He was conscripted into the Pioneer Troops.

by Lisa Y. Henderson

NORTH CAROLINA, ALAMANCE COUNTY.

Joseph Owen, being duly sworn, deposes and says that he was a soldier in the Confederate army and was conscripted into the service of the pioneer troops in the summer of 1864, and that he was a soldier in said service of North Carolina State troops from about the first day of June, 1864 until the surrender in April, 1865, and that he did service in the Confederate army in making breast-works at Fort Caswell, in Brunswick County, and was in the Confederate service at Wilmington, N.C. and at Goldsboro, and in moving the Confederate forces between Wilmington and Goldsboro;

That this affiant is 76 years of age, the 14th day of last January, and by reason of his infirmities from old age and from rheumatism he is totally disable from performing any manual labor. 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 $300.00 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 taxes to the amount of $500, nor has he disposed of property of such value by gift or voluntary conveyance since the 11th of March, 1885; that he is not receiving any aid from the State of North Carolina or under any other statue providing for the relief of the maim, blind soldiers of the State; that this affiant has always been a free man and a citizen of McDowell County, and the State of North Carolina; that this affiant did faithful service in the army for the Confederate States as above set forth, from the time he was conscripted in June 1864 to the surrender in April 1865.   /s/ Joseph X Owens

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 26th day of July, 1915.  /s/ Thos. Morris, Clerk Superior Court

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[Handwritten] “Will see about this” “Disallowed”

James L. Cowan of Dysartville, McDowell County testified that he had known Owen all his life, that Owen was a “colored man who was free before the War”; that Owen was conscripted to labor in the Pioneer troops; and that Owen was a man of good character and good standing in his community.

From the file of Joseph Owen, North Carolina Confederate Soldiers and Widows Pension Applications 1885-1953, http://FamilySearch.org. Original, North Carolina State Archives.