With the change in the pension law, Jane Walker decided
to apply again. In her deposition, she states that Edward
died 27 August 1838, which is the only time this date
appears in any records and is incorrect. Oddly John
Richie signs himself as a justice of the peace for Grainger
County, but all other indications, including the certification
by the clerk, indicate Claiborne County; he may have
been a justice of the peace for both counties, but,
in any case, Wiley Huffaker certified his position in
Claiborne County as normal.
On the eighteenth day of May one thousand eight hundred and forty
three personally appeared before me John
Richie a magistrate in and for said county and State aforesaid
Jane Walker a resident of the
same County Claiborne aged seventy one years who being first duly
sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following Decleration
[sic] in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the
act of Congress passed on the 3rd day of March 1843 granting pensions
to windows of persons who served during the revolutionary way; States
that she is the widow of Edward Walker
who was a private in the army and war of the revolution and that
the annual amount of the pension he received under the act of June
7th 1832 was forty dollars per annum; that he said husband died
the 27th of August 1838, that she was married in the month of May
about the first of the month in the year 1790 to her said husband
now dead and deceased pensioner by one Richard
Murrell a Baptist preacher by being published in the church
three different Sundays which was the law of North carolina in that
day and of this New Territory which is now the state of Tennessee
Sullivan County[.] we resided near the place called the Island Flatts
about three miles above what is now Kingsport on North fork of Holstein
on Reed Creek. She would state that her first son was born June
1791. her name was Jane Horne
before her marriage and for the particulars of proof of marriage
and in a 25 April 1833 deposition, death of her husband and every
thing connected with her husband['s] services she would refer the
Commissioner of pensions to the proofs on the files with this department
on which her said husband Edward Walker
was pensioned; and also to a Declaration which she herself filed
in the month of April 1841 under the act of the 7th of July 1838
and the accompanying documents hereto affixed her case being then
rejected on account that she was not a widow on the 7th of July
1838 nor for a month and twenty days after[.] she is instructed
to believe that by reference to the papers and documents referd
[sic] to that the legality of her claim will be admitted beyond
a doubt under the present act of Congress. She further declares
that she was married to the said Edward
Walker the deceasd [sic] pensioner on or about the first
of May seventeen hundred and ninety that her said husband the aforesaid
Edward Walker died on the 27th
of August eighteen hundred and thirty eight that she was not married
to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place
previous to the first day of January eighteen hundred at the time
and place above stated, She also most positively states that she
has remained a widow ever since the death of her said husband Edward
Walker and untill [sic] the present day
Sworn to and subscribed to this day and year first written above
John Ritchie
Justice of the peace for Grainger [sic] county Mary Walker [her mark, an obvious
error in name]
And I do further certify that Jane
Walker widow and Relick of Edward
Walker deceasd [sic] pensioner of the United States is known
to be a lady of first respectability and the legality of her marriage
never doubted[.] I am of the opinion she is the age she states and
that she is entitled to full faith and credit on any statement she
would make on oath having always supported a good moral character
in every respect[.] given under my hand and seal this eighteenth
day of May one thousand eight hundred and forty three
John Richie
Justice of the peace for Grainger County
State of Tennessee
I Wiley Huffaker Clerk of the
County court of Claiborne County in said State do hereby certify
that John Ritchie Esqr whose
name appears to the foregoing declaration of Jane
Walker is now and was at the time of signing the same an
acting justice of the peace in and for said county duly commissioned
and qualified as such and that due faith and credit be given to
all his official acts as such and that the signature thereto attached
purporting to be his is genuine[.] In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my signature and affixed the seal of my office at office in
the Town of Tazewell the 20th day of May 1843 & of the Independence
of the US the 67