Confederate Application of Silas J. Murray or Silas J. Murry

Banks County, Georgia

 

Questions for Applicant

State of Georgia

Banks County

 

S. J. Murray 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 for you reside? (Give State, County and post office)

Silas J. Murray.  Homer.  Banks Co., Georgia.

2. Where did you reside on January 1st, 1894, and how long have you been a resident of this State?

With a sister at Rabun Co., Ga.  Lived in Ga. Since the beginning of war.

3. When and where did you born?

Henderson Co., N. C. August 2nd 1838.

4. Did you volunteer in the Confederate Army or in the Georgia Militia?

Conf. Army

5. When and where did you enlist?

White Co., Ga. Nov. 1861

6. In what company and regiment did you enlist?

Grady’s Co. Of Athens Ga., Co. G 25th North Carolina

7. How long did you remain in that company and regiment?

Three years.

8.  If you were discharged from same and joined another, or if you were transferred to another, give an account of such discharge or transfer?

Was trans. for a short time to Macon Light Artillery-Capt. C. W. Slayton.

9.  For how long a period of time did you discharge regular military duty?

Over three years.

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

Was captured at Frederick City Md.  Discharged after the war at Elmira N. Y.

11. What is your present occupation?

Farmer

12. How much can you earn per annum by your own exertions or labor?

Can earn four or five dollars per month-from $50.00 to $60.00.

13. What has been your occupation since 1865?

Farmer

14. What sum would be necessary for your support for this pension year, and how much are you able to contribute thereto either in labor or income?

Could live on $100 per year if I keep well can contribute $50.00.

15. What is your present physical condition and how long have you been in such a condition?

Was wounded in the left leg in the battle at Fredericksburg by a ball, and was also wounded in the “Blow up”-same place.  Had several of my ribs broken on right side.  These old wounds have pained me considerably all the while since the war, and for several years past they disable me very much.  Can’t work half my time.  Suffer with some kind of heart disease that troubles me very much at times and is very painful-stops breathing-and have to jump out of bed and run out to get breath.

16. 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”?

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17. If upon the first ground, state how long you have been in such a condition that you could not earn you 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 you lost your sight?

Was one of the stoutest of men when the war came but had measles in the army and came near killing me.  Was also wounded as described above and as I get older these troubles grow upon me.  Had hot risings in hea [head? heart? copy cut off] every year since the war.  The heart trouble came on as a result of rheumatism.  Have had several attacks of the disease since the war.  These attacks have stiffened my joints and they are sore.

18. What property, effects or income do you possess?

No property at all.

19. What property, effects or income did you possess in 1893 and in 1894 and what disposition, if any did you make of same?

Had no property in ‘93 or ‘94.

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

Was in Franklin and Jackson in ‘93.  Was in Rabun County in 1894.

21. How were you supported during the years 1893 and 1894?

By what little I could do.  Was a tight squeeze to board myself last year.

22. How much did your support cost for each of those years, and what portion did you contribute thereto by your own labor or income?

Cost about $60.00

23. What was your employment during 1893 and 1894?  What pay did you receive each year?

Farming-Got about $5.00 a month perhaps.

24. Are you married and have you a family?  If so, is your wife living and how many children have you?  Give age and sex of children and their means of support?

Got no family.

25. Are you receiving a pension under any law of this State, if so what amount and for what disability?

No pension.

26. Are you receiving any aid from your County, and if so, how much?  Did you ever apply for such aid?

No aid.

 

Signed: S. J. Murry (X his mark)

Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 22 day of July 1895.

T. F. Hill, Ordinary of Banks County. 

 

Notes: There is a service record of a Silas Murry that seems to somewhat correspond with what information was given above:

Silas Murry

Enlisted Date 27 Dec. 1891 as a Private at the age of 23 in Company G 25th North Carolina Infantry Regiment.

POW at Boonsboro, Md., 14 September 1862.

Confined 16 September 1862 [estimated date] at Fort Delaware.

Paroled from Fort Delaware on 02 October 1862 and transferred the same day at Aiken’s Landing, Va. For exchange the same date.

Returned 13 December 1862 and was wounded the same day at Fredericksburg, Va.

Returned 01 January 1863 and transferred from Co. G 25 North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment to Capt. Slayton’s Georgia Regiment on 22 November 1863.  A check of the Fort Delaware records in 1862 do not show Silas or S. J. Murry as a POW, however the Fort Delaware historian says the records from 1862 are scant.  Therefore, it is unknown to me if he was a prisoner at Elmira or Fort Delaware.

 

There is a marriage record in Banks County on 12 April 1877 between S. J. Murray and Mary Murray, J. W. Meeler J. P.

No burial record was found.

 

Compiled 2005 by Jacqueline King