The Civil War Pension File of Isaac Carter, Document #16

The following document is an affidavit sworn by Sharper Williams of Company G, USCT 14th Heavy Artillery. I knew that our Isaac Carter had transferred from Company B to Company G; but, I began to wonder when this transpired.

A careful examination of his service record revealed something interesting.

May 2007:
Isaac Carter's Great Grandson at Fort Macon

• March 12, 1864: Isaac enlisted in 1st North Carolina Heavy Artillery, later known as USCT 14th Heavy Artillery. Rank: Sergeant, Company B.
• He was present at company muster roll through June 1865: Sergeant.
• July & August 1865 Company B muster roll reveals he had been demoted to Private. Remarks: Transferred to Company G Res S.O. No. 78....
• In the next page, also for July & August 1865, he appears in company muster roll for Company G as a Private with the following remarks: Free April 19, 1861. Transferred from Company "B", August 28, 1865 By S.O. No. 78 Hd Qrts 14 U.S. Promoted to Corpl (Sept. 1, 1865 By S.O. No. 82). [two lines down]: Roll Mutilated. 
• September & October 1865: Rank: Sergeant, Company G. Remarks: Promoted Sergt Sept. 20, 1865.

Now that I'm aware of when the transfer occurred, I can more carefully recreate Co. B & G for the time periods when Isaac served in both. (See Brainstorming for Backstory and USCT 14th Heavy Artillery A-Z for further info on this sub-project.) 

Transcription: Sharper Williams' Affidavit on behalf of Isaac Carter

North Carolina}

Craven County}

No. 612812 of Isaac Carter Co. G. 14 U.S.C.H.A.

On this 3rd day of June A.D. 1890  Personally

appeared before me a clerk of the

Superior Court a Court of record in

and for the County & State aforesaid

Sharper Williams aged 65 yrs well 

known to be reputable and en-

titled to credit & who being duly

sworn according to Law declares:

I enlisted Pvt. Co_ G. 14 USCHArty Feb

1865 and became acquainted

with Isaac Carter Sgt of my Co at

the same time. When I first

became acquainted with him

he was very sick with diarrhea

& piles also with Chronic Rheumatism

at Carolina City N.C. on about

Feb 1865 he was in the hospital

and was healed by the Surgeon,

And he was also taken with

a heavy cold which resulted in

the asthma and he continued

to complain and have a 

severe cough and was at a 

severe strain all the remainder

of the service with the diarrhea 

and piles and complained

being afflicted with rheumatism

in the feet and Legs, which

swell up & to such extent that

at times he cannot walk.

And he was in this condition all 

the rest of the service. Since the

war I have at times seen 

him at times very week (sic)

two or three times a month

And so for as i know he is

down for two or three times

a year for a month or more

at at (sic) a time with rheumatism so

he can't walk and from straining

diarrhea & piles pains in throat

& heart. He has continued to

suffer in such condition ever since

the war. I have no interest in

the claim.  My P.O. address is

New Bern N.C.

witness              )                      his

E.W. Carpenter )      Sharper    X   Williams

AM Baker         )                    mark

                                          Sworn & subscribed

to before me this 3rd day of June 1890

& I certify that the foregoing was read

to affiant as he stated before making

his mart to same & that he is the

identical person he claims to be & is cred-

ible & worthy of belief also that I have no

interest in this claim.

                                        EWCarpenter

Amanuensis Monday: The Civil War Pension File of Isaac Carter, Document #15

Below is a transcription of an affidavit sworn out by Theophilus George. This could either be Isaac's brother-in-law (b. 10 Jul 1850), or his father-in-law (b. abt. 1804). Upon completion, further analysis will determine the realtionship.

 North Carolina

Craven County

Also personally appeared before 

me a clerk of Superior Court

a court of record in and 

for the County & State aforesaid

Theophilus George age 40 yrs. 

well known unto be respectable and

entitled to credit & who being duly

declares: I have been acquainted

with Isaac Carter the soldier

all my Life. When he came home

from the war Dec 1865 he appeared

to be quite sick from Rheumatism

and was stiff in his joints of feet & 

Legs and he would be unable

to walk and he also complains 

of diarrhea & piles and asthma

soreness of throat and heart.

He has suffered to a great

excess each and every year

to the present that he has been

down for two or three times each

year or a month or more at a 

time. And I have lived near

his house ever since the war

and have been able to see

him every week at times and

I so on. When ever I see

He is complaining and is at times 

laid up from Rheumatism

diarrhea piles and asthma.

and he is continually sick

from said disabilities.

I have no interest in the

claim. My P.I. address is

Harlowe N. C. 

witness               )

E.W. Carpenter  )  Theophilus George

J.B. Willis         )

sworn & sub-

scribed to before me this 3rd day of

June 1890 & I certify that officiant states'that the foregoing was read to him before

signing same & that he is the identical

person he claims to be & is credible &

worthy of belief.                            E.W. Carpenter

[stamp]

Frederick Douglass,

U.S. Claim Agent.

Box 590, New Berne, N.C.

Analysis

• Taking into account that Theophilus George was 40 years old on 3 June 1890, he would have been born in 1850, which is compatible with Isaac Carter's brother-in-law. Certain he would have known Isaac all his life as Isaac was eleven years old when Theophilus was born. 
• Theophilus reports Isaac's condition following the war in 1865. He married Theophilus' older sister, Martha Ann, one and a half years later (15 May 1867). 
• The informant reports that I have lived near his house ever since the war. Perhaps an examination of land deeds and Census documents for 1870 and 1880 would determine the location of this land, whether it corresponds to the current Martha Ann (George) Carter Heirs Land. Also, where both Carter and George resided before the war. 

The Civil War Pension File of Isaac Carter, Document #11

The next affidavit was sworn by Silas Fenner, one of Isaac Carter's comrade in arms in the USCT Heavy Artillery 14th Regiment.

As I read over this document, I became aware of some colloquialisms of the era. I am hoping that by studying enough records, a pattern will emerge which will be able to assist me in writing dialog.

* * * * *

Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Jan. 20, 1890

Respectfully requested of the ADJUTANT
GENERAL U.S.A. a report from the records of his
Office as to the presence or absence, on or about
Winter of 1864 & 65
of Silas Fenner
of Co. G. 14 U.S.C.H Art.
and the station, at that date, of the Co
Invalid Claim No. 662812
Isaac Carter
Co. G. 14 U.S. C. H. Art.
Green B. Raum, Commissioner.

War Department,
Record of Pension Division,
Washington, JAN 21 1890
Respectfully returned to the
Commissioner of Pensions
With the information that the name
Silas Fenner is not
born on rolls Co. G
14 U.S.C. H Arty
BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:
F. G. Ainsworth,
Captain and Ass't Surgeon, U.S. Army

* * * * *

662812

Isaac Carter

G. 14 USCHA

State of North Carolina

County of Craven

In matter of original claim

of Isaac Carter of Co. G 14

Regt U.S.C.H. Arty No 612812

On this 15th Day of May AD 1889

personally appeared Before one

clerk of the Superior Court Being

a court of record in and for

the county of Craven and State

of North Carolina  Sergeant

Silas Fenner age 49 years

Resident of Harlow N.C. Craven

County, well known to be

reputable and Entitled to credit

Who Being duly sworn according

to Law Declares as follows, I

and Sergeant Isaac Carter

was play boys together and

he and I Enlisted in the US

Army together, and when he

Enlisted he was a Well and

hardy man from all appearance

until. until on about Winter

1964 he contracted the Diarrhea

and piles at Carolina City

he contracted the Rheumatism

at Carolina City by Exposure

and cold, and the Diarrhea

by drinking bad Water.

and he was Sent to the Hospital

for treatment, and he was treated

By Surgeon, he complained

Very much he seemed as he

was bad off  We Was discharged

on about the 11th day of December

1865 at Fort Macon N.C. and

then We got on the train and

came to New Berne N.C.  We then

got off the train and Went to

Harlows Creek and that has

Been our resident every since

and he and I lived about

three miles apart and I

know he continues to suffer

With the Rheumatism  Diarrhea

and piles and the Asthma

he is down three and four

times a year so he cant do

anything, and he is about

two thirds disabled to perform

manual Labor by reason

of the Diarrhea  Rheumatism

Asthma & piles he is suffering

for the necessaries of

this Life, he depending on

the hand of Charity for

This Support by reason he

is unable to work.

This is all I know about the 

claim and I am no

relation. I have no interest

in his claim.

                           My post Office

                           Address is

                           Harlowe        N.C.

                           Craven County

                                     his

                            Silas  X  Fenner

                                    mark

Witness

E.W. Carpenter

J. D. Willis

                              sworn & sub-

scribed to before me this 15th

day of may 1889 & I certify that

the foregoing was read to [          ]

before making his mark in

same & that he is the iden-

tical person he claims 

to be & is credible & worthy

of belief

                                                E.W. Carpenter

                                                [                     ]