Sarah starts the process to apply for a pension by
submitting a preprinted form; handwritten elements are
in italics. Sarah herself was illiterate, so actually
person filling out the application in not entirely clear
but may have been the justice of the peace.
Some of the details that she gives of Edward's service
are incorrect, although the government is able later
to get the correct information. These problems could
potentially signal identification issues, but other
evidence is conclusive, leading to the conclusion that
she knew little about the service; she was only one
year old when he was drafted.
In particular, she states that he volunteered when,
in fact, he served in a drafted regiment. While Tennessee
earned its nickname as the "volunteer state"
during this war, that name came from very early enlistments;
most people who served were drafted. She also has the
dates of service wrong; he actually served from 13 November
1814 to 2 June 1815.
In addition, she states that he mustered in at Bluntsville
(presumably Blountsville) in Sullivan County, when,
in fact, he mustered in Hawkins County. His brother
Joseph mustered in at Sullivan County, so she may have
gotten that information from Joseph's widow, who lived
nearby.
The names she gives for the officers seemingly apply
to neither's service in the war. Edward's own statements,
specifically Captain John Slatten under Colonel Edwin
Boothe, are correct, but Sarah may have been more on
track than seems immediately apparent. According to
his biography in Sketches Of Tennessee's Pioneer
Baptist Preachers, Joab had been a Lieutenant Colonel
under Booth, and may have been arrested at one point.
Some family sources claim he was later made a full colonel.
In addition, a Mathias Click was in Edward's unit; he
was mustered out as a private but at one point may have
had a higher rank, although not captain, as Slatton
served the entire time of Edward's enlistment.
There are additional errors, and, since Edward's earlier
deposition gives the same details which do match
the regimental history, his version should be taken.
The various other people who signed in various places
appear to be farmers living in the area based on census
data, although the curiously scratched-out signature
of J. H. Lignon (or possibly Tignon) cannot be placed
nor can Lewis Trent if that name is being read correctly.
U.
War of 1812.
Claim of Widow for Service Pension,
Under the provisions of Sections 4736 to 4740,
inclusive, Revised Statutes, and the Act of March
11, 1878.
N.B. - All the blank spaces in this form must
be carefully filled up in accordance with the
instructions on the back hereof; and from the
best information possessed, or obtainable, by
the applicant.
On this 7 day of Oct A. D. one
thousand eight hundred and seventy eight,
personally appeared before me, R. D. GreeneClerk, the same being a court of record
within and for the County and state aforesaid,
(1) Sarah Walker, aged 62 [she was
probably 65] years, a resident of Hancock Co,
Mulbery [sic], in the state of Tennessee,
who being duly sworn according to law, declares
that she is the widow of (2) Edward Walker
deceased, who was the identical (3) Edward
Walker, who served under the name of (4)
Edward Walker as a (5) private
in the Company commanded by Captain Click
in the __ regiment of ___, commanded by Joab
Hill in the war of (6) 1812; that
her said husband (7) volunteered at Bluntsville,
Sullivan Co. Tennessee on or about the 26
day of July A.D. 1814 for the term
of ___, and continued in actual service in said
war for the term of 6 months & 22 days
and whose services terminated, by reason of (9)
Discharge at Mobeal [sic] Bay on the ___
day of February A.D. 1815.
She further states that the following is a full
description of her said husband at the time of
his enlistment, viz: (10) hith [sic] about
5 ft 9 in. Complectinon [sic] Dark heir [sic]
Dark Eys [sic] blew [sic]
She further states that she was married to the
said Edward Walker, at the city
(or town) of Mulberry Gap, in the county
of Hancock, and in the State of Tennessee,
on the 25 day of June A. D. 1848
by one (11) John Crumley, who was
a (12) Justus [sic] of the pease [sic];
and that her name before her said marriage was
Sarah Crumley; and she further
states that (13) that her husband had been
marid [sic] & his said wife died at my present
resedents [sic] on the 28 of December 1842
and that her said husband (14) Edward Walker,
died at near Mulberry Gap, in the State
of Tennessee, on the 9 day of Aprile
[sic] A.D. 1860; and she further declares
that the following have been the places of residence
of herself and her said husband since the date
["of his discharge from the Army" scratched
out], viz: (15) from the date of our marige
we lived near mulbery [sic] gap up to his Death
& I remain at the same plase [sic] at present.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of
obtaining the Pension to which she may be entitled
under Sections 4736 to 4740, inclusive, Revised
Statutes, and the Act of March 11, 1878, and hereby
appoints J. S. Kellogg of Wasington
[sic]D. C., her true and lawful attorney,
to prosecute her claim.
And she further declares that she has heretofore
made no application for (16) pention
[sic] the said Edward Walker did draw a land warrant
I don't remember the number or act of Congress
and that her residence is No near Mulbery Gap
street, city (or town) of ___ county of Hancock
State of Tennessee, and that her post office
address is Mulbery Gap Hancock Co Tennessee
(Two attesting witnesses who can write their
names.) Joel C. Gillenwaters
J. H. Standifer
J. C. Gillenwaters [appears to be same
as above]
[The signatures of J. H. Lignon
and George Coleman are crossed out.]
Sarah Walkerher mark
Signature of Claimant.
Also personally appeared J. H. Standifer,
aged 50 years, residing at No. Mulberry
Gap ["street" crossed out], in Hancock
County; and Tennessee G. W. Coleman,
aged 59 years, residing at No. Mulberry
Gap street, in Hancock County, persons
whom I certify to be respectable and entitled
to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say
that they have known the said Sarah Walker
for 30 years and for ___ years respectively;
that they were present and saw her sign her name
(or make her mark) to the foregoing declaration;
that they have every reason to believe, from the
appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance
with her, that she is the identical person she
represents herself to be; and they further say
that they are able to identify her as the person
who was the wife of the identical (17) Edward
Walker, who rendered the service alleged
in the above application (in the company of Captain
Click, in the regiment of Joab
Hill in the war of 1812) by the
following named facts and circumstances, viz:
(18) we have ben [sic] personaley [sic] acquainted
with her 30 years and have lived near her since
the death of her said husband and that they
have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.
If affiants make mark, two witnesses who write
sign here:
[though both write, witnesses sign anyway:] J. C. Gillenwaters Lewis Trent [? or French or other
possibilities]
[signed by:] J. H. Standifer
G. W. Coleman
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 7
day of Oct, A. D. 1878; and I hereby
certify that the contents of the above declaration,
&c., were fully made known and explained to
the applicant and witnesses before swearing including
the words ___, erased, and the words ___, added;
and that I have no interest, direct or indirect,
in the prosecution of this claim.
R. D. GreeneClerk
Official Character: Clerk of the county court
[L. S.]
Notes.
1. Here allege full name of applicant. 2. Hear
allege full name of soldier. 3. Here allege again
the name of soldier.
4. Here allege the name under which the soldier
served.
5. Here allege the rank under which the soldier
served.
6. Here allege the war in which the service was
rendered.
7. Here state "enlisted," "volunteered,"
or "was drafted," as the case may be
8. Here state the number of days or months of
service rendered by the soldier; fourteen days
being the shortest period for which service pension
is by law allowed, unless the soldier was actually
engaged in a battle. If the claim is made for
battle services, the blank should be so varied
as to allege such service in addition to the allegation
of term of service.
9. Here insert the words "an honorable discharge,"
or "death," as the case may be.
10. Here let a full description of soldier follow,
giving age, occupation, birth-place, height, color
of hair, eyes, and complexion, and any other particulars
as to description.
11. Here allege the name of the person who performed
the marriage ceremony.
12. Here state the official character of the person
who performed the ceremony, i.e., whether a minister
of the gospel or a justice of the peace, &c.
13. Here state whether the claimant or her husband
(the soldier) had been previously married; and
if either had, the name of the former husband
or wife should be states; and the date and place
of the death of, or divorce from, the former consort
should be alleged.
14. Here insert the name of the husband on account
of whose service and death the claim is made.
15. Here state the places of residence; if in
a city, giving street and number; and from and
to what dates he resided at each place.
16. If any application for bounty land or pension
has previously been made, state the fact here,
giving the date, and number of possible, and the
act of Congress under which the claim was mad;
and designating whether it was a claim for bounty
land or pension, and whether a warrant for the
land or certificate for the pension was ever issued.
17. Here insert the name of the soldier.
18. Here name all the facts and circumstances
which enable the witness to swear, from personal
knowledge, that the claimant is the widow of the
identical person who rendered the service alleged
in the claim.
All services rendered by the soldier in the war
for which claim is made, or in any other war,
with the names of officers in each service, must
be given in the application.
If the service was rendered as a substitute, the
name of the principal, for whom this substitute
served, should be given.
[stamped:] Department of the Interior, Oct 18
1878, Received
[on the fold:]
U.
War or 1812.
Application for Service Pension.
Sarah Walker
widow of Edward Walker
of Capt. Click
Co. ___ Regiment of Tenn
Militia
"No Dup. J.M.W."
Filed by J. S. Kellogg Attorney PO. Box 717
Washington DC
Printed and sold by W. H. Moore, 511 11th st.,
Washington, D.C.
