Five times no.

by Lisa Y. Henderson

SOLDIER’S APPLICATION FOR PENSION

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF SAMPSON  }                 

On this 24 day of July, A.D. 1912, personally appeared before me W.F. Sessoms, C.S.C. in and for the State and County aforesaid, Enos Jacobs, age 67 years, and a resident at Clinton post-office, in said County and State, and who, being duly sworn, makes the following declaration in order to obtain the pension under the provisions of an act entitled “An act for the relief of certain Confederate Soldiers, Sailors and Widows,” ratified March 8, 1907; that he is the identical Enos Jacobs who enlisted in Co. F, 2nd Reg., N.C. State Troops Bat, on or about the [blank] day of [blank], 1863, to serve in the armies of the late Confederate States, and that while in service at [blank] in the State of [blank], on or about [blank] day of April, 1863, he received a wound or wounds, etc. [description] I was a colored work hand at Fort Caswell and Cameron during the war. I threw up breast works rolled sand and dug up turf to put over the sand to keep it from blowing away. I remained in the war until the close. I am old and need help. I can’t get about to do anything scarcely.

He further states: that he is, and has been for twelve months immediately preceding this Application for Pension, a bona fide resident of North Carolina; that he holds no office under the United States, or any State or County, from which he is receiving the sum of three hundred dollars as fees or as salary annually; that he is not worth in his own right, or the right of his wife, property at its assessed value for taxation to the amount of five hundred dollars ($500), or has he disposed of property of such value by gift or voluntary conveyance since the 11th of March, 1885; and that he is not receiving any aid from the State of North Carolina or under any other statue providing for the relief of the maimed and blind soldiers of the State.   Enos X Jacobs

Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 24 day of July, 1912.  /s/ W.F. Sessoms

Also personally appeared before me B.S. Peterson, who resides at Clinton post-office, in said County and State, a person whom I know to be respectable and entitled to credit, and being by me duly sworn, says he acquainted with Enos Jacobs, the applicant for pension, and has every reason to believe that he is the identical person he represents himself to be, and that the facts set forth in this affidavit are correct to the best of his knowledge and belief, and that he has no interest, direct or indirect, in this claim. /s/ B.S. Peterson

Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 24 day of July, 1912.  /s/ W.F. Sessoms

Also personally appeared before me Dr. John A. Stevens a physician in good standing in said County and State and being duly sworn, says that he has carefully and thoroughly examined Enos Jacobs, the applicant for pension, and finds such disability for manual labor as described below, by reason of wounds received while in the discharge of his duty as a soldier or sailor of North Carolina in the service of the late Confederate States. I find it is with great difficulty that he can walk at all. He is a great sufferer with chronic rheumatism. He looks to be much older than herein stated, and shows that he has been a great sufferer from pain. There is a spinal trouble also. The right leg is shrunken & partly paralyzed.   /s/ John A. Stevens, Signature of Physician.

Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 25 day of July, 1912.  /s/ W.F. Sessoms

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Enos Jacobs’ application was disallowed: “Negro Worked on Breastworks.” He applied again on 18 July 1913, stating “I was in the war from 1862 till 1865 the cease of the war. I was a cook Jim Strange of Fayetteville was my capt. I am now old and cant do much work.” A different doctor testified to his rheumatism and a marked “aortic systolic” problem, but noted that he had not been injured in the war. Application disallowed: “Was a Cook.” He applied a third time on 1 July 1918: “Applicant was not wounded, but during this service he caught a cough from which he has never recovered. I was cook for Mr. Walter Draughon and Mr. Buck Peterson.” His doctor noted that he had chronic bronchitis, cataracts in both eyes, and marked arteriosclerosis. Disallowed. He applied a fourth time on 19 June 1915: “I was not wounded in service but I am now old and cant do but very little work. I have Rheumatism badly at time and am blind in one eye. My work in the war was cooking for and waiting on soldiers. I was in service about two years.” Jacobs returned to Dr. Stevens, who itemized his disabilities and added “He is certainly deserving of assistance.” Disallowed. Jacobs applied for the fifth and final time on 11 July 1916: “I was not wounded in the war. I helped throw up breastworks, cut turf and rolled sand, and was sent to the salt works at top sail sound and assisted in making salt for the government. I waited on the white folks generally in the war and cooked some. I am now old and cant do but very little work.” Hardy A. Brewington vouched for his identity, and Dr. Stevens again pled his infirmities. Disallowed: “Not in Army but at Salt Works.”

File of Enos Jacobs, North Carolina Confederate Soldiers and Widows Pension Applications 1885-1953, http://FamilySearch.org. Original, North Carolina State Archives.