No. 9204

Name Helen S. Pittman
Filed Oct. 1, 1928
Widow of Jno. H. Pittman
7 Tenn Cav

Died Sept. 5, 1934

Married 10 Jul 1898 in Crockett Co., TN

FILE IS STAMPED Accepted

STATE OF TENNESSEE
Crockett County

Helen Samantha Pittman of said State and County, desiring to avail herself of the Pension allowed to Indigent Widows of Soldiers, under Act of General Assembly, approved April, 1905, being Chapter 202 of the Acts of 1905; Chapter 103, Acts of 1909; and Chapter 7, Acts of 1911, hereby submits her proofs, and after begin duly sworn true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows:

1. What is your full name and where do you reside? (Give State, County and Postoffice.)
ANSWER: Helen Samantha Pittman, Fruitvale, Crocket County, Tennessee

2. How long and since when have you been a resident of this State?
ANSWER: All my life (75 years)

3. When and where were you born and what was your maiden name?
ANSWER: Jackson, Madison County, Tennessee, March 4, 1853. Helen Samantha Cozart

4. When and where was your husband born -- state his full name, and when and where were you and he married, and who performed the marriage ceremony? (Attach certified copy marriage license in every case.)
ANSWER: Sept. 19, 1843, Cageville (now Alamo) Haywood County (now Crockett County) Tenn. John Henry Pittman, married at Bells, Crockett County, Tenn, July 10, 1898

5. When and where and in what Company and Regiment did you husband enlist or serve during the war between the States?
ANSWER: Company F 7th Tennessee Cav. I think he enlisted in 1861 or 1862 from Haywood County, Tenn.

6. How long did your husband serve in said Company and Regiment?
ANSWER: 3 years

7. When and where did your husband's Company and Regiment surrender?
ANSWER: Do not know. I think he was in Mississippi, at the time he came home.

8. Was your husband present at the time and place when his Company and Regiment surrendered?
ANSWER: Don't know

9. If not with his command at surrender state clearly and specifically where he was when he left command, for what cause and by what authority?
ANSWER: I think he was taken ill and given a furlough just before his Company surrendered.

10. Was your husband a pensioner or an applicant for pension, under the laws of Tennessee?
ANSWER: No

11. Have you heretofore applied for a pension in this State?
ANSWER: No

12. When and where did your husband die?
ANSWER: Fruitvale, Tenn. Dec. 21, 1923

13. At the time of your husband's death, were you living with him as his lawful wife?
ANSWER: Yes

14. Have you married since the death of your soldier husband?
ANSWER: No

15. How many children did you have by your said husband? Give sex and age at this time.
ANSWER: Not any. I first married James Bunyan Pittman in 1869. He died in 1894. I have one daughter Maud Pittman Jackson, by my first husband. After his death I married his brother the above named John Henry Pittman. Both of them were soldiers for the Confederacy during the war between the States.

16. What property, real or personal, or income do you have or possess, and its gross value?
ANSWER: I have only a life estate (homestead) in thirty (30) acres of land in the 1st Civil Dist. of Crockett County, Tenn. Gross value $1000.00. Rents for $100.00 annually. No other property whatever, and no other income.

17. What property, real or personal, did you possess at death of husband or did he leave you, and what disposition, if any, by sale or gift, have you made of the same?
ANSWER: Nothing but this farm two or three head of stock, and the household furniture. Had nothing to give away, and have had to make my home with my daughter said Maud Jackson for more than eight years.

18. Have you a family? If so, who composes such family? Give their means of support? Have they any lands or other property?
ANSWER: None

19. Name some friend, giving his name and postoffice address, who will be willing to have us write to him about your case, if neccessary
ANSWER: J. B. Avery, Alamo, Tennessee

(Signed) Helen Samantha Pittman

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 17th day of September 1928
R. N. Raines, Notary Public
of Crockett County

STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett County

Moses W. Medlin of the said State and County, having been presented as a witness in support of the application of Mrs. Helen Samantha Pittman for a Pension under Chapter 202, Acts of 1905, Chapter 18, Acts of 1909; and Chapter 7, Acts of 1911, and after being duly sworn true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows:

1. What is your name and where do you reside?
ANSWER: Moses W. Medlin, Bells, Crockett County, Tennessee, RFD #1

2. Are you acquainted with the applicant, Mrs. Helen Samantha Pittman
ANSWER: Yes

If so, how long have you known her?
ANSWER: Since infancy

3. Where does she reside, and how long and since when has she been a resident of this State?
ANSWER: Resides with Mrs. Maud Jackson, her mother, Fruitvale, Tenn. Resident of Tennessee all her life.

4. When and where was she born?
ANSWER: Jackson, Madison County, March 4, 1853

5. Were you ever acquainted with her husband?
ANSWER: Yes

6. When and by whom were they married?
ANSWER: J. P. Smothers? ---- ---- July 10, 1898

7. Were either or both of you present at the marriage?
ANSWER: No present, but --- --- their neighbor and knew all about the marriage

8. How long did you know him?
ANSWER: Practically all his life

9. When and where did John Henry Pittman enlist in the war between the States, and in what Company and Regiment did he enlist, and how do you know this?
ANSWER: We enlisted at --- together on the --- day of --- 186-. Co. F, 7th Tenn. Cav. I was with himis my reason for knowng these facts.

10. Were you a member of the same Company and Regiment?
ANSWER: Yes

11. How long did he perform regular military duty?
ANSWER: Three years

12. When and where was his Company and Regiment surrendered?
ANSWER: Same place in Miss. Forgotten

13. Were you with the command when it surrendered?
ANSWER: No

14. Was John Henry Pittman the husband of applicant present?
ANSWER: Detailed to look after the sice

15. If not present, where was he?
ANSWER: Look after the sice

16. When and where did he leave his command? Short while before the command surrendered
For what cause? Personal sickness
By whose authority did he leave? Commanding officer etc.
How do you know all this? (State fully and clearly) I knew him before the war, during the war and after the war. We were reared in the same community - carried to the army at the same time, and returned home about the same time, and I have known him practically all his life. These facts are personally known to me.

17. When and where did John Henry Pittman die?
ANSWER: Fruitvale Tennessee, Dec. 21, 1923

18. Where did he reside at his death and how long had he been a resident of Tennessee at his death?
ANSWER: Fruitvale, Tennessee, and had been a resident of Tenn. all his life

19. Do you of your own knowledge know that applicant is the lawful widow of John Henry Pittman
ANSWER: Yes

20. Has she remained unmarried since her soldier husband's death, and is she now his widow?
ANSWER: Yes - not married since and is now his widow

21. What property, effects or income has the applicant, if any, and how do you know this of your own knowledge?
ANSWER: A very small poor farm. About 30 acres of land worth $1000 in which she only has a homestead interest. No other property of any kind

22. Has applicant conveyed any property in last two years or given any away, if so, what was it and to whom?
ANSWER: No

NOTE -- Let the witness who can answer the greater number of the questions do so; then let the other witness state in the space below how much of the testimony of the first witness he concurs in, and whether or not he can answer any of the questions not answered by the first witness.
ANSWER: _________________

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 18th day of Sept. 1928

M. (his X mark) W. Medlin (witness)
R. N. Raines (Notary Public)

I, E. C. Pittman Trustee of Crockett County, Tennessee, hereby certify that the property assessed on the tax books of this County to Mrs. J. H. Pittman the widow of John Henry Pittman, lots, $32 acres, amounts to $900.00 real estate and $None personal.

E. C. Pittman Trustee
For Crockett County, Tenn.

STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett County

I, R. N. Raines Notary Public, in and for said County, hereby certify that the applicant, Mrs. Helen Samantha Pittman resides in said County, and has been a bona fide resident of this State since the ____ day of All her life, 18____, and that the witnesses, Mr. Moses W. Medlin are of trustworthy character, and that their statements are entitled to full faith and credit.

I do further certify that before answering the foregoing questions, the applicant and said witnesses took the oath herein prescribed, and the full text of the affidavits was read to the applicant and witnesses before the same was signed and subscribed. I also know J. E. Gregory, now a resident of Ark. and he is reliable in every way.

Witness my hand and official seal this 18th day of Sept. 1928

R. N. Raines, Notary Public
Crockett County

Typed letter included in file:

State of Arkansas
County of White

I, J. E. Gregory, of Beebe Ark., Make oath that I have read carefully the entire application for pension of Mrs. Helen Samantha Pittman, and also the witness Moses W. Medlin.

I further make oath that the statements contained therein are true, and known so to be by me personally. I was in the same company to-wit Company "F" 7th Tenn. Cav. and knew John Henry Pittman personally during the war.

I further make oath that I have known both the applicant, Mrs. Helen Samantha Pittman and her husband the said John Henry Pittman practically since infancy, and know the facts stated in the application to be true.

The application was mailed to me after it had been filled out by the applicant and her witness Moses W. Medlin and I have made this statement under oath after carefully examining the application.

(Signed) James E. Gregory

Witness my hand, this Sept. 22, 1928

(Signed) Foster Dabney

Sworn to and subcribed before me, this the 22 day of Sept. 1928.

(Signed) Foster Dabney, Notary Public

Handwritten letter included in file:

Beebe Arkansas, Sept. 22, 1928

This is to certify that I knew Mrs. Helen Samantha (Cozart) Pittman, allso both her husbands James Bunyan & John Henry Pittman. Both Pittman's were the same regiment with me and John Henry was in my Co. F, 7 Tenn Calv. I knew all of them all their lives;

(Signed) James E. Gregory