The Declaration for Widow's Pension is dated 25 July 1890 in Lee Co., VA. Margaret Sergeant, aged 44 years, a resident of Beech Springs in Lee Co., declares that she is the widow of John Sergeant who died the 5th day of January 1890. She states that she was married under the name of Margaret Easters to said John Sergeant on the 4th day of October 1876* by Valentine A Woodard at Woodard's residence. She had previously been married to Moses Easters and been widowed and she has not remarried since the death of the said John Sergeant. She is without any other means of support other than her daily labor.

*This date agrees with the Lee County VA marriage record. Elsewhere in the affidavits the year is given as 1874 and 1875.

Their children are listed on two separate affidavits with some variation in their birthdates. The alternate date is given here in [ ]'s:

Mary born 6 Sep 1875 [1877]
Cora Alace born 27 Apr 1876 [1879]
James K born 1 Feb 1877 [1880]
Rachel born 27 Aug 1878 [1882]
George W born 6 Jun 1883 [1884]
Elvira Ellen born 15 Dec 1887 [1888]

In 1891, George H Ely, age 43 of Beech Springs swears to his acquaintance with John "or Jack Sergent as he was commonly called" and Margaret, their marriage and that they had 6 children adding "the said John Sergeant & Margaret his wife lived on his land & cultivated same some 4 or 5 years just preceding his said Sergeants death & that two of their children was born on his land and that he lived 1 1/2 miles from where he was killed."

In a Claimant's Affidavit dated 23 Feb 1891, Margaret Sergeant is referred to as "the widow of John J Sergeant or John Jackson Sergeant his right name, aged 43 years, whose post office address is Beech Spring in Lee Co., VA"

In regards to her marriage record, Margaret states in an affidavit dated 6 Aug 1891 that Valentine A Woodard was "an aged gentleman who died not long afterwards and there has not been any record of the marriage yet found but it is thought that old Major Woodard the clergyman that officiated punctually made the return of his certificate but the Deputy Clerk Robert W Orr who issued the license died suddenly with brain fever about that time & perhaps the other clerks neglected to record it besides affiant further states that there are other marriages which can be thoroughly proved that cannot be found on the record and especially Charles D. Covey and Martha L Noe who was married the next day following after her the said Margaret Easters and John Sergeant the soldier was married and no record found after thorough search being made but they were married at the bride's father's in presence of witnesses but affiant states that her & said soldier was married at old V A Woodard's gate sitting on their horses and that they rode publicly along the public road telling people where they were going & what they were going for to get married and returned the same way telling they were married."

In an affidavit dated 28 Aug 1891, Jacob Crouse, age 42, of Cumbow in Lee Co. VA, states that he was well acquainted with Margaret and her children and that the children claimed for are all living at this time and that Margaret has not remarried since the soldier's death and that she is not in the possession of any property only her household & kitchen furniture & has no other present means of support only her daily labor.

Martha Coomer, age 51, of Beech Spring, states in an affidavit dated 18 Sep 1891 that "the said Margaret was married in Owsley county Ky some 20 years ago or upwards ago to the said Moses Easters in the presents of her the said affiant & that she the affiant lived in one half miles of the said Easters until he died & seen him die & seen buried & has seen his grave often and the said affiant farther states that the said Margaret some time after M Easters her husband died moved back to Lee County Virginia the land of her birth and nativity where she and her 6 children now lives. Affiant also states that Moses Easters husband of Margaret Easters died on the first day of March 1870."

The next day, on 19 Sep 1891, Margaret states she "she married Moses Easters in Owsley County and lived with said Moses Easters till he was taken sick and died and some time after her said husband Moses Easters died she the sd Margaret came back to Lee Co Virginia the land of her birth and nativity and was married to the above named soldier John Sergeant about the 4 day of October 1874 and her & her children now lives near Beech Spring Post Office Lee County Virginia."

On 16 Apr 1894, S M Suttle, age 35 of Jonesville, Commissioner of Revenue for Lee County, states that Margaret has no property and that no person is bound to support her and that no taxable property appears in her name.

In another affidavit, dated 6 Feb 1895 Margaret is 45 years old and her post office address is Rose Hill. She states that she has no property and that "she makes her living by days works and that there is no person or persons legally bound for her support. Any of my neighbors will testify to the above if it should be necessary. The statement was made before the Notary (William H Speak) and by him reduced to writing in my pressents and at his office in Lee County Virginia (Boones Path)"

Thomas Carroll of Hubbard Springs states in an affidavit dated 30 Jan 1895 "that he saw Margaret Easters and John Sergeant married on the 4th of October 1875 at the dwelling house of V A Woodward by said Woodard and I Thomas Carroll furnished the money to pay for the License. I was working close to the house of said Woodwards when they called to get married I stoped my work and saw Margaret Easters and John Sargeant married."

John Grub of Hubbard Springs, in an affidavit dated 14 Feb 1895 makes oath that "he saw Margaret Esters and John Sargeant married on or about the 4 day of October 1875 at the dwelling of V A Woodwards" and goes on that he knows this because "I was sowing wheat at time and a rain come up and I went to the house and Margaret Esters and John Sargeant come up and was married on their horses."

Noble C Burkhart of Hubbard Springs in an affidavit dated 19 Feb 1895 states that he served in Co F of the 47th Regiment with John Sargeant and that the soldier and Margaret Esters was married and lived together until the death of the soldier and that they were never divorced. They lived in his neighborhood from marriage until the soldier's death. Signed by "Rev'd Noble C Burkhart."

In another affidavit, dated 11 Mar 1895, Margaret states that she was acquainted with John Sergeant "before the rebellion and that he John Sergeant was never in any military or Naval service before Oct 29th 1863 nor since Dec 26th 1864 and we lived neighbors at Beech Springs Va till after the surrender in the year 1865."

Richard Markham, age 30 of Rose Hill, in an affidavit dated 14 Mar 1895 states that he has known Margaret since the soldier's death and that she has not married since; that he lives a neighbor to her and she is still a widow.