Confederate Pension Application of W. J. Murry [William J. Murray]
Banks County, Georgia
Questions for Applicant.
State of Georgia
Banks County.
W. J. Murry 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).
W. J. Murray and I reside in Banks County.
2. How long and since when have you been a resident of
this State?
Since my birth 17th day of January 1845.
3. When and where were you born?
17 day of January 1845 in Franklin County Ga.
4. When and in what company and regiment did you
enlist or serve?
March 1864-Banks Co. Ga.-Co. “A” 11th Ga.
Cavalry, Col. Andrew Young’s Command.
5. How long did you remain in such company and
regiment?
Ten months-Surrender at Ft. Madison, S. C.
6. When and where was your company and regiment
surrendered and discharged?
Surrender Ft. Madison, S. C.
7. Were you
present with your company and regiment when it surrendered?
Yes.
8. If not present, state specifically and clearly
where you were, when you left your command, for what cause and by whose
authority?
[Blank]
9. How much can you earn (gross) per annum by your own
exertions or labor?
None.
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 stricken with paralysis in March 1898 and have
not been able to do any kind of work since.
Also has rheumatism.
13. What property, real and 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?
None except one hundred dollars worth of property in
1895 which I have since used for a support.
15. In what
County did you reside during those years, and what property did you return for
taxation?
In Banks County $2.58 for taxation.
16. How were you supported during the years 1899,
1900, 1901 and 1902?
By my wife and children.
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. I
contributed nothing.
18. What was your employment during 1898, 1899, 1900,
1901 and 1902? What pay did you receive
in each year?
Nothing.
19. Have you a family? If so, who composed such family?
Give their means of support?
Have they a homestead, or other property? Their ages and how employed?
I have a wife and two children, 12 and 10 years of
age.
20. Are you receiving any pension? If so, what amount and for what disability?
None.
21. Have you ever made an application for pension
before?
One.
22. How may applications have you ever made and under
what class?
One, but it is now lost.
Signed: W. J. Murray (X his mark)
Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 28 day of
August 1903
T. F. Hill, Ordinary of Banks County
Georgia
Banks County
Personally came Gilford Whitfield and the undersigned
who after being duly sworn say on oath that Manly J. Murray and Della Murray,
children of and living with W. J. Murray applicant for pension, are miners
[sic], are both unable to do but little manual labor, and appear permanently
diseased. Both children had typhoid
fever three years ago and was a severe attack which settled in the limbs of the
girl , which renders her unable to work for herself or her father. Manly is unable from weakness or debility to
do but little work. Without a pension
applicant would necessarily have to get aid from the County or from the
almshouse.
Sworn to and subscribed this Jan. 15 day 1904
T. F. Hill, Ordinary
Signed: Gilford Whitfield, J. T. Massingill, E. F.
Massingill [copy cut off-appears to be one additional signature.]
Note: According to the Georgia Death Index & his
widow William J. Murray died in Banks County, Georgia, on March 14, 1923. He is buried with his wife Martha C. Roberts
Murray in the Roberts-Jackson family cemetery in Banks County. His birth date [“Cemeteries and Deaths in
Banks County, Georgia by Richard J. Chambers] is listed as being Jan. 17, 1846
on the tombstone and the death date is given as Jan. 12 1928. The discrepancies may be typos of the reading
of worn stones.
Transcribed 2005 by Jacqueline King