Buena Vista County Military
Abstract of Pension File of Seraphine Joray, Civil War Widow
WAR OF 1861
BRIEF IN THE CASE OF: Seraphine Joray, widow of Francis Joray, Pvt. Co. I, 49th Massachusetts Volunteers.
WIDOW'S DECLARATION FOR ARMY PENSION
State of Massachusetts
County of Berkshire
On this 20th day of February, A. D. 1864, before me, Henry W. Taft, Clerk of the Superior Court in and for the County and State above named, personally appeared Mrs. Seraphine Joray, age 39 years, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is a resident of Great Barrington in the state of Massachusetts, and the widow of Francis Joray, who was a private in Company I, commanded by Captain Zenas C. Renne in the 49th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, and who died at U.S. General Hospital, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on or about the 15th of May, 1863, by reason of disease contracted while in said service, to wit: Chronic Diarrhea.
That she was married to the said Francis Joray on the 22nd day of February, A. D. 1854, at Plain, Switzerland by one Henry Jolia, a Catholic priest; that her name before said marriage was Seraphine Odiet and that she believes there is no public record of her said marriage. She annexes hereto, however, as the best proof of her marriage obtainable, a certified and sworn copy of the record of the baptism of one of her children. That her husband, the aforesaid Francis Joray died on the day above mentioned, and she has continued a widow since that date, all of which will appear more fully by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
She further states that at his death, her said husband left surviving him only the following named children who were then under the age of sixteen years, that said children reside at Great Barrington, Massachusetts and at the date of declaration are of the ages herein stated:
Francis Joray, age 9 years, born Jan. 6, 1855
Oscar Joray, age 8 years, born Feb. 10, 1856
Henry Joray, age 7 years, born Apr. 15, 1857
Amos Joray, age 6 years, born May 24, 1858
Joseph Joray, age 4 years, born March 8, 1860
Sarah Joray, aged 2 years, born Feb. 8, 1862 (note: died Apr. 8, 1867)
She also declares that she has not in any way been engaged in or aided or abetted the rebellion in the United States and that she is not now in receipt of a pension of any act of Congress.
(signed) Seraphine O. Joray
Copy, translated from Latin, of the baptism of Joseph Joray:
"The first Sunday after Pentecost I, Peter Kelly, baptized at Sharon, CT, Joseph, born the 10th day of February, 1856, (child) of Francis Joray and Seraphine Odiet, his wife. Sponsors: Joseph Odiet and Anna Joray."
(note: the priest, Peter Kelley, who submitted the above as evidence, must have mis-transcribed his own handwriting, because the child born on the above date was Oscar, not Joseph. A later note in the file attested to this error.)
Affidavit of Desire Odiet, resident of VanDusinville, Berkshire County, Massachusetts:
"Desire Odiet, being duly sworn, states that he was present as midwife and attended Mrs. Seraphine Odiet at the birth of Henry Joray, her child, and that no practicing physician or other person, except her husband, now deceased, was present at such birth. The date of the above named child is as follows: Henry Joray, born at Northeast, New York, Apr. 15, 1857."
Affidavit of Joseph Frank and Nancy Frank, of Amenia, Dutchess County, New York:
Joseph Frank and Nancy Frank, duly sworn, state that they professionally attended Mrs. Seraphine Joray at the birth of Francis Joray, Amos Joray and Joseph Joray, her children, acting as midwives, and that no practicing physician or other person was present at the birth of these children.
The dates of birth of the above named children are as follows:
Francis Joray, born in Amenia, New York, the 6th day of January, 1855
Amos Joray, born in Amenia, New York, the 25th day of May, 1858
Joseph Joray, born in Dover, New York, the 8th day of March, 1860
Affidavit of Claire Hug and Agnes Hug, of Northeast, Dutchess County, New York: Claire Hug and Agnes Hug, duly sworn, state that they were present and attended professionally as midwives, Mrs. Francis Joray, at the birth of her child, Oscar Joray, and that no practicing physician was present, and that the date of the birth of the above named child is as follows:
Oscar Joray born at Northeast, New York, Feb. 10, 1856.
(note: Mrs. Joray's file was transferred from Massachusetts to the Des Moines pension office in 1876)
PENSIONER DROPPED
United States Pension Agency
Des Moines, Iowa
No. 25189, widow Seraphine Joray.
To The Commissioner of Pensions:
Sir,
I have the honor to report that the above named pensioner who was last paid at $12 to July 4, 1903 has been dropped because of death, Sept. 19, 1903.
(note: Mrs. Joray is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Storm Lake, next to her brother, Desire Odiet)
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