Analysis of Confederate Widow's Pension: Mary Jane Riggins Sweat

Back in January, I looked at the Confederate Veteran's pension application for Roland Sweat, the brother of my maternal 3rd great grandfather. This morning, I was spending a little time going back over my sources when I came across the widow's pension application for his widow, Mary Jane Riggins Sweat.

The first page has the front piece of what appears to be a brochure-like package. On it we learn that she was living in Pierce County and the widow of Roland Sweat. Her application was approved on 17 March 1897 and the warrant issued two days later.Also on the first page is a power of attorney. It appears she granted William A Wright (who was also power of attorney for Roland) power to receive her pension and send it to her. The page is signed, but there is also an x indicated as her mark so it appears she wasn't literate.

The second page has the widow's affidavit. In this document, we learn that she is the widow of Roland Sweat, who she married on 14 February 1859 and stayed with until his death on 8 May 1896.

It notes that he was a resident of Pierce County at the time of his death and receiving a pension of $100 for his disability. A description of the disability and its effects follow. It basically reiterates what is on his application-a shot through the left hip and a head wound which caused a disease that grew progressively worse until his death.

The affidavit ends with her statement that she is a resident of Pierce County and has been since 9 March 1857. This is also signed with her mark and her signature. This time, there is another signature next to hers, a JD Summerall, which later pages indicate is the county ordinary.

Pages three and four duplicate the first two pages. Page five has the affidavit of three witnesses, the physician's affidavit and the certificate of the ordinary where the applicant lives. The three witnesses were John Cleland, JA Harper and John Aldridge. The latter two names are familiar as they were witnesses on Roland's application.

They state that they know Mary Jane and knew Roland prior to his death. The writing is difficult to read, but it appears the first two served with Roland during the War. The last guy just certifies that their statements are true.

The physician's affidavit is the statement of two physicians. One, WP Williams, was also on Roland's application. The other is JE Goche(?). They state that they knew Roland and reiterate his death date. Then they talk about his injuries and their effects.

The certificate of the ordinary states that he is familiar with Mary Jane and to his knowledge, she has resided continuously in Georgia since 15 January 1873. He also certifies that the witnesses are truthful men.

Page six is a copy of page five. Page seven appears to be two recertification of her original application. The first is dated 7 January 1898 and the second 9 January 1899.

Page nine has the certification statements for the documents on page eight. Pages eight through fifteen have her recertifications for 1900 through 1907. The warrants were issued on 24 January 1900, 14 Jan 1901.13 February 1902, 2 March 1903, 9 March 1904, 28 February 1905, 26 January 1906 and 31 January 1907 respectively. JD Summerall remains the ordinary and William A Wright holds power of attorney through all the recertifications.

Page sixteen, the final page, is a letter written to Richard Johnson of Atlanta, GA. The letter is written on the letterhead of JD Summerall, Ordinary of Pierce County, and dated 2 February 1897. The letter explains that the application of Mary Jane Sweat, widow of Roland Sweat, is enclosed. It reminds Mr Johnson that Roland had his own pension prior to his death and urges him to consider the widow's pension favorably as she is in very needy circumstances.

Notes:

• It is interesting that the date Mary Jane Riggins Sweat gives as the start of her residence in Pierce County does not match the date given by the ordinary JD Summerall as the start of her residence in Georgia. She states that she has been in Pierce County since 9 March 1857. The ordinary says she has been in Georgia since 15 January 1873. It's possible that the ordinary did not meet Mary Jane until that date, thus that was the first of his knowledge of her residence.
• Richard Johnson also appeared in Roland Sweat's pension package. He was listed as Secretary of Executive Department, and also served as Roland's power of attorney at one point. On Mary Jane's original application, it lists Richard as Secretary of Executive Department. Mary Jane's later pension applications (recertifications) show John W Lindsey, who is noted as Commissioner of Pensions.
• It is interesting that the widow's pension goes only through 1907. Mary Jane passed away in 1923. I will have to do some digging to see if her pension stopped in 1907 or continued on until the time of her death.

Sources:

Georgia's Virtual Vault, Confederate pension Applications 1879-1960 [database and images online], Record ID USAMILCONFEDGA_184974-00146. Georgia Archives

Analysis of Confederate Pension Application: Roland Sweat

Roland Sweat was a brother to my maternal 3rd great grandfather, John Franklin Sweat, Jr. His Confederate Pension Application consists of seven pages.

On the first page, we learn that he applied in 1895 while living in Blackshear, Pierce County, Georgia. His disability is listed as total. His application was approved 22 Apr 1895 and he was granted a pension of $100 per year. Also on the first page, we see that he granted a power of attorney to Richard Johnson of Atlanta, Georgia. This document was signed 6 Feb 1895.

On the second page, is the actual application. Here we learn that he was a citizen and resident of Georgia continuously since 1 Jul 1845. He enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private in H Company, 26th Regiment of the Infantry Volunteers, Gordon's Brigade. He was wounded at the Battle of Winchester on 17 Aug 1863. His disability is listed as a gunshot wound to his leg, nearly severing it in two. He also states that on 28 May 1863, he sustained a gunshot wound to his head, which resulted in pressure on his skull when he exerts himself and destroyed his mind. He is also weakened with nervousness and is unable to work.

The third page contains affidavits by witnesses and a physician. The three witnesses were Holliday Sauls, JA Harper and John Aldridge. Holliday Sauls states that he served as a private with Roland Sweat in the same unit and certifies that the applicant was wounded in the head on 18 May 1863 during the Battle of Cold Rain. A second wound, an injury to the hip, occurred on 17 Aug following the Battle of Winchester. He finishes by stating that Sweat is completely disabled and unable to work due to his wounds.

JA Harper states that he served in the same regiment and brigade as the applicant, but in a different company (E). His statement pretty much mirrors that statement of Holliday Sauls with one exception. He states that Roland served in Company F.

Like JA Harper, John Aldridge served in a different company (D) than Roland. Rather than get into details, he simply agrees with the statement of the two previous witnesses. He also states that Roland served in Company F.

Two physicians were JL Smith and WP Williams. They state that he was infirmed by the injury to the head, which caused insensability, which resembled an epileptic stroke. Overexertion brings on these attacks. They are satisfied that he is unable to do manual labor. No mention is made of the leg injury.

The fourth page is another power of attorney document. This one grants William A Wright of Fulton County power of attorney. This is part of the 1896 Soldiers Pension Packet.

The next page is difficult to read. It appears to be a handwritten letter to Richard Johnson of Atlanta, Georgia and is on the letterhead of the Pierce County Court of Ordinary. From what I was able to make out, it seems that Roland neglected to answer questions regarding his service. In the letter, it is stated that Roland's mental condition is bad and he has very little memory. The letter closes with a statement that his physical condition is on par with his mental condition.

On the right side of the page appears to be what is probably a reapplication for pension. It's much briefer than the original application. His disability is listed only as wounded in head and hip. On the section that discusses his service, he is listed as in the same regiment and brigade, but his company changed from H to F.

The next page consists of two letters. The one on the left side is to Richard Johnson of Atlanta, Georgia from the Ordinary, presumably the same the appeared in the previous page. It in response to a letter from Richard Johnson, shown on the right side of the page. It is dated 24 Apr 1895 and states that he finds Roland Sweat totally disabled. He also thanks Mr. Johnson for approving the submitted claim.

The letter from Richard Johnson states that he finds Roland Sweat disabled, but he is unable to determine whether he is partially or totally disabled. He also states that the nurses almost say he is totally disabled. He asks for the opinion of the ordinary.

The final page consists of two letters on the letterhead of the Pierce County Court of Ordinary. Both letters are written to Richard Johnson. Both are dated 6 Feb 1895. The first states that Roland is in the condition he claims to be. The ordinary claims he has known him for 20 years. He implores Mr. Johnson to do as best as he can for the old man. From the way the letter is written, it appears that the ordinary was a friend or close acquaintance.

The second letter is from the representative of Pierce County. It talks about Roland's service and condition. It also states that in his opinion, the application is worthy of approval.

Notes:

• Four variations of his first name appear in the pension applications. These are Roland, Rowland, Rolland and Rowen.  On one document, his name is signed Rowen. However, a later one has his signature in another person's hand beside his mark. The names are written by various hands throughout the applications.
• After researching the Battle of Winchester, it appears there may have been a mistake with the date. There were three Battles of Winchester. The first was fought 25 May 1862, the second 13-15 Jun 1863 and the third 19 Sept 1864.
• I was unable to find a reference to the Battle of Cold Rain. 
• It isn't clear whether the Richard Johnson, who was granted power of attorney by Roland Sweat on the first page, and the Richard Johnson, of the letters later in the pension application paperwork, are the same individual. Looking at the front page of the pension application packet, it appears there is a Richard Johnson listed as Secretary Executive Department. This may be the same individual as the one that is found in the letters.

Source:
Georgia's Virtual Vault, Confederate pension Applications 1879-1960 [database and images online], Record ID USAMILCONFEDGA_184974-00163. Georgia Archives