James A. Stinson Civil War File

Scott County Arkansas
Civil War Pension File
JAMES A. STINSON
Contributed by Carolyn Hanna

State of Kentucky}
Muhlenberg County} ss
On this the 5th day of January 1863 before me Presiding Judge of the County Court in and for the County and State above named personally appeared Mary Stinson a resident of Muhlenberg County Kentucky aged 27 years who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of James A. Stinson who was a private in Company I commanded by Captain Joseph Fox of the 11th Regiment of Kentucky Volunteer Infantry commanded by Col. P.B. Hawkins that said James A. Stinson volunteered at Rochester Kentucky on or about the 17th day of October 1861 for three years or during the war died at Huntsville Alabama on or about the 23rd day of August 1862 while in the service of the United States.
That she was married to the said James A. Stinson on the 4th day of January 1858 in Muhlenberg County Kentucky by one H.B. Wiggin. That her name before the said marriage was Mary Samuels that she has remained a widow since his death. She further states that she believes there is no public record of the said marriage and there is no private or family record of her said marriage. She has examined for the public record which ought to exist but it cannot be found from the fact as she believes a [illegible] never returned the Bond & License but if she can have the [illegible] it she will file a copy if not she prays to be allowed to file proof of her said marriage by persons who were present. She makes this Declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Half-Pay Pension to which she is entitled by reason of the services of & death of her said husband & she hereby constitutes and appoints Joseph Ricketts of Greenville Kentucky her attorney to prosecute this claim and procure a certificate.
Mary (her x mark) Stinson
Witness
Joseph Ricketts
Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year first above written and on the same day personally came George W. Stinson and Thomas Adcock residents of Muhlenberg County Kentucky who being duly sworn according to law declare that they are personally acquainted with Mrs. Mary Stinson widow of James A. Stinson who has made and subscribed the foregoing Declaration and were acquainted with her and her said husband before he entered the service and know that they lived together as man & wife and were so reputed. That she is the widow of the identical James A. Stinson who performed the military events mentioned in said Declaration and has remained a widow since his death. That the knowledge of the identity of her husband with the said soldier [illegible] from intimate personal acquaintance. Witness Stinson was himself in said service as a soldier and saw him performing said military service and the witness Adcock saw him performing said service & knows that he was the husband of the applicant. There can be no mistake as to the identity that they reside as before stated and are disinterested in this claim.
George W. (his x mark) Stinson
Witness
Joseph Ricketts
Thomas (his x mark) Adcock
Subscribed & sworn to before me and I certify that I am not interested in this claim or concerned in its prosecution, that I believe the affiants to be creditable persons and the declarant the person she represents herself to be in said Declaration. The words "aged 27 years" and interlined[?] of line in first page was all done before they were executed.
B.J. Shaver, Presiding Judge
Muhlenberg County

State of Kentucy}
Muhlenberg County} ss
I Tho. J. Jones Clerk of the County Court in and for the County and State above named do hereby certify that B.J. Shaver Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavits were made & who has thereunto signed his name was at the time of so doing Presiding Judge of the County Court in & for the County and State above named duly commissioned and sworn that full faith and credit are due all his official acts as such that his signature thereto is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name & affixed my Official Seal this 7th of January 1863.
Tho. J. Jones, Clk.
I hereby certify that this Declaration & the affidavits were read & explained to witnesses and Declarant before they executed it by making their marks thereto.
B.J. Shaver
Jany. 16 1864[sic]

State of Kentucky}
Muhlenberg County} ss
On this the 6th day of January 1863 before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State above named personally appeared H.B. Wiggin and Thomas Hill the first a resident of Butler County Ky. And the other a resident of Muhlenberg County Kentucky who being duly sworn according to law declares as follows the witness H.B. Wiggin says that he is and has long previous to the 4th day of January 1858 a minister of the gospel & duly authorized to solemnize the Rites of Matrimony & that as such he did on or about the 4th day of January 1858 unite in marriage in Muhlenberg County Ky. James A. Stinson & Mary Samuels the said Stinson was late a soldier as he has been informed believes in Capt. Joseph Foxes Company I of the 11th Regiment of Ky. Vol. & died in said service. The witness Thomas Hill was well acquainted with said soldier and with the said Mary Stinson then Mary Samuels & was present and seen them married on or about the 4th day of January 1858 in Muhlenberg County Ky. by one H.B. Wiggin who is a witness herewith. The said Mary Stinson is an applicant for a Half-Pay-Pension as the widow of said James A. Stinson who was a private in Company I, 11th Regiment of Kentucky Vol. Infantry. Witnesses say they reside as above & are not interested.
H.B. Wiggin
Thomas Hill
Sworn to and subscribed before me and I certify that I am not interested in this claim or concerned in its prosecution, that I believe the affiants to be credible witnesses and the applicant for Half-Pay-Pension to be the person she represents herself to be.
John Downing, J.P., M.C.

State of Kentucky}
Muhlenberg County} ss
I, Tho. J. Jones, Clerk of the County Court in and for the County and State before named do hereby certify that John Downing Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavits were made and who has thereunto signed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in & for the County & State above named, duly commissioned and sworn, that all his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit & that his signature thereto is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and affixed my official seal this the 9th day of January 1863.
Tho. J. Jones, Clk.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Pension Office,
Nov. 4, 1864.
Sir:
You are respectfully requested to furnish official evidence of the enrollment, muster, service, duty, and cause of death of James A. Stinson, who was a private in Co. I, 11th Regiment of Ky. Vols. reported died Aug. 20th, 1862.
Please attach this Circular to your report, and return the same to this Office.
No. 59815
Resectfully &c.
Joseph H. Barrett,
Commissioner.
Adjutant Gen'l. U.S.A.

ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, D.C.,
Nov. 8, 1864
Sir:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your Office of application for Pension No. 59,815, and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this Office.
It appears from the Rolls on file in this Office, that James A. Stinson was enrolled on the 17 day of Oct. 1861, at Muhlenberg [or?] Christian Co., Ky. in Co. "I", 11th Regiment of Ky. Volunteers, to serve three years, or during the war, and mustered into service as a Pri. on the 9 day of Dec. 1861, at Camp Calhoun, in Co. "I", 11th Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers, to serve 3 years, or during the war. On the Muster Roll of Co. "I" of that Regiment, for the months of Sept. & Oct., 1862, he is reported "Left sick at Huntsville, Ala." His name is dropped from subsequent Rolls of that Co. There is no evidence of death on file in this office.
I am, Sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Saml. Breck,
Assistant Adjutant General

The Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Memoranda.
Name of applicant, [blank]
Address, [blank]

State of Kentucky}
Muhlenberg County}
I, William H. Smith, a resident of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky state that I was Lieutenant of Company I of the 11th Regiment of Kentucky Vol. Inft. and was personally acquainted with James A. Stinson a pri. of said Co. and Regt. That said Regt. left Battle Creek Tennessee on the 20th of August 1862. That said Stinson was sent off on the 19th in an ambulance to Stevenson Alabama he was very ill at the time with Jaundice and probably of fever of some sort so low indeed that in the opinion of the affiant it was impossible to recover or to survive more than a few days. The 11th Ky. and the whole army came on to Kentucky and said Stinson has never made his appearance but was missing from his Regiment and was reported on the Records of said Company as dead and affiant has no doubt whatever that he did die & in the line of his duty & in said service. Affiant knows of no one now living that has more knowledge on the subject than himself. There was but one other man belonging to his Regiment that was sent off with him to wit John A. Adcock who was also sick and died or was reported dead and has never made his appearance again. The said Stinson was reported as having died on the 20th of August 1862. His recollection is that the report of his death was made by some citizen whose name he does not know. Therefore from his knowledge of the condition and from the [illegible] sheets he has been missing from that time till now. [illegible] from his information and the report of his death, he has no doubt whatever thereof. The [illegible] by whom [illegible] was in the care of has duly [illegible] his information and belief is that the country about Stevenson was abandoned to the rebels when Buell's army left for Ky.
William H. Smith
Sworn to and subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace for said County & State and I certify that Lieut. William H. Smith is a man of high character and is a credible witness and that I have no interest whatever in this claim. August 4, 1865.
E.G. Neel, J.P., M.C.

State of Kentucky}
Muhlenberg County}
I, Tho. J. Jones, Clerk of the County Court for the County and State above named do hereby certify that E.G. Neel, Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit was made & who has signed his name thereto was at the tim of so doing a Justice of the Peace for the County and State above named, duly commissioned and qualified, that all his Official acts as such are entitled to full faith & credit and that his signature thereto is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this the 4th day of Aug. 1865.
Tho. J. Jones, Clk.

ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, D.C.,
March 17th, 1866
Sir:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your Office of application for Pension No. 59,815, and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this Office. It appears from the Rolls on file in this Office, that James A. Stinson was enrolled on the 17th day of October, 1861, at Camp Calhoun, Ky. in Co. "I", 11th Regiment of Ky. Volunteers, to serve three years, or during the war, and mustered into service asa Pvt. on the 9th day of December 1861, at Camp Calhoun, Ky., in Co. "I", 11th Regiment of Ky. Volunteers, to serve three years, or during the war. On the Muster Roll of Co. "I" of that Regiment, dated December 14th, 1864, he is reported Priv. Died date place & cause of death not stated.
I am, Sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Saml. Breck,
Assistant Adjutant General.
The Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Memoranda.
Name of applicant, [blank]
Address, [blank]

State of Kentucky
Muhlenberg County
On this the 13th day of July 1867 before me Clerk of the County Court in and for the County and State above named personally appeared John H. Stinson a resident of Muhlenberg County Ky. who being duly sworn according to Law declares that he was personally acquainted with James A. Stinson late a Private of Co. I of the 11th Regiment Ky. Inft. for he was affiants brother. Affiant was a Private of Co. B of the same Regiment. That a few days before the Federal army under Gen. Buell marched from battle Creek in pursuit of Gen. Bragg to wit about the 15th or 20th of August 1862 to the best of his recollection. The sick and disabled of said army under Gen. Buell were sent to Bridgeport for the purpose of being sent to Huntsville Alabama so that the army in the march would not be encumbered with the sick. Among the names of the sick was the said James A. Stinson who was very low with Jaundice but the day they were all first sent the train did arrive from Huntsville for them and the men that were in a condition to be brought back to camp were brought back to await the next days train and all that were sent were brought back except said Stinson and John Adcock and I never seen or heard of my brother James A. Stinson afterward. I assisted in putting him in the ambulance when he was starting to Bridgeport and he was in a dieing condition and could not in my opinion have survived more than a day or two. I was at Bridgeport a few days afterwards but could not see or hear of him and he has never returned to his home and I have no doubt died at or near Bridgeport about the 20 of August 1862 in the line of duty & in said service. I know of no person in the [word] or present that knows as much of the circumstances of his death as I do. When I lifted him into the ambulance he said to me we'll never meet again in this world, that he could not live more than two or three hours. I am in no way interested in said claim.
John H. (his x mark) Stinson
Amos Jones
Z. Rose
Sworn to and subscribed before me and I certify that I am in no way interested in said claim, that the affiant in said claim is a credible person and that the foregoing affidavit was read and explained to and understood by the affiant before he executed it.
Given under my hand and official seal this the 13th of July 1867.
Thos. Bruce, Clk.

State of Kentucky
Muhlenberg County
On the 22 day of July 1867 before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State above named personally appeared Mary Stinson, a resident of Muhlenberg County, Ky., who being duly sworn according to law states that she is the applicant for a pension No. 59,815 as the widow of James A. Stinson. That she has been unable to prove the date, cause & circumstances of her said husbands death either by medical testimony or by any commissioned officer and the best testimony she has been able to procure is that of John H. Stinson lately forwarded to Comm. Pensions. She has made diligent search and inquiry for better and more positive testimony without success. That she has never remarried but is yet the widow of said John[sic] A. Stinson. That she and her said husband had no children born unto them now surviving but that her said husband had several children by a former marriage who are not supported by this applicant. That her Post Office address is Rochester, Butler Co., Ky.
Mary (her x mark) Stinson
William Hill
Elizabeth Hill

Sworn to and subscribed before me and on the same day personally appeared William Hill and Elizabeth Hill, residents of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky who being duly sworn according to law declare that they are personally acquainted with the applicant, Mary Stinson and were present and saw her accept the previous affidavit by marking her mark thereto. That they were also personally acquainted with said soldier James A. Stinson & know that said applicant is his widow, that she has never remarried since the death of her said husband. That she & said James A. Stinson had no child born unto them of said marriage now surviving but that he has now living several children by a former marriage. Affiants are in no way interested in this claim.
William Hill
Elizabeth Hill
Sworn to and subscribed before me and I certify that I am in no way interested in said claim, that the affiants are credible persons and that the Declaration and affidavits were read and explained to Declarant and witnesses before the same were executed.
D.B. Rall[?]
Justice of the peace in and for Muhlenberg County Ky.

State of Kentucky
Muhlenberg County
I, Thos. Bruce, Clk. Of the County Court in & for the County and State above named hereby certify that D.B. Rall Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavits were made and who has thereunto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in & for the County and State above named duly qualified, that all his official acts are entitled to full faith & credit & that his signature thereto is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed with my name and affixed my official seal this the 15th day of Aug. 1867.
Thos. Bruce, Clk.

APPLICATION FOR A NEW CERTIFICATE

State of Kentucky, County of Muhlenberg, SS:
On this 9th day of November 1869, before the subscriber, A Notary Public in and for said County, personally appeared Mary Stinson, who on oath declares that she is the widow of James A. Stinson who belonged to Company "I," in the 11th Regiment of Kentucky Inft., in the service of the United States, in the war of 1861; that her name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Kentucky; that she received a certificate of that fact, numbered [blank], and bearing date the [blank] which certificate, on or about the 11th day of August, 1869, at Greenville, Ky. destroyed by fire in the Law Office of Joseph Ricketts with which it was deposited as agent. Said Law Office being that day destroyed with all its contents. She requests a new cert. to be issued and sent to her agent Joseph Ricketts at Greenville, Ky.
My Post Office address is Rochester, Butler County, Ky.
Mary (her x mark) Stinson
Thomas D. Cooper
Also, personally appeared Thomas D. Cooper, who on oath declares that he well knows Mary Stinson, who has executed the foregoing affidavit, to be the identical pensioner named therein.
Thomas D. Cooper
Sworn to and subscribed before me, the day and year aforesaid, the contents being first made known, and I certify that the affiants are persons of veracity.
Joseph Ricketts
Notary Public

State of Kentucky, County of Muhlenberg, SS:
I, Thos. Bruce, Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, certify that Joseph Ricketts is a Notary Public, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the 26 day of Jan., 1869, and will expire on the 26 day of Jan., 1873, and that his signature above written is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court this 10 day of Nov., 1869.
Thos. Bruce, Clk.

STATE OF KENTUCKY,}
Muhlenberg County}
I hereby state that my law office in Greenville, Ky., was destroyed by fire on the 11th of August, 1869, and with it the Pension Certificate of Mary Stinson, No. [blank] which was deposited with me as the Agent of said Pensioner.
Joseph Ricketts
Sworn to and subscribed before me, by Joseph Ricketts, the contents being first made known, this 10 day of Nov. 1869.
W.H. Yort[?] Jr.

STATE OF KENTUCKY,}
Muhlenberg County}
I, Thos. Bruce, Clerk of the County Court of the County and State above named, certify that W.H. Yort Jr. is a Notary Public duly commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the 7 day of March 1868, and will expire on the 7 day of March 1872 and that his signature above written is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said County Court, this the 10 day of Nov. 1869.
Thos. Bruce, Clk.

Declaration for Pension or for Increase of Pension of Children Under Sixteen years of Age.
State of Arkansas, County of Scott, ss:
On this 28th day of February A.D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one personally appeared before me, T.M. Duncan, Clerk of the Circuit Court, a Court of Record within and for the County and State aforesaid, John C. and William H. Stinson, resident of Cauthron, County of Scott, State of Ark., aged 40 & 38 years, respectively, who, being duly sworn according to law, make the following declaration in order to obtain the pension provided by Act of Congress for children under sixteen years of age. That they are the legitimate children of James A. Stinson, who enlisted under the name of James A. Stinson at Paradise, Ky., on or about the 15 day of Sept. A.D. 1861 in Co. I, 11 Regt. Ky. Vol. in the war of the rebellion, who died while in service in line of duty contracted yellow jaundice from which he died in hospital at Battle Creek on or about the 7 day of Aug. A.D. 1862 and who bore at the time of his death the rank of private, in aforesaid service, that he left a widow surviving who was stepmother to said children and who drew pension for herself under Crtf. number [blank] but did not draw for children, that the above named are the only surviving legitimate children of James A. Stinson who were under sixteen years of age at the time of his death, of whom [blank] that said children were the issue of soldier, as follows, the dates of their birth being as hereinafter stated:
Jno. C. Stinson, of soldier by Sarah J. Stinson, his wife, born Aug. 23, 1850.
Wm. H. Stinson, of soldier by Sarah J. Stinson, his wife, born Oct. 23, 1852.
That the mother was married under the name of Sarah J. Chappel to Jas. A. Stinson, there being no legal barrier to such marriage; that the said children have not aided or abetted the rebellion; and that a prior application has been filed by children's stepmother who drew pension under Certificate Number [blank] that declarants hereby appoint, with full power of substitution and revocation, Soule & Co. of Washington, D.C. their attorneys to prosecute the above claim; that their post office address is Cauthron, Ark.
John C. Stinson
William H. Stinson
H.N. Smith
S.K. Duncan, Jr.

Also personally appeared H.N. Smith residing at Waldron, Scott Co., Ark., and S.K. Duncan, Jr., residing at Waldron, Scott Co., Ark., persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, [illegible] duly sworn according to law, say that they were present and saw John C. Stinson and William H. Stinson the claimants sign their names to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe from appearance of said claimants and their acquaintance with them, that they are the identical persons they represent themselves to be; and that they have no interest in this claim.
H.N. Smith
S.K. Duncan, Jr.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 28th day of February 1891 and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration &c were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing, including all the words erased, and all the words added; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim.
Thomas M. Duncan
Clerk Circuit Court

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