By 1877, practically everyone involved in the original
application had died, and the responsibility for pensions
had moved from the War Department to the Department
of the Interior. More than 22 years after Alfred Noel
sent Edward's
last family Bible to the Pension Office, the goverment
decideds to return it. A letter is written to the postmaster
at Tazewell to try to figure out where to send it. "B.
L. Hive[?]" and "N" written in top left-hand
corner.
Department of the Interior
Pension Office
Washington, D.C. June 27, 1877
Dear Sir
Please furnish this office with the names and P. O. Address of
some of the descendants of Jane Walker
Widow of Edward Walker decd
late a private in the Rev. War.
They formerly resided in or near your town.
In the year 1840, the Widow made application for pension and sent
to this office a Bible to be filed in evidence. It is now desired
to return said Bible to the family.
A Son of the Widow (Jonathan Walker)
lived within the delivery of your office in 1840, and the agent
A. Noel was P.M. at Red Hill
P.O. Tenn. Please return this letter with your reply
Very respectfully J A Bentley
[unreadable word] Commissioner
