Fourth Generation Inclusive

SOLDIER’S APPLICATION FOR PENSION

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF BUNCOMBE  }                 

On this 25 day of July, A.D. 1903, personally appeared before me J.B. Cain Deputy, C.S.C. in and for the State and County aforesaid, Stephen Gibson, age [blank] years, and a resident at Asheville 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 Stephen Gibson who enlisted in Co. F, 29 Reg., N.C. State Troops, on or about [blank] day of August, 1861, to serve in the armies of the late Confederate States, and that while in service at Nickasville in the State of Ky., on or about [blank] day of Sept., 1862, he received a wound or wounds, etc. [description] [General Disability and parolled at Nickasville Ky and that I am not able to perform manual Labor more than one forth of my time. Was honorably discharged Lenoirs, Tenn.].

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 11^th 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.   Stephen X Gibson

Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 25 day of July, 1903.  /s/ J.B. Cain, D.C.

Also personally appeared before me B.F. Patton, who resides at Asheville N.C. 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 Steven Gibson, 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.F. Patton

Sworn and subscribed to before me, this [blank] day of July 25, 1903.  /s/ Jesse R. Starnes, Notary Public

Also personally appeared before me [blank] a physician in good standing in said County and State and being duly sworn, says that he has carefully and thoroughly examined Steven Gibson, 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. Is physically incapacitated for any and all manual labor and has been for more than [illegible] years by reason of general weakness result of chronic nephritis (Bright Disease)T[illegible] & [illegible] Swolen G[illegible]   /s/ James S. Burroughs, Signature of Physician.

Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 25 day of July, 1903.  /s/ Jesse R. Starnes, Notary Public

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“This application is that of an old colored man – he was free at the beginning of the war and enlisted in Capt. Enloes company (F.) 29^th N.C. Troops and served with his command until Braggs campaign in Kentucky in 1864.

Capt Enloe says he was a faithful, good soldier and he would like to see him have a pension. He is a very feeble old man now and not likely to live more than a year, two at most. From what Capt Enloe writes, and our knowledge of the old fellow we recommend a favorable consideration of his care.”

[Stephen Gibson’s application was disallowed. In August 1904, his 71 year-old widow, Loucretia Gibson of Oconolata, Swain County, reapplied. The County Pension Board approved her request for pension.]

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