Confederate Pension Application of William Mitchel Patton

 

Indigent Pension, 1895.

Name-William M. Patton

County-Banks

 Approved-Jany. 1 1896

 

Questions For Applicant.

 

State of Georgia,

Banks County.

William M. Patton 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 do you reside? (Give State, County and post office.)

William M. Patton.  I reside in Banks County, Georgia.

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

I resided in Banks County, Georgia, Jany. 1st 1894.

3. When and where were you born?

3 Feb. 1825, in the State of North Carolina. [Buncombe County per his Widow’s pension application.]

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

State troops. [Co. G 1st Georgia State Troops]

5. When and where did you enlist?

Feby. 14th 1862.

6. In what company and regiment did you enlist?

Co. G 1st Georgia State Line.

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

10 months.

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?

Discharged 25th Dec. 1862.

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

10 months.

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

Was discharged on account of my health and not able to do military duty.

11. What is your present occupation?

Farming.

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

Very little.

13. What has been your occupation since 1865?

Farming.

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?

I could live on 60 Dollars.  I can’t earn but little.

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

I have been suffering with my back and spine and blind in my left eye and the other is failing me fast-for the last 8 or 10 years.

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”?

Age & Blindness & Infirmity.

17. 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 lost my left eye August 1888, have suffered with the other eye for several years & my back and spine has been so bad I could not work for several years.

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

I own 1 cow and some hogs.  I have no income.

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

Nothing but some hogs, 1 cow.  I have made no distribution of any property.

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

Banks County.

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

I was supported by the work of my children.

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?

50 or 60.  I could not contribute anything.

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

Farming or trying to do so.

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

I am married and have a wife, 4 children, the oldest child at home is 37 [?] Girl two girls 33 and 30 years old and 1 boy 28 years old.

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

I have never received a pension.

Signed: Wm. M. Patton, Applicant

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 15 day of April 1895.

T. F. Hill, Ordinary of Banks County.

 

Questions For Witness.

 

State of Georgia,

Banks County.

A. L. Griffin of said State and County, having been presented as a witness in support of the application of William M. Patton for pension under the Act approved December 15th, 1894, 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?

A. L. Griffin [Asa Leander Griffin] I reside in Banks County Ga.

2.  Are you acquainted with W. M. Patton I am, the applicant, if so how long have you known him?

Since the beginning of the war 1862.

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

He resides in Banks County, Ga., and he has never left the State since.

4. Do you know of his having served in the Confederate army or the Georgia Militia?  How do you know this?

By serving in the Confederate Army with him.

5. When, where and in what company and regiment did he enlist?

He enlisted Feby. 15th 1862 at Dahlonega Ga.  Co. G 1st Georgia State Line.

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

I was.

7.  How long did he perform regular military duty, and what do you know of his service as a Confederate soldier, and the time and circumstances of his discharge from the service?

He served in the Company and Regt. Up to 25th Dec. 1862 when he was discharged on account of his health.

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

None.  I [would] know if he has any.  I would know of it as I reside near him.

9.  What property, effects or income did the applicant possess in 1893 and 1894, and what disposition, if any, did he make of same?

None that I know of.

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

He trys [sic] to farm but is not able to do so.

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

He is on account of his age & infirmity  one eye total blind.

12. How was he supported during the years 1893 and 1894?

By his family very little.

13. What portion of his support for these two years was derived from his own labor or income?

Very little.

14. Give a full and complete statement of the applicant’s physical condition that entitles him to a pension under Act of December 15th, 1894?

By being blind in left eye and old age & back and spine troubles.

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

[blank]

Signed: A. L. Griffin, Witness for Applicant.

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 15th day of April 1895.

T. F. Hill, Ordinary.

 

Notes- Bellton Methodist Church Cemetery, Hall County, Georgia:

Patton, Wm. M., 2/3/1825-2/11/1899

Patton, Margaret J. [wife of Thomas M. Patton], 8/15/1862-11/02/1904

Patton, Fletcher A. [son of Thomas M. Patton], 2/21/1883-1900

“Cemeteries and Deaths in Banks County Georgia” by Richard J. Chambers,

Newspaper Abstracts:

Patton, W. M.....was born in the State of North Carolina Feb’y 3rd, 1825 and died Feb’y 11th 1899...moved to Banks County in 1859.... [Banks County Journal, Thursday, March 2, 1899]

Patton, Mrs. Mary Ann...was born Dec. 14th, 1825.  Her husband, Wm. M. Patton was also born in the year 1825, the 3rd of Feb. and died Feb. 11, 1899....and Mrs. Patton died May 23rd, 1910. [Banks County Journal, Thursday, 9/7/1910]

Patton, Serena S. [daughter of William M. and Mary Ann Patton] ..On Monday morning the thirty first of July....her remains were laid to rest at the cemetery at Hickory Flat [Hickory Flat Methodist Cemetery in Banks County, no marker. Banks County Journal, Thursday, 8/24/1911]

 

Transcribed 2006 by Jacqueline King