Scott County Arkansas
Civil War Pension File
WILLIAM L. SPEIGHTS
Contributed by Shirley Denney

William L. Speights / M.C. Speights

Application for Pension # 11196 Approved and allowed $50.00
State of Arkansas, County of Scott.
I William L. Speights do solemnly swear that I served as a soldier in the army of the Confederate States, being a member of Ferrell's Battery, formerly Montgomery's Artillery Battalion attached to Roddy's Cavalry Brigade Vols. from the State of Alabama., I don't remember the company. That I was honorably released form such service on or about April 1865 and did not desert the same; that I am now, and for the past twelve months have been, a bona fide resident of this State; that I do not myself, nor my wife, nor do we both together, own property, real or personal, or both, or money or choses in action in excess of the value of $400.00 (exclusive of household goods and wearing apparel), nor has either of us conveyed title to any property to enable me to draw a pension, and that neither I nor my wife is in receipt of any income, annuity, pension or wages for any services, the emoluments of an office, in excess of $150.00 per year; that I am incapacitated to perform manual labor in any of the ordinary avocations of life and that such incapacity (or disability) is the results of a bad cough, and kidney disease and from advanced age, my age now being 63 years and _____physical ____ conditions., and that such disability is not the result of my own vicious habits still persisted in, so help me God.
(Signature) William L. Speights
Subscribed and sworn to before me, the eighth day of June 1901

State of Arkansas, County of Scott.
I H. J. Hodges, a duly registered and practicing physician in Scott county, Arkansas, do hereby certify that I am personally well acquainted with William L. Speights, of Mansfield, Ark. who is an applicant for a pension under the Statutes of Arkansas. That at his request I have made an examination of his physical condition and find he is suffering with chronic bronchitis and lumbago. Physical condition and to what cause is his incapacity for manual labor attributable. He is incapacitated for manual labor by the causes above stated. And that said disability is not due to his vicious habits still persisted in said disability is not due to his vicious habits. Extent of his disability is one half.
Signed H. J. Hodges M.D.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 11 day of June 1901.
L. K. McDonald, Notary Public

Proof of Service

State of Georgia, County of Troup
On this day personally came before the undersigned, a Notary Public J. P. within and for the County of Troup and the State of Georgia, J. L. Boyd and J. T. Hudson citizens of _______? Ga. whom I certify to be creditable persons and worthy of confidence, who being duly sworn, state that they are each personally well acquainted with applicant William L. Speights, and have know him for three years, respectively. That he was a Confederate soldier. Belonging to Ferrell's Battery, formerly Montgomery's Artillery Battalion attached to Roddy's Cavalry Brigade, of Alabama Vols. That as such soldier he served from about May 1862 to close of the war in spring of 1865. That he was honorably released form such service, and did not desert the same. That he is now and has been for the past twelve months a bona fide resident of Arkansas. That he is incapacitated for manual labor by reason of advanced age, his age now being about 63 years and that such incapacity is not the result of his own vicious habits still persisted in. That to the best of our knowledge, information and belief, all property now owned by him and his wife, together, is not worth exceeding $400. That neither he nor his wife, to my knowledge, is in receipt of any income, annuity, pension or wages for any services, or the emoluments of an office, in excess of $150 per year. That we have no interest in this claim.
Signed J. L. Boyd, J. T. Hudson
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 26th day of June 1901.

Widow's Application #11196

State of Arkansas, County of Scott.
I, M. C. Speights, do solemnly swear that I am the widow of W. L. Speights, who served as a soldier in the army of the Confederate States, his proof of service being now on file in the Auditor's office at Little Rock, he having been allowed a pension under Act of the General Assembly, approved March 11, 1901; that I am now, and for the past twelve months have been a bona fide resident of this State; that I do not own property, real or personal, or both, or money or choses in action, in excess of the value of $400.00, nor have I conveyed title to any property to enable me to draw a pension and that I am not in receipt of any income, annuity, pension or wages for any service, the emoluments of an office, in excess of $150.00 per year; that my said husband died on the 28 day of December 1904 in Scott county, Ark. and I hereby ask that the evidence submitted and filed in my husbands claim before his death and now on file with the State Pension Board at Little Rock, Ark. as to my deceased husbands service in the Army __ be considered in determining the _____ of my claim as his widow, and that I have not since remarried, so help me God.
(Signature) M. C. Speights,
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 1st day of April 1905
W. A. Ray J.P.
I, A. D. Poe, do solemnly swear that I am personally acquainted with Mrs. M.C. Speights, and that she is the widow of W. L. Speights deceased.
(signed) A. D. Poe
Approved 14th Aug 1905

Proof of Property for widow
(By Comrades of Husband if Possible)

State of Arkansas, county of Scott.
On this day personally came before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Scott, J. W. NELSON and A. D. POE citizens of Cauthern P.O. Ark., whom I certify to be creditable persons and worthy of confidence, who being duly sworn, state: That they were each, personally, well acquainted with applicant's husband, W. L SPEIGHTS and knew him prior to his death.
That he is now dead and his widow, Mrs. M. C. SPEIGHTS has been for the past twelve months a bona fide resident of Arkansas. That to the best of our knowledge all property now owned by his widow is not worth exceeding $400 (exclusive of household goods and wearing apparel), That his widow is not in receipt of any income annuity, pension or wages for any services, or the emoluments of an office, in excess of $150 per year, and that she has not since remarried. That we have no interest in this claim.
Signed. J. W. NELSON
A. D. POE
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 24 day of June 1905
W. A. RAY. J.P

M.C. Speights was Mahala Cintilda Walker, the daughter of John and Hannah Holcomb Walker, b. 1857 MO. Mahala married 1st. unknown Robinson, 2nd W. L. Speights, 3rd, Gordon. Mahala died Muskogee OK.

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