Fourth Generation Inclusive

WIDOW’S APPLICATION FOR PENSION

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF SAMPSON  }

On this 25th day of March, A.D. 1924, personally appeared before me W.F. Semour, C.S.C. in and for the State and County aforesaid, Edith Bizzell, age 68 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 to amend and consolidate the pension laws of the State of North Carolina,“ ratified March 8, 1921: That she is the widow of Agrippe Bizzell who enlisted in Company A, 30 Regiment, N.C. State Troops, on or about the [blank] day of April, 1863, to serve in the armies of the late Confederate States.

She further states:

That she was married to the said Soldier or Sailor before the first day of January, 1880;

That she is now a widow, and has been for twelve months immediately preceding this Application for pension a bona fide resident of North Carolina;

That she holds no office under the United States, or any State or County, from which she is receiving the sum of three hundred dollars as fees or as salary annually;

That she is not worth in his own right, or the right of her late husband, property at its assessed value for taxation to the amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000), nor has she disposed of property of such value by gift or voluntary conveyance since the 11^th of March, 1885;

That she 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.

“My husband died in August 1918. I am now old and cant work but very little.” /s/ Edith X Bizzell

Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 25th day of March, 1924.  /s/ W.F. Semour

Also personally appeared before me Milton Holmes, who resides at Clinton postoffice, 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 Edith Bizzell, the widow of the late Agrippe Bizzell of Company A, 30th Regiment, North Carolina State Troops, and that they  believe her to be the identical person she represents herself 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/ Milton X Holmes

Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 25th day of March, 1924.  /s/ W.F. Semour

[Disallowed “No Provision for Slaves.” “This applicant is the widow of a Negro Slave who served as stated upon the order of his master, and the same is approved subject to the law as it may apply to such cases.”]

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

[Sidenote: In fact, Agrippa Bizzell had been a free man of color. — LYH]