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Civil War Indigent Pension Application for Willis W. Duke
Original Application
Questions for Applicant
State of Georgia
Heard County
W.W. Duke, of the said State and County, desiring to avail himself of the Pension Act (Section 1254, Code), hereby submits his proofs, and after being duly sworn true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows:
1. What is your name and where do you reside? W.W. Duke, Elery, Heard County, Georgia
2. How long and since when have you been a resident of this State? I have been in the State of Georgia since December 1, 1900
3. Wen and where were you born? South Carolina, 1818
4. When and where and in what company and regiment did you enlist and serve? I enlisted September 1863 at Stone Mountain in Company K, 34th regiment of Georgia Volunteers
5. How long did you remain in such company and regiment? I remained in that company and regiment from then until the close of the war May 1865
6. When and where was your company and regiment surrendered and discharged? Company was discharged about May 1, 1865 at North Carolina
7. Were you present with your company and regiment when it was surrendered? I was there
8. If not present, state specifically and clearly where you were, when you left your command, for what cause and by whose authority? I was there
9. How much can you earn (gross) per annum by your own exertions or labor? Nothing
10. What has been your occupation since 1865? Farming
11. Upon which of the following grounds do you base your application for pension, viz: first, "age and poverty," second, "infirmity and poverty," and third, "blindness and poverty"? Infirmity + Poverty
12. If upon the first ground, state how long you have been in such condition that you could not earn your support? If upon the second, give a full and complete history of the infirmity and its extent? If upon the third, state whether you are totally blind and when and where you lost your sight? He has asthma, shortness of breath, old and worn out constitution and general health wreck, and is totally disabled from any work
13. What property, real and personal, or income, do you possess, and its gross value? I have no property, effects, or income
14. What property, real or personal, did you possess in 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, and 1902, and what disposition, if any, by sale or gift, have you made of same? Noting, no property at all
15. In what County did you reside during those years, and what property did you then return for taxation? In heard County and return nothing for taxation
16. How were you supported during the years 1899, 1900, 1901, and 1902? By children who have families of their own
17. How much did your support cost for each of those years, and what portion did you contribute thereto by your own labor or income? About $60.00, I contributed nothing
18. What was your employment during 1898, 1899, 1901, and 1902? What pay did you receive in each year? Nothing, could not work and received no pay
19. Have you a family? If so, who composes such family? Give their means of support? Have they a homestead, or other property? Their ages and how employed? I have no family and live around with my children
20. Are you receiveing a pension? If so, what amount and for what disability? No
21. Have you ever made application for pension before? No
22. How many applications have you ever made and under what class? None
W.W. Duke, his mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 16th day of May, 1903.
Robert G. Crain
Ordinary of Heard County
Questions for Witness
State of Georgia
Heard County
E.M. Smith + W.A. Hyatt of said State and County, having been presented as a witness in support of the application of W.W. Duke for pension under section 1254, Code, and after being duly sworn true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows:
1. What is your name and where do you reside? E.M. Smith, Rockalo, Heard County, Georgia
2. Are you acquainted with W.W. Duke, the applicant; if so, how long have you known him? I have known him 50 years
3. Where does he reside, and how long and since when has he been a resident of this State? He resides in Heard County and has been a resident of since December 1900
4. When, where, and in what company and regiment did he enlist, and how do you know? He enlisted Sept. 1863 at Stome Mountain in Co. K, 34th Ga.
5. Were you a member of the same company and regiment? I was
6. How long did he perform regular military duty? From Sept. 1863 to May 1865
7. When and where was his command surrendered? In North Carolina about May 1st, 1865
8. Were you present when it surrendered? I was there
9. Was applicant present? Yes
10. If he was not present, where was he? He was there When did he leave his command? At close of war
11. What property, effects, or income has the applicant? He has no property, effects, or income
12. What property, effects or income did the applicant possess in 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, and 1902, and what disposition, if any, did he make of same? Nothing, he was entirely destitute of means
13. Has he conveyed away any of his property in the last four years, if so, what was it, and to whom? He has not
14. What is the applicant's occupation and physical condition? He is suffering from asthma, his constitution and general health wrecked, and old and worn out, and suffering from general disability
15. Is the applicant unable to support himself by labor of any sort; if so, why? He is unable to support himself by labor of any sort on account of his disability and old age
16. How was he supported during the years 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, and 1902? By his children who are all grown and have dependant families of their own
17. What portion of his support for these four years was derived from his own labor or income? Nothing, he is too old and feeble to work
18. Give a full and complete statement of the applicant's physical condition that entitles him to a pension under Section 1254, Code? He is suffering from asthma and shortness of breath, his constitution and general health wrecked, and not able to work
19. Who composes family? What property have they? Children's age and their earning capacity? No family now at all, has no property and no children able to support him
20. What interest have you in the recovery of a pension by this applicant? None
E.M. Smith
W.A. Hyatt
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 16th day of May, 1903.
Robert G. Crain, Ordinary
Affidavit of Physicians
State of Georgia
Heard County
Personally came before me J.R. Daniel and J.W. Daniel, both known to me as reputable physicians of said County, who, being severally sworn, say on oath that they have examined carefully W.W. Duke, applicant for pension under Section 1254, Code, and after such personal examination say that his precise physical condition is as follows:
He is a great sufferer from asthma and shortness of breath, old and worn out constitution, and general health wrecked, and not able to make a living for himself by labor of any sort.
And that we have no interest in said pension being allowed.
J.R. Daniel, M.D.
J.W.Daniel, M.D.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 16th day of May, 1903.
Robert G. Crain, Ordinary
Ordinary's Certificate
State of Georgia
Heard County
I, Robert G. Crain, Ordinary in and for said County, hereby certify that the applicant, W.W. Duke, resides in said County, and has been a bona fide resident of this State since the 1st day of January, 1900, and that the witnesses, viz: E.M. Smith, W.A. Hyatt, are of trustworthy character, and that their statements are entitled to full faith and credit.
I further certify that before answering the foregoing questions the applicant and each witness took the oath bereon prescribed, and that the full text of the affidavits was read to the applicant and witness before same was signed.
I further certify that the tax digest of Heard County show that the applicant returned for taxation in his name in 1899 nothing Dollars of property, and in 1900 nothing Dollars of property, and in 1901 nothing Dollars of property, and in 1902 nothing Dollars of property.
In my opinion the foregoing claim is made in good faith.
Witness my hand and seal of office, this 16th day of May, 1903.
Robert G. Crain
Ordinary of Heard County
Certificate
W.W. Duke, Heard Co.
[No. 3582]
O.K.
Indigent Pension
1903
Name: W.W. Duke
County: Heard
Co. K, 34th Ga. Regt.
John W. Lindsey, Commissioner of Pensions
9/16/03
[renewal applications dated 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907 also included in file; not transcribed]
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