Amanuensis Monday: The Civil War Pension File of Isaac Carter: Document #19

The Formation of a Civil War Artillery Regiment
I had taken a break from the pension file to reassess my goals here. At first I thought of skipping over documents to post based on the criteria of whether the actual content provided additional clues to Isaac Carter's disability, and the conditions under which he acquired said disability.

Also, since we moved in early November, I have not been in the frame of mind to sit down and focus on these details, and give them my undivided attention until now. The legal-sized binder which contains volume one of the pension file has sat opened on my desk next to my laptop since I first unpacked the boxes containing my genealogical binders. It has remained a constant reminder of what steps I should take next.

I skipped Document #17, a two-page sworn statement by David Lawson, who was acquainted with Isaac Carter after the war. Document #18 was a one page form requesting a report from the records of the Adjutant General U.S. A. about the sworn statements of David Lawson and Silas Fenner. I had thought of skipping over Document #19 as well, since it contained no new information...so I thought. However, if I plan on reconstructing the 14th Regiment Heavy Artillery USCT, I must examine all statements sworn by members of the unit. So, I will proceed with the following statement sworn by Samuel Keach.

Transcription: Samuel Keach's Affidavit on behalf of Isaac Carter:
State of North Carolina)
County of Craven         )
In the matter of original claim No
662812 of Isaac Carter Late a
Sergeant of the B & G 14 Regt U.S. C.H.
Arty.  On this 18 Day of March
A.D. 1891 Personally appeared before
me a Notary Public fort & within
the County & state aforesaid
Samuel Keach age 45 years
Resident of New Berne N.C.
well Known to be reputable &
and Entitled to creed who being
duly sworn according to Law
Declares as follows  I enlisted in
March A.D. 1864 at Washington, N.C.
I became acquainted with Isaac
Carter at New Berne, N.C. on about
April A.D. 1864 he was a Sergeant of
my Company B 14 Regiment USHArty
He was a well & a Harty (sic) man at
that time from all appearence (sic) I did not
hear him complain of any thing not
until on about May here at New Berne
N.C. he complained of Rheumatism,
& Diarrhea & Piles at Caroine (sic) City He

and on about November 1864 while we
was at Carolina City N.C. was with
out tents & we was Exposed in cold
& Rain & sleet & snow & Isaac
Carter Taken Down with Diarrhea
& Piles & Rheumatism his feet swollen
up & he was Excuse from Duty. I was
Down at the same time & Place
& Isaac Carter continued to complain
of the afore said complaints. and
when he was Discharge he was sick
We was all Discharge at the same
time on the 11 day of Dec 1865
at Fort Macon N.C. & since Discharge
the solder (sic) continues to complain
of the afore said complaints &
he is about Two Thirds Disable to
[                     ] Manual Labor
By Reason of the afore said complaints
I saw him the 18 day of March 1891
& he Look very Bad & complain of
the afore said complaints he could
barely get about  I am no
relation to the claimant My
Post office address is New Berne
HE was Transferred from Co B to
Co G 14 Regt U.S.C.H Arty.
I have no interest in his claim

                                                     his
                                    Samuel       X   Keach
                                                     mark
witness
E.W. Carpenter
Lewis F. Carter
   
                                              Sworn & sub-
scribed to before me this
18th day of Mch/91 & I certify that
the affiant states that the
foregoing was read to him
before making his mark
to same & that he is the
identical person he claim
to be & is credible & worthy of belief.
                                                       
                                                              EWCarpenter
                                                              Notary Public
Cert filed

Amanuensis Monday -- The Civil War Pension File of Isaac Carter, Part 1

Over the past few weeks, I have realized that I am at a point in my writing that it is imperative that I transcribe and abstract my great grandfather-in-law's Civil War Pension file. I had first mentioned the file in my post, Where Do I Go From Here?. I ordered the file on April 7, 2011, and the first one hundred pages were prepared on May 8, 2011 and received on May 13th. Upon receipt via USPS, I immediately went online to request the remaining seventy-five pages, which had already been prepared on May 9, 2011. The cost of the file was $75 for the first 100 pages, and $48.75 for the remaining 80 pages, totaling $123.75. As much as I like to keep costs to a minimum, this was an investment well worth the money spent.

One night I sat down on my sofa and read the whole file from start to finish. The most interesting information was contained in the affidavits, giving testimony to the relationship and witness of Isaac Carter's friends and family in regards to the claim of disability received in the line of duty. Each witness corroborated the claim, adding some nuance of their particular relationship which made them privy to specific piece of information not apparent to all.

I could see through the pages how disheartened the family must have been in the years following the war as Isaac's ability to provide for his family gradually disintegrated, as made apparent on the occupation section of his Census record in the years between 1870-1910.

The pages were not assembled in chronological order, so to gain a better understanding of the process of his claim and the continued affects of military service on his everyday life, I assembled the documents in this fashion, creating a consecutive record, stretching from June 12, 1888 (the date the claim was filed) to August 23, 1921 (when the claim was officially closed...three months after the death of his widow, Martha Ann (George) Carter).

My next goal is to purchase a legal-sized binder and archival sheet protectors to facilitate my navigation through the pages. What follows is a transcription of the first document in the file...the original claim application.

[Transcription]

INVALID.
CLAIM FOR PENSION.
ORIGINAL.
[the blanks for Applicant,
Co., and Reg't are left blank.]
MSC Vols.
Enlisted...............18
Discharged..........18
[stamp]
PENSION
U JUL-51888 S
OFFICE.
Filed by [left blank]




[Transcription]

Declaration for an Original Invalid Pension.
This must be Executed before a Court of Record or some Officer thereof having Custody of the Seal

State of North Carolina, County of Craven, ss:
ON THIS 12th day of June A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty8
personally appeared before me Clerk of the Superior Court a Court of Record with in and for the County and State aforesaid Isaac Carter
aged 48 years, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Sergeant
Isaac Carter who was ENROLLED as a Sergeant on the 12 day of
March, 1864, in Company G of the 14th regiment of USCHArty
commanded by Col. [R] oc and was honorably DISCHARGED at
Fort Macon N.C. on the 11 day of December, 1865: That his
personal description is as follows: Age 24 years; height 5 feet 11 inches; complexion Dark
hair Black; eyes Black. That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the
service and in the line of duty at near Morehead City in the state of N.C.
on or about the day of winter, 1864, he "contracted the diarrhea
and Piles, and asthma and Lung trouble, and
Shortness of Breath, pains in the Right Side
and Swelling in feet and Legs, pains in
[unreadable] joints and contracted the Rheumatism
by heavy exposure Standing on guard in the Ice
and Snow in the winter of 1864 and 5 and
was treated in the Hospital he was Trouble
with the aforesaid Diseases all through Summer
1865 and Suffering with the afore said Disease
on Date of Discharge and has been Suffering
Each and Every year Since up to the Present
with Diarrhea & Piles & Rheumatism & Lung Disease."
That he was treated in hospitals as follows: "at Moohead City and Fort
Macon, N.C."
That he has "not" been employed in the military or naval service otherwise than as stated abovbe.
That he has not bee"N.C.", and that his occupation was been that of a "Farmer."
That prior to his entry into the service above-named he was a man of good, sound, physical health, being when enrolled a
"Farmer". That he is now "Two Thirds" disabled
from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor by reason of his injuries, above described, received in the service of
the United States; and he therefore makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid
pension roll of the United States. He hereby appoints with full power of substitution and revocation,
"Frederick Douglas" of "New Bern N.C."
his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his claim. That he has "not" received "or" applied for
a pension [unreadable insertion]; that his residence is "Near Harlow Craven" street "County
N. Carolina" and that his post office address is
No. Box 590 New Berne N.C."                                                                his
"E. W. Carpenter"                                                                            Isaac   Carter
J. B. Willis (Two witnesses who can write sign here.)                          
                                                                                                                          mark

[Transcription]
Also personally appeared "Albert W. Elliott" residing at "near New Bern
N.C." and "Sharper Williams" residing at
"New Bern N.C." persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and
who being by me duly sworn, say that they were present and saw "Isaac Carter",
the claimant to the forgoing
declaration; that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintances with him
that he is the identical person he represents himself to be; and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.
"E. W. Carpenter"                                "Albert W. Elliott"
"J. B. Willis"                                               his
                                                        Sharper Williams
                                                                    mark
Sworn to and subscribed that the contents of the above declaration, &c., were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing, including the words [blank]
[blank] erased, and the words [blank]
[blank] added; and that I have no interest, direct of indirect in the
prosecution of this claim.
                                                                             "E. W. Carpenter"
                                                             Clerk of the "Superior Court"

Timelines Create Perspective: Part 2

The following is the current shape of my timeline. As you will see, I have focused on one generation, that of my grandfather-in-law's household; and, the only major world events included are ones which have directly affected the family group. 

Hezekiah Carter Family Timeline
1874-1922

1874, March 29: Hezekiah Carter born, the third child of Isaac (35) & Martha Ann (George) Carter. His father was a Civil War Pensioner.

1896, October 22: md. Stella Canady (both age 25) in No. 6 Township by Rev. A. F. Mitchell. Witnesses: M.F. [illegible], GW Cully, CC Godett.

1898, June 10: Bert Carter born

1899, June 13: Jesse Carter born

1900, January 6: 15 acres Hezekiah bought land from Nathaniel George & Julia his wife (his uncle & aunt), Theophilus George & Hepsey his wife (his uncle & aunt), and Nancy Godett (his aunt)“in consideration for Thirty dollars”: “adjoining the lands of Gilbert Falls (wife: Cassie Jane Carter: no blood relation established), Jesse Godett (Jr: wife: Eliza Ann Fenner: no blood relation established) and others and others, bounded as follows viz: On the North by Jeremiah Godett (Jeremiah M., son of George Godette IV and Elizabeth Harkley: no blood relation established) on the East by Jesse Godett & Gilbert Falls on the south Martha Ann Carter (his mother) and Jim George (James: wife: Harriet A. Copes; his uncle & aunt) and on the West by William George. Containing by estimation Fifteen acres be the same more or less.”

1900, June 8:

1900 Census: Hezekiah (b. 1874, age 26), Stella (b. 1874, age 26), married 4 years, 2 children born, 2 children living; Birt (b.1898, age 2), Jesse (b. 1899, age 1).

Occupation: Laborer, hauling logs.

Isaac, his father, was a Pensioner (Civil War).

Hezekiah’s brothers Malachai, William Henry, Elijah and Joshua all worked at the Saw Mill.

Neighbors: Uncle Gideon George (mother’s brother; John & Vina Becton family, William & Eliza Becton family; Jerry & Emerline Becton family.

                1901, April 10: Hannah Jane Hyman md. Charley Fisher

                1901: Harrison David Fisher born

1901, September 1: Gertrude Carter born

1902, February 14: Superior Court February Term 1902; No.13 I.D.

Estelle Carter vs. Hezekiah Carter} Order

It appearing to the Court, that the onjured complaint and petition in the above entitled, cause have [unreadable] lostor misplaced and cannot be found. On motive it is the [unreadable] order that the plaintiff be she is hereby authorized and allowed to supplement or file additional or new papers in lieu of the missing or lost paper. [signed] Francis D. Weinstore, Judge Presiding. J.E.R. O’Hara, Atty for Plft.

Wm. W. Clark, Atty for Defs.

               

1905, December 30: md2. Hannah Jane (Hyman) Fisher

1907: Moses Carter born

1909: Hosea Carter born

1910, December 7: Chester Carter born

1910,  April 23: 1910 Census: Hezekiah Carter (md.2, 5 yrs), Hannah J. (md.2, 5 yrs, 3 children, 3 living), Bert (12), Jesse (10), Gertrude (9), Moses (3), Hosea (1), Harison D. Fisher (9), Mary Martin (72), aunt. Neighbors: Isaac & Martha Carter (parents), William H. & Josephine Carter (brother), Isaac & Warneta Carter (cousin), Jacob & Leah Martain, Malachar & Emma Carter (brother), John & Emma Yates, Jacob & Affie Parker,  Alexander & Maggie Martain, Siddie Hyman, Jeremiah Godett; living on Clubfoots Creek

1910, April 21: 1910 Census: Stella Carter, patient, Fork, Wayne, NC: Eastern N.C. Insane Asylum (State Hospital at Goldsboro): Female, Mulatto, Age 33, Married

1912, March 5: DEED: Grantor: C.W. Munger and his wife, Martha A. Munger of Craven County, NC, and K.E. Bennett and his wife, Grace G. Bennett of Camden, NJ. Grantee: Hezekiah Carter of Craven County, NC. Purchase of 2 parcels of land: Tract 1: South Side of the Neuse River, and the West Side of Clubfoot Creek, each 100 acres. Tract 1 Neighbors: John Whitehead (see deed: Book 78, p. 79, Alex Mitchell to Sylvester Gaskill, May 30, 1860). Tract 2: South Side of Neuse River and East Side of King’s Creek (conveyed by Alonzo J. Whitehead to Isabella Willoughby, to Sylvester B. Gaskill’s (see deed: Book 145, p. 122. Sylvester B. Gaskill by Henrietta Bright, Ma Elizabeth Borden, and Joseph Godwin).

NOTE: Subject to timber rights and rights of way: original owners maintain ownership of all timber above 10 inches in diameter for 20 years (March 1932). They can build tram roads and railroads across the land and run locomotives and rafting to remove said timber.

1915, December 22: J. Smallwood Carter born/died

1916, December 3: Martha Ann Carter [daughter] born

1916, December 21: Martha Ann Carter [daughter] died

1917, April 6: U.S. enters WWI

1918, September 12: WWI Draft Registration      

1918, October 4: Hezekiah’s father, Isaac Carter, dies.

1920, February 24: 1920 Census: Hezekiah (45), Hannah (35), Bert (22), Gertrude (18), Moses (13), Hoses (11), Chester (9). Neighbors: Martha Ann Carter (mother), Jacob Martin, Eliziah & Jenettie Carter, Bill & Lizette Hoyt, George & Sarah Jane Moore, Isaac & Sarah Carter, Eugene Frazier, Nathaniel George (E. F.’s nephew), Shelemiah & Rachel Godette, Robert & Martha Ann Fenner, Edd & Fanny Willoughby, Willie & Sophia Carter, John & India Sparrow, Mary Becton (& son Harrison).

1920: 2^nd house built: 4 rooms, 2 bedrooms. No central heat. Electric. Foundation: Piers-Open. Roof Type: Gable. Floors: Single wood board floor. One Story. Lap siding exterior, and metal-seamed enamel roofing. No basement. Dimensions: Porch: 16x6; Base: 16x29.

It is unclear if this house was built before or after the Census was taken in February; but we do know that it was built following the fire which destroyed the large two-story house across the street, with the store. There is conflicting information, however, as to the location of the store. It is hard to image, however, 5 children living in one bedroom.

1921, May 28: Hezekiah’s mother, Martha Ann (George) Carter, dies.

1922: Bert marries Motoaka Cully.

Note: This article has been expanded and updated with new research. To read the current, comprehensive version and explore my latest projects, coaching, and storytelling services, please visit my official author platform at: debranewtoncarter.com.