

8. Was your husband present at the time and place when his Command and Regiment surrendered?

He was at home on leave when his Command surrendered.

9. If not with his command at surrender, state clearly and specifically where he was, when he left command, for what cause, and by what authority?

He left the 11th day of September 1864 on furlough.

10. When and where did your husband die? 

At home in Banks County.[21 June 1892]

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?

Age and Poverty.

12. If upon the first ground, state how long you have been in such a condition that you cannot 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.

Twenty five years.

13. What has been your occupation since your husband’s death?

Have not had an occupation.

14. How much can you earn gross, by your own exertion or labor?

Nothing.

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

None.

16. What property, real or personal, did you possess at death or he left you and of the year 1899-1900, and what disposition, if any, by sale or gift, have you made of same?

He did not leave me any property.

17. In what counties did you reside in 1899 and 1900, and what property did you return for taxation?

In Banks County.

18. How have you been supported since death of husband, and especially 1899 and 1900?

By my children.

19. How much did your support cost for each of those years, and how much did you contribute by your own labor or income?

Sixty Dollars.  Did not contribute anything.

20. What was your employment during 1899 and 1900-how much did you receive for each year?

Did not do anything.

21. Have you a family?  If so, who composes such family?  Give their means of support.  Have they any lands or other property?

I have no family.

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

No.

23. How many applications have you made for Pension, and under what class?

[blank]

Signed: F. E. Kesler

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 2nd day of March 1901.

T. F. Hill, Ordinary of Banks County.

 

Questions for Witnesses.

State of Georgia

Banks County.

E. M. Poole of said State and County, having been presented as a witness in support of the Application of Mrs. F. E. Kesler for a Pension under the Act of [blank] 1900, and after having been sworn true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows:

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

E. M. Poole in Banks County, Georgia.

2. Are you acquainted with the applicant, Mrs. F. E. Kesler?  If so, how long have you known her?

All her life.

3. Where does she reside and how long has she been a resident of this State?

In Banks County, Ga., all her life.

4. When and where was she born?

29th Sept. 1839.  Franklin County Ga.

5. Were you ever acquainted with her husband?

Yes.

6. Where did he reside in 1861?

In Banks [county].

7. When and to whom was he married? Jan. 9 1859 to J. M. Kesler. [the answer should have been Frances E. Martin]

8. When and where was he born?

April 1836-Franklin County, Ga.

9. How long have you known him?

58 (?) years.

10. When and where did he enlist in the war between the States, and in what Company and Regiment did he enlist and how do you know this?

Atlanta-May 28 1864-Co. B Regiment G. M. [Georgia Militia]

11. Were you a member of the same Company and Regiment?

I was.

12. How long did he perform regular military duty?

From the end of May to the 11th day of September 1864.

13. When and where was his Company and Regiment surrendered and discharged from service?

At Augusta, Ga., about the last days of Feb. 1865.

15. Was the husband of the applicant present?

He was not.

16. If not present, where was he?

I don’t know.

17. Where and when did he leave Command?

At Macon.

By whose authority he left? 

[blank]

How do you know this?

I was a member of his Co. and furloughed at the same time.

18. When and where did J. M. Kesler die?

In Banks County, Ga.

19. Where did he reside at his death and how long had he been a resident of Georgia at his death?

In Banks-all his life.

20. Do you know of your own knowledge that the applicant is the lawful widow of J. M. Kesler?

[blank]

21. Has she remained unmarried since her soldier husband’s death, and is now his widow?

Yes.

22. What property, effects or income has the applicant, if any, and how do you know this of your own knowledge?

No property or income-Am neighbor to her.

23. What property, effects or income did applicant possess in 1899 and 1900 and what disposition did she make of it?

None.

24. Has applicant conveyed any property in last two years or given any away, if so what was it and to whom?

None that I know of.

25. What is applicant’s physical condition and her chances and ability to earn a support?

Verry [sic] low-she is old, feeble and weak.

26. Is applicant able to earn a support at labor or any sort, if not why?

Because of her physical disability.

27. How was she supported for 1899 and 1900?

By her children.

28. How much did she contribute to her support for the last two years?

Nothing.

29. Give a full and complete statement of applicant’s physical condition?

She is old and feeble-has heart trouble, and is too weak to do anything for her support.

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

None.

Signed: E. M. Pool, W. J. Burgess, Witnesses.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 2nd day of March 1901

T. F. Hill, Ordinary of Banks County.

 

Affidavits of Physicians

State of Georgia

Banks County.

Personally before me comes O. N. Harden and J. D. Riche both known to me to be reputable physicians of said county, who, being severally sworn, say on oath that they have examined carefully Mrs. F. E. Kesler applicant for Pension under Act of 1900, and after such personal examination say that her physical condition is this;

She has valvular heart disease with frequent and severe attacks of neuralgia of heart.  She has dyspepsia and lumbago.  She is physically not able to earn a support for herself at any kind of labor whatever, and we have no interest in said pension if allowed.

Signed: O. N. Harden  M. D., J. D. Rice, M. D.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 2nd day of March 191.

T. F. Hill, Ordinary of Banks County.

 

Ordinary’s Certificate

State of Georgia

Banks County.

I, T. F. Hill, Ordinary in and for said County, hereby certify that the applicant, Mrs. F. E. Kesler resides in said county, and has been a bona fide resident of this State since her birth 1839, and that the witnesses, Mr. E. M. Poole are of trustworthy character, and that their statements [copy creased]...

I do further certify that before answering the foregoing questions, the applicant’s witnesses took the oath herein prescribed, and the full text of the affidavits was read to the applicant and witnesses before the same was signed and subscribed.

I further certify that the tax digest of Banks county shows the applicant returned for taxation in her own name in 1899 $2100 dollars with of property, and in 1900 $200 dollars worth of property.

Witness my hand and official seal, this 2nd day of March 1901.

T. F. Hill, Ordinary, Banks County.

 

Notes-Typed note from Pension Office on Application returned for 1901:

“Pension Office-9-7-01.

Applicant does not show six months service of the part of husband, this must be shown.  When furlough is relied on as an excuse for being away, must give date of furlough, how long granted, and in what way he was prevented from getting to command.

J. W. Lindsey, Com. Of Pensions”

Source: “Cemeteries and Deaths in Banks County, Georgia” compiled by Richard J. Chambers states that James M. Kesler (killed by lightning bolt), born April 19, 1836-June 21, 1992 is buried in the Kesler cemetery.  There are 6 unknown graves and one more marked grave, that of James’ sister, Mary J. Kesler, born 1834-unknown.

 

Transcribed 2006 by Jacqueline King