Scott County Arkansas
Civil War Pension Applications
WILLIAM P. GEORGE, USA
Contributed by Sandy Conant

THE STATE OF ARKANSAS
To all to whom these presents shall come...greetings
Know ye, that whereas, Jeremiah J. Tate has, on this day, by the Court of Probate, in and for the said County of Johnson, been appointed Guardian for Mary A., Sarah E., Nancy A., Matilda I. George, minors under the age of 21 years, by entering into bond to said minors in the sum of eight hundred dollars: And whereas, the said Jeremiah J. Tate has this day filed his bond in such sum, to said minors which said bond stands approved by the Court: Now, therefore, he, the said Jeremiah J. Tate, is hereby authorized and empowered to collect and receive all moneys, property, and effects, that now are, or hereafter may become, due to said ward, and in general, to do and perform all and singular the duties devolving upon him as such Guardian, by law, or that may be enjoined upon him by the lawful order, sentence, or decree, of any court having competent jurisdiction.
In Testimony whereof, I, J. P. Basham Clerk of the Circuit Court, and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Court of Probate, in and for the County of Johnson aforesaid, have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said Court, at office, this day of eighteenth of August, A. D. 1865.
J.P. Basham, Clerk
State of Arkansas, County of Johnson.
I, Robert F. Naylor County Clerk
and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Probate Court within and for said County do hereby certify that the within is a true copy of the Record of the Letters of Guardianship issued to Jeremiah J. Tate as guardian of Sarah E. George, Nancy A. George, Mary A. George and Matilda I. George, Minors, as recorded in Book "B" page 110 and I further certify that said Jeremiah J. Tate is still guardian of said minors. 31st day of March 1870, Robert F Naylor, Clerk

DECLARATION OF MINOR CHILDREN FOR PENSION

State of Arkansas, County of Johnson
On this 18th day of August A.D. 1865 personally appeared before the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the County of Johnson, Jeremiah J. Tate a resident of Hunt Township in the County of Scott and the State of Arkansas aged 26 years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on oath, make the following declaration as guardian of minor children of William P. George, deceased, in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the Act of Congress, approved July 14, 1862, granting pensions to minor children under sixteen years of age of deceased officers and soldiers; that he is the guardian of Sarah E. George, Matilda I. George, Mary A. George and Nancy Ann George whose father was a Private in Company "A" commanded by Captain Ira D. Bronson in the 4th Regiment of Arkansas Infantry Volunteers, in the war of 1861, and that the said William P. George died at or near Lewisburg Arkansas on the 25th day of October in the year 1864 of disease contracted while in the service of the United States. That the mother of the children aforesaid died on the 6th day of December in the year 1863 and that the date of the birth of his said wards are as follows:
Sarah E. George, 1st November 1852, Matilda I. George born 10th January 1857, Mary A. George born 7th May 1860 & Nancy Ann George born 20th Nov 1863.
(These dates are corrected by the attending midwife and grandmother in a later deposition, see below).
He further declares that the parents of his said wards were married at Franklin County Alabama on the 5th day of August in the year 1851 by one Andrew Cain a Minister of the Gospel of the Baptist Church. (This is also corrected below).
And he hereby constitutes and appoints Lucien J. Barnes of Little Rock, Ark his Attorney to prosecute this claim and procure a certificate. His Post-Office Address is Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas
Witness Wm W. Taylor and A.D.King
Jeremiah J. Tate, his mark

Also, personally appeared Thomas W. Tate and George W. Hunt residents of Hunt Township in the County of Scott, State of Arkansas, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn according to law, say that they were present and saw Jeremiah J. Tate Guardian sign his name to the foregoing declaration and Power of Attorney, and they further swear that they know the said Jeremiah J. Tate to be the legally appointed Guardian of the Minor Children of William P. George late a Private in Company A in the 4th Regiment of Arkansas Infantry Volunteers in the War for the Suppression of the Rebellion of the Seceded States. They further swear that they knew the said soldier, and that he enlisted, and died or was killed, as stated in said declaration, and that Sarah E., Matilda I., Mary and Nancy Ann George, the above named Minor Children to be his lawful heirs. That their knowledge of the identity of the soldier as the father of the said Minor Children is derived from an acquaintance of 5 years and from seeing him performing the duties of the soldier frequently. They futher testify they have no interest, directly or indirectly, in this claim for a pension.
Witnessess Wm W. Floyd A.D. King
Thomas W. Tate George W. Hunt, his mark
Sworn to, subscribed and acknowledged before me this 18th day of August A.D. 1865 and I hereby certify that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim. L.P. Basham, Clerk

No. 108577-143203
Act of July 14, 1862
Jeremiah J .Tate, Scott Co., Arkansas, Guardian minor children of William P. George, Pri. Co. "A" 4 Ark Vols. died at Lewisburg Ark., Oct 25, 1864. Pension Office respectfully referred to the Adjutant General for official evidence of service and death. Joseph H. Barrett, Clarksville, Johnson Co. Received Sept. 7, 1865 Lucien J. Barnes, Attorney Little Rock Arkansas, Pulaski Co.

Adjutant General's Office, Washington D.C., Sept 23, 1865 Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your office of application for Pension No. 108577, and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this office. There is no evidence on file in this office that William P. George was enrolled and mustered into service in Co. A, 4th Regiment of Ark Inf. Volunteers. But on the Muster Roll of Co A of that Regiment, for the months of July & August 1864, there is the following evidence of service: He is reported present for duty. No further evidence can be obtained as his name is not born on any succeeding rolls or any rolls of 2 Ark Inf with which the 4th Arkansas consolidated. Signed by the Assistant Adjutant General (unreadable)

Surgeon General's Office, Record and Pension Bureau, Washington D.C., Nov 22nd, 1865
Sir: I have the honor to return herewith application for Pension No. 108.577 with such information as is furnished by the records of this Office, Private Wm P. George, Co. A, 4th Regiment Ark Vols, is reported to this Office by a surgeon A.L. Ayres as having died Oct 25, 1864, at Lewisburg Ark. Regt Hosp of 2nd Ark Vols of Febris Typhoides. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, by the order of the Surgeon General J.J. Woodward, Assistant Surgeon, U.S. Army

State of Arkansas, County of Scott
I Jeremiah J. Tate, guardian for the minor heirs of William P. George dec'd late Pri. Co. A, 4th Regt Ark Infty Vols and with his wife who is now also dead, to wit Nancy A. George, that they were married according to law in Franklin County, State of Alabama on the 18th day of July 1850 by Isaac Hutcheson, a Justice of the Peace. A certified copy of the record I am unable to furnish as I am informed that the same has been destroyed.but I now here introduce evidence of eye witnesses to the fact of the marriage. The mother of the minor heirs for whom I am guardian to wit Nancy A. George died 7th December 1863. And William P. George died on or about the 25th day of October A.D. 1864. And further states the said William P. George was never married but the one time. And the following are the only children that said George left surviving him who were under 16 years of age at his death and who now survive him and are yet alive whose names and ages are as follows To Wit:
Sarah E. George born 16th October 1851
Matilda I. George born 8 October 1857
Mary A. George born 18 March 1860
Nancy A. George born 2nd November 1863
That I herewith introduce proof by the attending midwife Sarah R. Tate showing the precise date of the birth of each child. I now again make this statement sworn to and should there be any descrepancy as to the dates herein given and those that was given by me in my application for a pension as guardian I now here state that the times and dates as herein given. I am now fully satisfied as the true dates and also the true facts and my means of knowledge is now derived form a true and full comparison of dates with those that I know, and (one) who had a good right to know, who was with the family of Willaim P. George a great part of the time and whose sworn statements are herewith produced for the examination of the Commissioner of Pensions. My post office address is Clarksville Ark.
Witnesses Thomas J. Tate and Charles L. Hutcheson
Jeremiah J. Tate, Guardian his mark

Proof of Marriage

Also at the same time and place came Mary E. Rogers, Sarah Hutcheson & Martha J. Prewit who were all duly sworn by me according to Law and whom I certify as being credible witnesses and who state that they were well and intimately acquainted with William P. George & Nancy A. George in their lifetimes. That they were present on the occasion of their marriage which took place in the County of Franklin in the State of Alabama on the 18th day of July AD 1850. That the marriage as aforesaid was duly performed and solemnized by Isaac C. Hutcheson then an acting and duly confirmed Justice of the Peace for said County & State that the said Hutcheson is now dead and the records are destroyed, that we were eyewitnesses to the marriage. That Wm P. George never again remarried. We have no interest whatever in this case.
Witnessed by Thomas J. Tate and Charles Hutcheson
Signed Mary E. Rogers, Sarah Hutcheson and Martha J. Prewit

Proof of the Precise Date of the Birth of the Children of William & Nancy A. George

At the same time and place came Sarah R. Tate who is to me personally well (known) as a reputable and a credible witness and who is a resident of Scott County, Arkansas who was duly sworn by me according to law and who doth make the following statement: That she was well and intimately acquainted with William P. George & Nancy A George his wife from & before the date of their marriage on the 18th day of July 1850 until the dates of their deaths respectivley. That they lived together as husband & wife and were always so regarded until their deaths. That I was acting in the capacity of midwife and was the only person called in to act as physician and midwife when the following named children was born, when their mother Nancy A. George was confined in child bed and being there present at their births I am certain that the dates of the birth of each child as here set down is the correct & true date as this is my means of knowledge that the said Wm P. George never again remarried after the death of his wife Nancy A. George.
The following is the names & births of the children
Sarah E. George Born 16 October 1851
Matilda I. George Born 8 October 1857
Mary A. George Born 18 March 1860
Nancy A. George Born 2nd November 1863
That the above is the true dates of there births for the reasons as above & heretofore given that I have no interest at all whatever in the above claim for a pension.
Witnesses Thomas J. Tate and Charles L Hutcheson
Sarah R. Tate, her mark

State of Arkansas, County of Scott
I, Jacob P. Tate, an acting and duly qualified Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Scott & State of Arkansas do hereby certify that Jeremiah J. Tate, guardian and Mary E. Rogers, Sarah Hutcheson and Martha J. Prewit as witnesses to marriage & Sarah R. Tate as physician & midwife were all summarily sworn by me according to law and they signed their names and made their marks thereto in my presence and the same was carefully read over and full explained to them and was by them fully understood before signing the same and further that I have no interest at all whatever in the above and foregoing claim for a pension.
Given under my name this 9th day of March 1870.

State of Arkansas, County of Scott
We the undersigned whose names are hereto subscribed after being duly sworn according to law, state that our post office address is Olio, Scott County, Arkansas, that we were aquainted with William P. George in his lifetime who was a Private Co. A, 4th Ark Inf. Vols. That we were well acquainted with his wife to the time of death, that his wife Nancy A. George died on the 7th day of December AD one thousand eight hundred &sixty three (1863). That we have personal knowledge of the fact of her death and we know that the above is the time &date of her death, and we also know her to be the mother of the minor children of William P. George for whom Jeremiah J. Tate is guardian. That we are wholly disinterested & have no interest in the above claim.
Witnessed by Thomas J. Tate and C.L. Hutcheson
Mary E. Rogers and Sarah Hutcheson
Certified by Jacob P. Tate, Justice of the Peace, as above on May 16, 1870

War of the Rebellion

Act of July 14, 1862
Pension of Minor Children (by last Marriage) 143.203
Sarah E. George, Matilda I. George, Mary A. George, and Nancy A. George, children of William P. George Private Co. A, 4th Ark. Vols. Residence of guardian, Johnson County, and State of Arkansas, Post Office, Clarksville, Ark. Attorney L. J. Barnes, Little Rock, Pulaski Co., Ark. Certificate to be sent to attorney.
Rate of pension, $8.00 per month, commencing 26 October, 1864, the date of death of soldier, and two dollars per month additional to each, as follows:
Sarah E. Born 16 Oct 1851 Commencing 25 July 1866 Sixteen 15 Oct 1867
Matilda I.Born Oct 1857 " " Sixteen 7 Oct 1873
Mary A, Born March 1860 " " Sixteen 17 March 1876
Nancy A. Born 2 Nov 1863 " " Sixteen 1 Nov 1879
Payable to Jeremiah J. Tate, guardian. Payments on all former certificates covering any portion of the same time to be deducted.
Admitted, 10th of June 1870 R. J. Powell, examiner
Approved, June 15, 1870 (unreadable), reviewer

Dates Shown by Papers

Enlistment, 13 April 1864
Muster into rank, Priv. 25 July 1864
Death, 25 Oct 1864
Minors' app. filed, 7 Sept 1865
Guardian Appointed, 18 Aug 1865
Claim completed, 10 June 1870
Marriage of parents, 18 July 1850
Death of mother, 7 Dec 1863
Cause of Death, Typhoid Fever.
Place of death, Lewisburg, Ark (referring to William P. George)

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