Scott County Arkansas
Civil War Pension File
JOHN R TATE
By his mother, Lurilla L. Tate
Contributed by Sandy Conant
No. 276836
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873
Lurilla L. Tate
Blue Ball, Scott Co., Ark
Mother of
John R. Tate
Sergt. Co. A 4th Ark. Vol.
Oct 1, 1880 S.H. Barnett, clerk
Application filed: Aug 4, 1880
Attorney: Geo. E. Lemon
Declaration for Original Pension of a Mother
Must be executed before a court of record or some officer thereof having
custody of its seal.
If executed before a notary public or justice of the peace it will be
worthless, and a new one will be required.
State of Arkansas, County of Sebastian
On this 10th day of July, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty____
( blank )____ personally appeared before me, clerk of the Circuit Court
the same being a court of record within and for the County and State
aforesaid, Lurilla L. Tate aged 63 years, a resident of Scott County
in the state of Arkansas, lives in the County 4 miles from Blue Ball P.O.
who, being duly sworn according to law, makes the following declaration
in order to obtain the pension provided by Acts of Congress granting
pensions to dependent mothers, to wit: That she is the Widow of William
Tate and mother of John R. Tate who volunteered under the name of John R.
Tate at Waldron, on the 5th day of December, A.D. 1863 as a Sergeant in
Company A, Fourth Arkansas infantry commanded by Ira D. Bronson (Captain)
war 1861-5 who died with the measles on the 4th day of September, A.D.
1864 at Little Rock Ark and who bore at the time of his death the rank
of Sergeant in Company A Fourth Arkansas infantry volunteers that said
son John R. Tate left neither widow nor child under sixteen years of age
surviving; that she was in part dependent upon said son for support;
that her husband, the aforesaid William Tate, aged 42 years, is Dead,
Killed April 3rd 1864 that she is still a widow of the aforesaid William
Tate, I am still the widow of William Tate-have never Married that there
were surviving, at date of son's death, his brothers and sisters, as
follows:
Thomas W. Tate, born 1846
Mary E. Tate, born 1850
JM Tate, born 1852
HM Tate, born 1854
Sarah J. Tate, born 1857
Benj. R. Tate, born 1860
that she has not in any manner engaged in, aided, or abetted the
rebellion in the United States: that no applications have ever been
made until the present time.
She hereby appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation,
George E. Lemon, of Washington D.C., her true and lawful Attorney, to
prosecute her claim; that the Post Office address is Blue Ball Scott
County Arkansas
Lurilla L. Tate, Signature of Claimant
Read Carefully! In order for the mother or father of a deceased soldier
to obtain the benefits of the Pension Law it must be shown in evidence
that the father (if living at the date of the son's death) was
physically or mentally incapacitated to provide a full support for
himself and family in the last year of the son's life and since his
death.
State of _________, County of __________
In the pension claim of Lurilla L Tate mother of John R. Tate A 4th Ark
Inf Waldron Scott County Arkansas December 9th 1880, I hereby testify
that I am a physician of 30 years standing and that I was a soldier in
the 4th Ark recruits afterward attached to the 2nd Reg Ark Vol and that
I was acting hospital steward of said recruits and that Sergt John R.
Tate died in the hospital at Little Rock on or about the 4th of Sept
1864, cause relapse of measles.
Signed Elijah Leming M.D.
If the Custodian of the Assessment Records has no Seal, he must make
oath to his statement.
State of Arkansas, County of Scott
In the pension claim of Lurilla L Tate, mother of John R. Tate from A
4th Ark Inf
I James C. Gilbreath, circuit clerk of the County of Scott, in the
State of Arkansas do hereby certify that I have carefully examined
the Records of Assessments of real and personal property in and for
said County, and of which I an the lawful custodian, and find the
assessments and valuations therein recorded against property standing
in the name of Lurilla L Tate for the years hereinafter designated,
to be as follows, to wit:
Year---Real Estate. Description---Value---Personal Property---Value
1864...no assessment......................... no assessment
1865...no assessment......................... no assessment
1866..N1/2SEandSWNE7-3-26..........400.......two horses..........75
1867.....".........................200........no assessment
1868.....".........................200...1 horse 50 other prop 140...190
1869.....".........................240...personal property........80
1870.....".........................360.........."................280
1871.....".........................288.........."................270
1872.....".........................360.........."................256
1873.....".........................234.........."................170
1874.....".........................320.........."................170
1875.....".........................330.........."................222
1876.....".........................320..........".................94
1877...no assessment.................................no assessment
1878...no assessment.................................no assessment
1879...no assessment.................................no assessment
1880...no assessment.................................no assessment
And I further certify that no assessments appear during the foregoing
period except as above set forth; and that the average rate of the above
enumerated assessments is upon the basis of full of the fair cash value
of the property assessed.
And I further certify that I have no interest in this claim for pension,
and that I am not concerned in its prosecution.
Witness my hand and official seal this 18th day of January A.D. 1881
J. C. Gilbreath, clerk, Circuit Court Scott County Arkansas
State of Arkansas County of Scott
I J. C. Gilbreath, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex-Officio county
Clerk within and for the County of Scott in the State of Arkansas, do
certify that all the record books and papers of my office were destroyed
by fire on the 22nd day of May 1882.
Signed 15th day of July 1883 J.C. Gilbreath, clerk, Scott Co., Ark
Department of the Interior, Pension Office November 15th, 1882
Sir: You are respectfully requested to furnish official evidence of
the enrollment, muster, service, duty, and discharge or death of John
R. Tate in Company "A", 4th Regiment of Ark. Vols, reported died at
Little Rock Ark. Sep. 4th, 1864.
If the above name is not found on the rolls of said Company will you
so state, and report as to enrollment, etc., in the case of any man
bearing a similar name, whom you have good reason for believing to be
the soldier inquired for.
Please, also, to furnish any evidence on file that may enable this
Office to decide whether the soldier's death resulted from injuries
received or disease contracted in the service and line of duty.
Full military history of Soldier is desired. Please return this
circular with your report. Claim No. 276.8.36
Very respectfully, Wm Dudley, Commissioner
General Affidavit
State of____________, County of___________
In the matter of Pension-Mrs. Lurilla L. Tate, Mother of Jns. R.
Tate-A-4th Ark.
Personally came before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for aforesaid
County and State of Ark. J.J. Tate, aged 45 years, and Martha J. Prewit,
aged 50 years, whose respective Post-Office addresses are as follows
Blue Ball County of Scott, State of Arkansas, and Blue Ball County of
Scott, State of Arkansas, and who, being duly sworn, declare-
That we have been personally well acquainted with the applicant
Lurilla L. Tate and have been acquainted with her for thirty-five
years and have been personally acquainted with her since (1864) and
know her to be the Identical Person she represents herself to be and
know her to be the mother of John R. Tate and we further know her to
now be loyal to the U.S. Government and that She have been since the
war commenced and the reason why we know her to be and has been Loyal,
we know that she was robed (sp) of nearly all she possessed in the time
of the war by the Rebel army on account of her Loyalty and we further
declare that we have no interest in said case, and are not concerned
in its prosecution.
Signed Martha J. Prewit and J.J. Tate (his mark)
Witnesses Thomas J. Tate and W.A. Morris
General Affidavit
State of Arkansas, County of Scott
In the matter of Pension Claim of Lurilla L Tate, mother of John R.
Tate Co. A "4" Ark Inf.
Personally came before me, a Justice of the peace in and for aforesaid
County and State, Jacob P. Tate, 46 years of age: Blue Ball Scott County
Arkansas and Joseph Prewit 35 years of age Blue Ball Scott County
Arkansas persons of lawful age, who being duly sworn, declare in
relation to aforesaid case as follows:
We are well acquainted with Lurilla L Tate applicant for invalid
Pension of John R. Tate Private of Company A (4) Ark Infantry
Volunteers and have been acquainted with her for the past twenty-five
years and we know her to be the identical person that she represents
herself to be and that she is now living and that she has no means of
support of her own as she is at the present time living with her
children and we further know that as to her personal property or
real estate-She has no personal property nor has not had for many
years and as to Real Estate she only held her dower which was very
small it not being sufficient to support her and we further know that
she has been unable to support her self since the death of her Son and
we further know that John R. Tate enlisted in Company A (4) Regiment
Arkansas Infantry Volunteers and further know that the records the
county of Scott and State of Arkansas have been destroyed twice by fire
therefore the Assessment of her property cannot be furnished. We further
declare that we have no interest in said case, and are not concerned
in its prosecution.
Signed Jacob P. Tate and Joseph Prewit (his mark)
Witnesses W.M. Taylor
General Affidavit
State of ________, County of __________
In the matter of Pension Claim of Lurilla L. Tate, mother John R. Tate
Co. A, "4" Ark.
We the undersigned Citizens and householders in the County of Scott
and State of Arks. do hereby certify that we have been personally
well acquainted with Lurilla L. Tate mother of John R. Tate applicant
for Pension. We know her to be the identical person she represents
herself to be we have known her for the past twenty five years and we
have been personally well acquainted with her all this time and all
through the war. And we know that her means of support has been by
her own labor and the labor of her children and her means of support
was through and by these means until in the year A.D. 1877 when her
youngest daughter married. Since that time she has been living with
her children having broke up house-keeping. Our means of knowing
this is we have lived near her all the time or near so we further
know that she has not had any other means of support only as here
stated and we further know that during a part of this time her means
was very scant having a large family of children and most of them small
at the close of the war having been robed (sp) of all she had during
the war by the meandering rebel bushwhackers until it was nearly
impossible for her to live atal.
We further declare that we have no interest in said case, and are not
concerned in its prosecution.
Signed Joseph Prewit (his mark) and Jacob P. Tate
Witnesses Thomas J. Tate and M.L. Hourck
General Affidavit
State of Arkansas, County of Scott
In the matter of Pension Claim of Lurilla L. Tate, mother of John R.
Tate Co A 4th Ark Inf.
Personally came before me, a Justice of the Peace, in and for
aforesaid County and State, W. M. Taylor of the County of Scott and
State of Arkansas person of lawful age, who being duly sworn, declare
in relation to aforesaid case as follows:
I have been well (well crossed out) acquainted with the claimant
Lurilla L Tate mother of John R. Tate and was acquainted with her
husband William Tate in his lifetime, my acquaintance being ever since
the year 1852 and was acquainted with him until his death in the year
1864. He was killed in the month of April 1864 and all the time of my
acquaintance with (him) he was an able bodied man and had no disability
that I know of he being a laboring man all the time I was acquainted
with him his occupation being a farmer, his age was according (to)
recall was forty two (years) old at his death and I am satisfied that
his widow has not married since his death and that she is still a widow
and is now getting very old. As to the assessment of the real & personal
estate of her husband, it cannot be given as the Record of the Clerks
office has been burned twice and therefore cannot be given. There was
no income devisable in the year 1864 from his labor for he was dead and
therefore nothing could be devised. My Post office address is Blue Ball,
Scott County Arkansas and I am in no way Related to the claimant and I
further declare that I have no interest in said case, and I am not
concerned in its prosecution.
Signed, W.M. Taylor
General Affidavit
State of Arkansas, County of Scott
In the matter of Pension Claim of Lurilla L. Tate, mother of John R.
Tate, late Co. A 4th Ark Inf
Personally came before me, a (blank) in and for the aforesaid County
and State, William M. Taylor aged (blank) years and F.W. Pollard aged
(blank) years, whose respective Post office addresses are County of
Scott state of Arkansas, and Scott Co. State of Arkansas persons of
lawful age, who being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid
case as follows:
This is to testify that We William M. Taylor and F.W. Pollard citizens
of the County of Scott and State of Arkansas States that we were well
acquainted with William Tate, husband of the applicant for Pension,
Lurilla L. Tate and that we know her to be the Identical Person she
represents herself to be and further that we were well acquainted
with the said William Tate in his lifetime and that we know him to
be dead and our means of knowing the same is that we saw him after
death and before burial and further that we were well acquainted with
her son John R. Tate in his lifetime and that we have been well
acquainted with the family for the last twenty two years and further
that our Post office address is Blue Ball in the county of Scott and
State of Arkansas and that we have no interest in the Prosecution of
the claim for Pension nor in any way related to the Party this
January 31st 1881.
Signed W.M. Taylor and F.W. Pollard
General Affidavit
State of _______, County of______
In the matter of Claim of Lurilla L. Tate, mother of John R. Tate
Co A 4th Ark Vols
Personally came before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for aforesaid
County and State, Jonathan Hunt, aged 38 years, and William M. Taylor,
aged 34 years, whose respective Post-Office addresses are as follows
Blue Ball County of Scott, State of Arkansas, and ________County of
Scott State of Arkansas, and who, being duly sworn, declare in
relation to aforesaid case as follows:
That we have been well and personally acquainted with Mrs Lurilla L
Tate and her family for the past twenty-two years; that they knew
her son John R. Tate the soldier; that he was unmarried and left
neither widow nor minor children surviving him; that said son worked
for support of his mother prior to his enlistment and such labor
was actually necessary for her Comfort; that since his death, she
has not been able to provide sufficient support for herself. They
further declare that they have no interest in said case, and are not
concerned in its prosecution.
Signed Jonathan Hunt and W.M. Taylor
War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, Dec 8th, 1883
Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions.
John R. Tate, a privt of Company "A", 4th Regiment Arks Inft Volunteers,
was enrolled on the 5th day of Dec, 1863, at Waldron, Arks for 3 yrs,
mustered in at Little Rock Arks July 25th 1864.
Roll dated Aug 31/64, Sergt present, consolidated transfer roll of
said Co. to Co. "I" 2nd Ark Infty, dated Oct. 25/64 reports he died
in Regt Hosp at Little Rock Ark. Sept 4/64.
Name John R. Tate not born on rolls of Co on file in this office.
Final statement shows him Died Sept 4, 1864. The records of this
office do not show cause of death. The records of this office afford
no further information as to date place or cause of death than is
stated on company rolls and final statement.
Assistant Adjutant General, (signature unreadable)
Department of the Interior, Pension Office, Washington D.C. Dec 15, 1883
Claim No. 276.836, has been filed in this office by Lurilla L. Tate,
as mother of John R. Tate, who was a Sergt in Co "A" 4th Regt Ark.
Vols and is alleged to have died Sept 4, 1864. Will you please to
furnish, with the return of this circular, a copy of such evidence
as may be in your possession relative to celibacy of soldier, his
relationship to the claimant, his age, the immediate cause of his
death, and to whom arrears of pay and bounty were allowed and by
whom claimed.
Very respectfully, Wm W. Dudley, Commissioner.
(The following written in Dr. Leming's own hand)
Waldron Ark. Feb 19th 1884
Wm W. Dudley, Com of Pensions, Dear Sir, your note of 12th to hand,
The Tate family and myself were neighbors before the war. John R. Tate
and Thomas W. Tate and me went out together and enlisted in the 4th
Ark Inft recruits. Bassel Blanchard acted as surgeon and myself as
hospital steward. Dr Blanchard drank considerable and I had to
attend the soldiers. I attended John R. Tate clostly but am not
in possession of the records of the hospital but at the time that
I signed the affidavit in question Lurilla Tate, mother of John R.
Tate was present with a letter from Thomas W. Tate recording the
death of his deceased brother exactly and she is here now and I
know the facts contained in said affidavit by clost personal
observation. I remain your most obet servant
Elijah Leming, late hospt steward 4th Ark Inft recruits, now
president of the Board of Medical Examiners for Scott Co., Ark.
(The following is written in Lurilla Tate's own hand)
Blue Ball, Scott County Arkansas March 17 (1884)
Mr Wm W. Dudley Dear Sir I have just received your letter of
instruction in regard to the prosecution of my claim for Mothers
Pension for my son John R. Tate who was a Sergt in Company A: 4th
Arkansas volun for which I have been working through my attorney
in Washington DC and now in answer to your request will say that
I have furnished Evidence after Evidence in Support of my claim
that I can Possible. As to the assessment of my property Personal
or real cannot be given before stated to my attorney for the reason
that the same has been burned and cannot be given and by referring
to George E. Lemons, my attorney you can obtain the Evidence I have
made. All the evidence that I can and had the Justice of the
Peace's ________ certified by the clerk of the county and now I will
say to you that I have done all in my power to get up the evidence
in support of my claim. I am now getting very old and very feeble
in my old days. I am very much Disabled at times with Rheumatism
and now I am willing to take the chance for Pension and if I am not
entitled to Pension I do not want anything unless I an entitled.
I cannot make any stronger Evidence in my claim that the Evidence
I have already furnished. I have been sworn time and again also
have had my witnesses sworn as directed by my attorney. And now
if I am not entitled under the Law with the Evidence furnished
inform me at once. And if I an entitled I ask you as an honest
and honorable man allow or disallow.
Enclosed you will find the blank Evidence you sent me in the care
of Dr. E. Leming of Waldron which he forwarded to me. And I am now
answering in the close, I will Say Please answer this as soon as you
can and let me know what can be done. My Post Office Address is
Blue Ball, Scott County, Arkansas. Please write immediately,
yours as ever. (signed) Lurilla L. Tate
State of Arkansas, County of Scott
On this day personally appeared before me a, Justice of the Peace in
and for the county and state aforesaid, Lurilla L. Tate, of the County
of Scott and State of Arkansas, and stated under oath that the reason
why she is unable to furnish evidence of those not related to her is
that near all those living near her at the time of her sons enlistment
have either died, moved away or was killed by bushwhackers during the
war. There being none living in this county who are acquainted with
the facts but what is in some way related to her. This is the reason
why she has not furnished the evidence as required by the department.
(signed) Lurilla L Tate, this July 28th 1885, B.L. Watson, J.P.
State of Arkansas, County of Scott, Blue Ball PO October, 20th A.D.
(1884)
I Lurilla L. ate, mother of John R. Tate Com A, 4th Arkansas. My post
office address is Blue Ball in the County of Scott and State of Arkansas.
Now I, Lurilla L. Tate, make this affidavit in support of my claim for
pension of my son John R. Tate who died in the United States service:
now I certify that my post office is Blue Ball, Scott County, Arkansas
and that my post office in the year A.D. (1864) was Olio Scott County
Arkansas and continued so until the year A.D. (1875) at which time it
was changed to Blue Ball and my post office address has never been
changed since, there being only one change in my post office address
since the year A.D. (1864) to the present date and I further certify
that the following named children were then members of my family in
the year A.D. 1864.
Thomas W. Tate was born in (1846) on the 10th of November
Mary E. Tate was born in 1850 on the 17th of January
Jacob M. Tate was born in 1852 on the 6th of April
Henry M. Tate was born in 1854 on the 9th of April
Sarah J. Tate was born in 1857 on the 31st of May
Benjamin R. Tate was born in 1860 on the 6th of June
And that no person has been legally bound to support me and that my
actual residence has ever been in Scott County in the State of Arkansas
in the year A.D. (1864) to the present time.
Witness by (signed) Thomas J. Tate
(signed) Lurilla L. Tate
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 20th day of October A.D. (1884)
and I hereby certify that the contents of the foregoing affidavit
were fully made known and explained to the applicant before swearing
thereto, John A. Taylor, Justice of the Peace
Affidavit of Lurilla L Tate.
I Lurilla L. Tate late an applicant for Pension of John R. Tate and his
mother Do Solemnly swear or affirm that I am the lawful mother of John
R. Tate and that I never received any letters from John R. Tate, my son,
while in the service of the United States Army nor anything pertaining
toward a support until after the war ended when I made application for
his pay and bounty which I received-given under my hand this March 8th
A.D. 1886
(signed) Lurilla L. Tate
Sworn and subscribed to before me this March the 8th 1886,
T. W. Tate, J.P.
War of the Rebellion Dependent Mothers Pension
Claimant-Lurilla L. Tate, P.O. Blue Ball, County-Scott, State-Ark
Soldier-John R. Tate, Rank- Sergeant, Co.- "A", Regiment- 4th Ark. Vol.
Rate, $8.00, Commencing Aug. 4th, 1880, the date of filing declaration,
and $12.00 from March 19, 1886
Recognized Attorney, Name Geo. E. Lemon, PO Washington D.C. fee-$25.00
($10.00 paid) Articles filed Aug 30, 1884
Submitted for Adm. May 4th 1886, John H. Howell, Examiner
Approvals-Approved for allowance; Soldier died in service, dependence
accepted May 21 1886
Important dates
Enlisted Dec 5th, 1863
Died Sept 4th, 1864
Declaration filed Aug 4th, 1880
Death of father April 3rd, 1864
U.S. Pension Agency, Knoxville, Tenn Oct 31, 1893
Sir, I hereby report that the name of Lurilla L Tate, who was a
pensioner on the rolls of this Agency, under Certificate No. 222.909,
and who was last paid $12, to 4 Feb, 1891, has been dropped because of
death.
Very respectfully, Wm Rule, Pension Agent.
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