Pension
Application File for Peter Daniel Mason
submitted by Donna
Davenport
Roll
58, Confederate 8214, Tennessee State Library and Archives
(Cover)
No
8214 ACCEPTED (stamp)
STATE
OF TENNESSEE
Soldier’s
Application for Pension
Under
Class “5”
Home
Jul 13.26
P.
D. Mason
Filed
May 18.06
Allowed
READ
SPECIFICATIONS ON BACK
Statement
May 25.07
SPECIFICATIONS{
Dec 7.07 Dec 3.08
Jan 29.09
President
Secretary
Board
of Pension Examiners
Gibson
Co
Humboldt
To
Applicants for Pension
The material facts to be proven in a pension claim under the laws of the
State of Tennessee, are as follows:
1.
Service
in the Army.
2.
Present
Disability.
3.
Indigency.
4.
How
you got out of the Army.
5.
Character
as a Soldier and Citizen.
1.
May
be prove by officers or comrades.
2.
May
be proved by physician’s certificate.
3.
May
be proven by neighbors and by certificate of County Trustee.
4.
May
be proven by filing parole or discharge, or in case these have been lost or
destroyed, by officers and comrades who know the facts.
5.
May
be proven by comrades and neighbors.
John
Ingram Bivouac is satisfied that applicant was a good and true soldier but finds
no explanation of how he got out of Thirty Eighth Infantry into 12th
Ky Cavalry or Forrest’s Scouts.
G
R ???? Sec
D
T Turner President
Soldier’s
Application for Pension
Under
the Class “5”
I,
P.D. Mason a native of the state of Tennessee and now a citizen of
Tennessee, resident at Humboldt in the County of Gibson in said
State of Tennessee, and who was a soldier from the State of Tenn in the
war between the United States and the Confederate States, do hereby apply for
aid under the Act of the General Assembly of Tennessee, entitled “An Act for
the benefit of the indigent and disabled soldiers of the late war between the States, and as to fix the fees of
attorneys or agents for procuring such pensions, and fixing a penalty for the
violation of the same.” And I do
solemnly swear that I was a member of Comp F (?), thirty eight Tenn afterward
in cavalry in Forrests Scouts in the service of the Confederate or United
States, and that by reason of disability and indigence I am now entitled to
receive the benefits of this Act. I
further swear that I do not hold and National, State, or County office, nor do I
receive aid or pension from any other State, or from the United States, and that
I am not an inmate of any soldiers’ home, and that I am unable to earn a
reasonable support for myself and family. I
do further solemnly swear that the answers given to the following questions are
true:
In
what County, State and year were you born?
Answer
Madison County Tenn, 23 day of May 1838
When
did you enlist and in what command? Give
the names of the regimental and company officers under whom you served.
Answer
thirty eight Tenn Col Looney Capt.
F remphlett (?), afterward joined Forrest’s Scouts served with them from March
until July, captured at Hunington capt in July 63 in prison until May 1865
In
what battle or battles were you engaged, and, if not wounded, state what
disabilities did you receive, if any?
Answer
Shilow (sic) Mumfordsville Cannol and Parkers Cross Roads
What
was the precise nature of your wound or disability, if any?
Answer
None
Were
you incapacitated for service by
reason of said wound or disability incurred.
Answer
no wounds
Were
you discharged from the army by reason of said wound or disability?
Answer
No
If
discharged from the army, where were you when and what did you do until the
close of the war?
Answer
not discharged
What
was the name of the surgeon who attended you?
none
Answer
How
did you get out of the army, when and where?
Answer
let out of Prison, 16 Day of May, 1865
Did
you take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government?
Answer
no
If
so, when and under what circumstances?
Answer
Are
you married or have you been married?
Answer
Yes
If
so, what is the size of your family living together?
Answer
myself and wife we live with our children
What
are the respective ages of your wife and the children living with you?
Answer
my Wife is 64 years my Son is 27
To
what sex do your children belong?
Answer
2 Boys & 2 girls
Are
not some of your children able to support you?
Answer
no
In
what business are you now engaged, if any, and what do you earn?
Answer
do what I can on Farm
What
estate have you in your own right, real and personal, and what is its value?
Answer
no Estate
What
estate has your wife in her own right, real and personal, and what is its value?
Answer
no Estate
How
have you derived support for yourself and family for the last five years?
Answer
by Farming
Do
you use intoxicants to any extent?
Answer
to some Extent do not get Drunk
How
long have you been an actual resident of the State of Tennessee?
Answer
all of my life
Have
you an attorney to look after this application?
Answer
no
If
so give his name and address
Answer
none
Witness
my hand, this 3 day of March, 1906
PD
Mason
Witnesses
J
E Adkinson,
Physician
Alex
Thompson,
Witness
W
F Burns,
Witness
PD
Mason served with Co D 12 Ky Cavalry in 1863 and was captured near Huntingdon,
Tenn by Col Hotetsis (?) while on duty. RH
Hensuiedy (?) Sargent of Co D 12 KY Cav
STATE
OF TENNESSEE Gibson County
Personally
appeared before me, R Caldwell (?) Notary Public of said County, the
above named P D Mason the applicant with whom I am personally acquainted,
and having the application read and fully explained to him , as well as the
statements and answer therein made, made oath that the said statements and
answers are true.
Witness
by my hand and seal of office, this 3 day of March 1906
R
Caldwell (?)
STATE
OF TENNESSEE Gibson County
Personally
appeared before me, R Caldwell Notary Public of said County, the above
named J E Adkinson one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing
application, and who is a physician of good standing, and being duly sworn says
that he has carefully and thoroughly examined P D Mason, the applicant,
and finds him laboring under the following disabilities:
Disability
proven old age and work. He is not
able to do hard work for a living such as he will want to do for support.
Witness
my hand and seal of office, this 24 day of Jul 1906
J
E Adkinson
R
Caldwell Notary Public
(If
possible the two witnesses as to character should have served with the applicant
in the army, and if so, let them, or either, state it in their oath; also any
other information regarding applicant’s army service.)
STATE
OF TENNESSEE Gibson County
Personally
appearing before me, R Caldwell Notary Public of said County, the above
named Alex Thompson and W T Barnes, two of subscribing witnesses
to the foregoing application, with whom I am personally acquainted, and known to
me to be citizens of veracity and standing in this community, and who make oath
that they are personally acquainted with the foregoing applicant, and that the
facts set forth and statements made in this application are correct and true, to
the best of their knowledge and belief, and that they have no interest in this
claim, and that said applicant’s habits are good and free from dishonor.
And we further make oath to the following facts touching the
applicant’s service in the Confederate army:
Alex
Thompson I was in the army with P D
Mason from the first of Nov 1861 to the year of 1862.
W
T Barnes I was with Mr Mason from
Aug 1861 until Sept 1862. He made a
good soldier and I heard no complaint of him at all.
Witness
my hand and seal of office this 3 day of March 1906
R
Caldwell
I
J. W. Stovall Trustee of Madison County Tenn do certify that P. D. Mason has no
real estate nor personal property, neither has his wife any assets to her on my
tax book.
J.
W. Stovall Trustee of Madison Co. Tenn
HEADQUARTERS
TENNESSEEBOARD
OF PENSION EXAMINERS
BOARD
MEETS LAST TUESDAYS IN JANUARY, APRIL, JULY AND OCTOBER
Nashville,
Tenn. Aug 29 1906
P.D.
Mason No. 8214
(Must give number when writing)
Humboldt,
Tenn.
Dear
Sir-
Let me know what prison you were in at the close of the war.
I want to get a record of your release for proof in your application for
pension.
Yours truly
Frank
A. Moses
Special
Examiner
8214
Norwood
Tenn
May 18 1907
Mr.
Jno. P. Hickman
Dear
Sir
As
I have never heard any thing from my case no. 8214 if there is any defect in my
papers send them back to me and I will have them fixed up for I know I can get
any kind of a Recommendation as a soldier you want. They is men here that is drawing that has got better good
forms of their own. I am nearly
blind and has got no way to make a living but to work for it and I would be glad
to hear from you.
So
thanking you for any favor you may do for me or any thing you have done.
I remain your friend
P.D. Mason
P.
D. Mason
No. 8214 (Give number when writing.)
Norwood
Nashville,
Tenn. May 25
1907
Dear
Sir:
The Board of Pension Examiners have
considered your application, and it stand disallowed, with these endorsements by
the Board on the specifications following:
Service
in the Army.
Endorsed
Proven
Wound
received, injury sustained, or disease contracted while in service and in line
of duty.
Endorsed
Proven
Extent
of disability arising from such wound, injury, or disease.
Endorsed
Proven
Indigency.
Endorsed Proven
How
applicant got out of the army.
Endorsed
Not proven
What
prison were you released from? Must
know so we can get the proof.
Character
as a soldier and citizen.
Endorsed
Proven
The specifications not satisfactory to the Board may be corrected by
proof, but no proof will be considered unless taken before an officer using a
seal. Board meets second Tuesdays
in February, May, August, and November.
Respectfully
JNO.
P. HICKMAN,
Secretary.
MUST
RETURN THIS STATEMENT WITH PROOF
State
of Tennessee
Madison
County
Personally approved before me W. T. Blackard County Court Clerk of said
County P.D. Mason who makes oath that he was confined in Camp Morton Prison,
Indianapolis, Ind from Aug 1863 to May 16 1865
This
June 1/1907
PD Mason
Sworn
to (??) before me June 1/1907
W.T. Blackard
Clerk
No
8214
HEADQUARTERS
TENNESSEE
BOARD OF PENSION EXAMINERS
Nashville,
Tenn. June 4 1907
GEN.
F. G. AINSWORTH
MILITARY
SECRETARY
WASHINGTON,
D.C.
Dear
Sir:
P.D. Mason who is an applicant for Pension under the Tennessee
Pension law claims to have been a member of Company E. Thirty eighth regiment
Tenn Infty C.S.A. and to have been later in Forrests Scouts or 12th
Ky Cav Co D and released from prison at Camp Morton, Ind. in May 1865.
Jany 1.1908
This
man states claim that he remained in prison at Camp Morton Ind until May 1865.
Do the records show this to be a fact?
Please
give us the records of this soldier.
Respectfully, George B. Guide
Office
of
W.
T. Blackard
8214
County
Court Clerk
Madison
County
Thomas
McCorry
County
Judge
Jackson,
Tenn. Dec 5 1907
Hon.
Jno. P. Hickman
Secty Board of Pensions
Nashville Tenn
Dr
Sir
Please advise me what disposition has been made of my application no 8214
for Pension which was filed prior to Jany 14/1907 -
Respt
P.D. Mason
Norwood
Tenn
State
of Tennessee
Madison
County
Personally appeared before me W. T. Blackand Clerk of the County Court of
Said County RH Hammialy who makes oath that he was the First Sargent
(sic) of Co D 12th Reg Kentucky Calvary (sic)- and that P D Mason was
in my company and that said Mason was captured while on duty about August 1st
1863. And he made a good soldier
during the war and is a good citizen
RH
Hammialy
Sworn
to subscribed before me
Dec
21, 1907
WT
Blackand
County
Court Clerk
WAR
DEPARTMENT
THE
ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE
WASHINGTON
January 7, 1908
Respectfully
returned to the
President,
Tennessee
Board of Pension Examiners
Nashville
A reexamination of the records of prisoners of was has been made, but
nothing has been found in the case of P. D. Mason, 38th Tennessee
Infantry, C. S. A., in addition to the information contained in the indorsement
from this office of June 8, 1907, hereon.
FC Animoth
The Adjutant General
12511
ADJUTANT
GENERAL’S OFFICE
WASHINGTON
June 9, 1907
Respectfully
returned to the
President,
Tennessee
Board of Pension Examiners,
Nashville.
It is shown by the records that P.D. Mason was a private in Company C
(also called Company E), 38th Tennessee infantry, C.S.A.
He was enlisted August 20, 1861, at Jackson, Tennessee, and on the rolls
of his company to December 31, 1862, and on the roll for January and February,
1863, he is reported absent, at home in Madison County, Tennessee.
On subsequent rolls to August 31, 1863, he is reported absent without
leave. His name does not appear on
the subsequent rolls of the company.
It is also shown by the records that one P. ___ Mason (not found as P.D.
Mason) was a private of Company D, 12th Kentucky Cavalry, C.S.A.
He was enlisted December 20, 1863 (also reported enlisted January
1, 1863), in Carroll County, Tennessee. On
the muster roll of the company for the months of May and June, 1864 (latest on
file), he is reported absent, captured in West Tennessee August 1, 1863.
The name P.D. Mason, private, Company C, 38th Tennessee
Infantry, C.S.A., appears on a roll, dated November 15, 1863, of prisoners of
war at Camp Morton, Indiana, ‘the desire to take the oath of allegiance.”
His name also appears on a roll, not dated, which shows him captured July
29, 1863, in Huntingdon County, Tennessee, and bears the remark:
“Was conscripted at Huntingdon, Tenn., May 15, 1863.
Desires to take the oath and remain north as a loyal citizen.”
FC Animoth
The Adjutant General
Received
A.G.O., Jun 6, 1907
P.
D. Mason
No. 8214 (Give number when writing.)
Norwood
Nashville,
Tenn. Dec 7
1907
Dear
Sir:
The Board of Pension Examiners have
considered your application, and it stand disallowed, with these endorsements by
the Board on the specifications following:
Service
in the Army.
Endorsed
Proven to Aug. 1.63
Wound
received, injury sustained, or disease contracted while in service and in line
of duty.
Endorsed
~
Extent
of disability arising from such wound, injury, or disease.
Endorsed
Proven
Indigency.
Endorsed Proven
How
applicant got out of the army.
Endorsed
Not satifactory War records report: Captured in West Tenn. Aug 1. 63 -
conscripted at Huntingdon, May 15.63 - Imprisoned at Camp Morton desires to take
the oath, and remain North of Ohio River
Character
as a soldier and citizen.
Endorsed
Proven
The specifications not satisfactory to the Board may be corrected by
proof, but no proof will be considered unless taken before an officer using a
seal. Board meets second Tuesdays
in February, May, August, and November.
Respectfully
JNO.
P. HICKMAN,
Secretary.
MUST
RETURN THIS STATEMENT WITH PROOF
8214
Jackson
Tenn Sept 1st, 1908
Col
Jno. P. Hickman
Please
let me hear from you in Regard to PD Masons application No. 8214
He says that he can’t get any word from you.
Please write me as soon as you can.
Yours
in last
D.T.
Turner
P.
D. Mason
No. 8214 (Give number when writing.)
Nashville,
Tenn. Sept 2
1908
Dear
Sir:
The Board of Pension Examiners have
considered your application, and it stand disallowed, with these endorsements by
the Board on the specifications following:
Service
in the Army.
Endorsed
Proven to Aug. 1.63
Wound
received, injury sustained, or disease contracted while in service and in line
of duty.
Endorsed
~
Extent
of disability arising from such wound, injury, or disease.
Endorsed
Proven
Indigency.
Endorsed Proven
How
applicant got out of the army.
Endorsed
Not proven. War report, “captured in West Tenn., Aug 1. 63 -
conscripted at Huntingdon, May 15.63 - Imprisoned at Camp Morton - desires to
take the oath, and remain North of Ohio River.”
No record of his release at end of war.
Must have been released before,
Character
as a soldier and citizen
Endorsed
Proven
The specifications not satisfactory to the Board may be corrected by
proof, but no proof will be considered unless taken before an officer using a
seal. Board meets second Tuesdays
in February, May, August, and November.
Respectfully
JNO.
P. HICKMAN,
Secretary.
Have
put you two notices before. Know
you received them, because they were returned with proof.
MUST
RETURN THIS STATEMENT WITH PROOF
State
of Tenn.
Gibson
County
P.D.
Mason Application for Pension
No.
8214
Personally appeared before me E/N/Stone an acting Notary Public in and
for said County and residing in the town of Milan. P.D. Mason who made the
following statement under oath. I
was in prison in Camp Morton, Indiana from Aug 1863 to the 16th day
of May 1865.
Through the influence of my Uncle Abner Mason who was resident of
Nashville, Tenn. I was discharged from Prison.
There was a prisoner in the same Prison (Confederate soldier) who was
sick and down with Consumption and I waited on him.
The Prison officials allowed this man’s wife to visit him.
His name was James Goodloe and resided in Nashville, Tenn.
His wife Mrs. Goodloe asked my name.
I told her and she wanted to know if I had any relatives in Nashville by
that name. I told her I had an
Uncle by the name of Abner Mason who was a resident of Nashville she remarked
that she knew him and that he was a close neighbor.
She says that if you will write him (Mason) he will get you released from
Prison. I could not write and I
requested her to write which she did for me and with in ten days I had my
release, and in a few days he came to Indianapolis Ind. after me before he or
rather before we left Indianapolis in two or three days all of the Prisoners
were discharged.
My uncle said that there was not much use in getting me released as I
would not have stayed only a few days longer.
I think that if you can get at the records of General Stephens you find
that they will show that President Johnson ordered my discharge. Of course
through the influence of my Uncle Abner Mason
Sept
21st 1908
P.D.
Mason
Sworn
to and subscribed before me this September the 21st. 1908
EM
Stone
Notary
Public
8214
Jackson,
Tenn Jan. 23 1909
Board
of Pensions I have heard nothing from my Pension papers yet.
My address is changed to Rout no 6 Humboldt, Tennessee.
Please let me hear from you as soon as you can.
I
remain as ever yours
P.D.
Mason
P.
D. Mason
No. 8214 (Give number when writing.)
Humboldt
R6
Nashville,
Tenn. Jany 29
1909
Dear
Sir:
The Board of Pension Examiners have
considered your application, and it stand disallowed, with these endorsements by
the Board on the specifications following:
Service
in the Army.
Endorsed
Proven to Aug. 1.63
Wound
received, injury sustained, or disease contracted while in service and in line
of duty.
Endorsed
~
Extent
of disability arising from such wound, injury, or disease.
Endorsed
Proven
Indigency.
Endorsed Proven
How
applicant got out of the army.
Endorsed
Not satisfactory. War
report, “captured in West Tenn., Aug 1. 63 - conscripted at Huntingdon, May
15.63 - Imprisoned at Camp Morton - desires to take the oath, and remain North
of Ohio River.” Can’t take your unsupported testimony on any material fact,
Character
as a soldier and citizen
Endorsed
Proven
The specifications not satisfactory to the Board may be corrected by
proof, but no proof will be considered unless taken before an officer using a
seal. Board meets second Tuesdays
in February, May, August, and November.
Respectfully
JNO.
P. HICKMAN,
Secretary.
State
of Tennessee
Gibson
County
We the undersigned Citizens of said County & State do make the
following statement to regard to P.D. Mason.
We have known him for a number of years say so or do and regard him to be
a man of truth & veracity. We
could not believe he would make a misrepresent any facts committed with his
application for a state Pension.
W.J. Birdsong
D.B. Rowlett
D.W. Nevill
J.M. Nelson
Sworn
to & subscribed befor eme on this 4 Feby 1909
S.H. Boswell
The
name signed to this taxes are men of fine Ref as any in that community and I
will vouch for any thing they say
Yours in host
D. T. Turner
Humboldt
R 6
I
W.T. Barnes depose and say that I was a Confederate soldier and was at
Greensboro North Carolina at the Surrender and immediately started for home and
arrived home on the 28th day of May 1865 and after being at home I
went to P.D. Masons Mothers to see a wounded brother of said P.D. Mason and I
inquired of his Mother if P.D. Mason had got home and she said he had not but
they were looking for him.
his
W.T.
X Barnes
mark
S.H.
Boswell
Sworn
to and subscribed before me this March 2/ 1909
S.H.
Boswell
Notary
Public
STATE
OF TENNESSEE
_____________COUNTY
I,
P.D. Mason state under oath that I am a pensioner of the State of Tennessee,
that I was born in Madison County, State of Tennessee, on the 23rd
day of May 1837, and that I am therefore entitled to receive the increase of
Five Dollars per month, from the 23rd day of May 1917, for pensioners
of eighty, under Chapter 104, Acts of 1915.
P.D. Mason
Humboldt P.O. Address
Gibson County Tenn.
Sworn
to and subscribed before me, this 11th day of May 1917
WM Dunlap
Chancery Court Clerk
Humboldt Tenn
(Officer
must attach seal, unless taken before the County Court Clerk.)
June
22, 1917.
P.
D. Mason 8214
Mr.
P. D. Mason,
Humboldt,
Tenn.,
My
Dear Sir:
In your application for pension you swear you were born in 1838.
In your application for increase you swear you were born on May 23, 1837.
Which is right. The date of your birth must be satisfactorily proven before
you can be paid anything under the eighty year old law.
Very truly yours,
Special
Examiner.
Humboldt
State of Tenn
June
28 1917
Hon.
Frank A. Moses
Nashville
Dear
Sir,
Replying
to your favor of June the 22nd in which you ask for a correction of
the conflicting statements made by me concerning date of my birth.
Will
state that when I made application for pension I confidently believed the date
of my birth to have been May the 23rd 1838.
While
on a visit here some two years ago my brother who was a resident of Texas who is
my senior two years and some months insisted that I was mistaken in my age and
convinced me beyond doubt that the date of my birth was 1837 instead of 1838.
Our family record was destroyed by fire when I was a small boy.
Therefore this is all I can possibly do in the way of proving my age.
It was not until satisfied beyond doubt that I was eighty years old the
23rd day of last May that I made application
for the increase allowed under the eighty year old law.
I
hope this will be satisfactory and accepted as the facts in the case and that
you will grant the increase for it wont be long until my name will fall from the
list.
Thanking
you in advance for this favor (which would be much help to me in my helpless
condition) Should you see proven to
do so.
I beg to remain yours truly
P.D. Mason
RFD
6 Humboldt Tenn
STATE
OF TENNESSEE
Gibson
COUNTY
I,
P.D. Mason of Humboldt, Gibson County, Tenn, state under oath that I am a
pensioner of the State of Tennessee, that I was born on the 18th day of May
1838, and that I am entitled to receive the increase of Five Dollars per month,
under the Act of 1919, for pensioners on the roll of eighty years, or over, of
age.
P.D. Mason
PO Address Humboldt
Gibson County Tenn.
Sworn
to and subscribed before me, this 15th day of Sept 1919
WM Dunlap
Notary Public
(Officer
must attach seal, unless taken before the County Court Clerk.)
Humboldt
Tenn
Aug
25. 1920
Hon
John P. Hickman
Secty
Pension Dept - Nashville
Dear
Sir
I desire to spend six months on Oklahoma beginning the 1st of
Sept. Will you kindly advise me how
we can arrange for me to draw my pension during my absence from the state.
Thanking you I advance for the information.
Am yours very truly
P.D. Mason
Humboldt Tenn
RFD #6
August
28, 1920
P.D.
Mason, 8214.
Mr.
P. D. Mason
Humboldt,
Tenn. RFD.
My
dear sir:
Under the law you cannot be outside of this State more than six months in
any twelve months, and in case you are you must be dropped from the Pension
Roll. Neither can you draw any
money nor certify to your vouchers outside of the State.
On your return to Tennessee you must send an affidavit in stating the
date you left and the date of your return.
Very respectfully,
By order of the Board,
Secretary.
HEADQUARTERS
TENNESSEE
BOARD OF PENSION EXAMINERS
Nashville,
Tenn August 28, 1920
P.D.
Mason, 8214.
Mr.
P. D. Mason
Humboldt,
Tenn. RFD.
My
dear sir:
Under the law you cannot be outside of this State more than six months in
any twelve months, and in case you are you must be dropped from the Pension
Roll. Neither can you draw any
money nor certify to your vouchers outside of the State.
On your return to Tennessee you must send an affidavit in stating the
date you left and the date of your return.
Very respectfully,
By order of the Board,
Jno. P. Hickman
Secretary.
JPH:M
I hereby make oath that I left the State on Sept. 1, 1920 and returned to
the state on Oct 19, 1920.
P.D. Mason
Subscribed and sworn to before me this Nov. 1, 1920
My commission expires April 1, 1922
WH Keartery Notary Public
COMPTROLLERS
OF THE TREASURY
STATE
OF TENNESSEE
NASHVILLE
EDGAR
J. GRAHAM June 18th
1926
Col.
Jno. P. Hickman,
Pension Office,
Dear
Col:
I am advised the following pensioners have been admitted to the
Soldier’s Home:
8214 P.D. Mason
Gibson County, June 9th/1926
Jun 20 (handwritten)
15045 T. M. Smith
Davidson County, June 5/1926
M.
N.
Fry, formerly at home, has been granted a discharge.
Very truly,
Cockrill.
Civil
War Questionnaire of Peter Daniel Mason.
(Handwritten)
Gibson Co 38th
T.I. (Tennessee Infantry)
The chief purpose of the following questions is to bring out facts that
will be of service in writing a true history of the Old South.
Such a history has not yet been written.
By answering these questions you will make a valuable contribution to the
history of your State.
In case the space following any question is not sufficient for your
answer, you may write your answer on a separate piece of paper.
But when this is done, be sure to put the number of the question on the
paper which the answer is written, and the number of pages of the paper on which
you write your answer.
Read all the questions before you answer any of them.
After answering the questions here given, if you desire to make
additional statements, I would be glad for you to add just as much as you
desire.
1.
State your full name and present postoffice address
Peter Daniel Mason Humboldt
Tenn
2.
State your age now Will be 84 years old May 23 - 1922
3.
In what State and county were you born?
Madison County, Tenn
4.
In what State and county were you living when you enlisted in the service
of the Confederacy, or of the Federal Government?
Madison County, Tenn
5.
What was your occupation before the war?
Farming
6.
What was the occupation of your father?
Farming
7.
If you owned land or other property at the opening of the war, state what
kind of property you owned, and state the value of your property as near as you
can Owned none
8.
Did you or your parents own slaves?
If so, how many? No
9.
If your parents owned land, state about how many acres
180 acres
10.
State as near as you can the value of all the property owned by your
parents, including land, when the war opened
$900 to $1000.00 at that time
11.
What kind of a house did your parents occupy?
State whether it was a log house or frame house or built of other
material, and state the number of rooms it had
Hewed Log House with 3 rooms
12.
As a boy and young man, state what kind of work you did.
If you worked on a farm, state to what extent you plowed, worked with a
hoe, and did other kinds of similar work. (Certain
historians claim that white men wouldn’t do work of this sort before the war.)
Plowed hoed and every other work that came to hand.
13.
State clearly what kind of work your father did, and what the duties of
your mother were. State all the
kinds of work done in the house as well as you can remember - that is, cooking,
spinning, weaving, etc. Regular farmer Cooking
spinning weaving washing and ironing
14.
Did your parents keep any servants?
If so, how many? No
15.
How was honest toil - as plowing, hauling and other sorts of honest work
of this class - regarded in your community?
Was such work considered respectable and honorable?
Yes
16.
Did the white men in your community generally engage in such work?
Yes (Underlined three times)
17.
To what extent were there white men in your community leading lives of
idleness and having others do heir work for them?
No idle men. All worked
stayed at home and attended to business.
18.
Did the men who owned slaves mingle freely with those who did not own
slaves, or did slaveholders in any way show by their actions that they felt
themselves better than respectable, honorable men who did not own slaves?
Very few slaveholders felt themselves better than those who did not
own slaves
19.
At the churches, at the schools, at public gathering in general, did
slaveholders and non-slaveholders mingle on a footing of equality?
All went alike and treated the same
20.
Was there a friendly feeling between slaveholders and non-slaveholders in
your community, or were they antagonistic to each other?
Generally freely feeling
21.
In a political contest in which one candidate owned slaves and the other
did not, did the fact that one candidate owned slaves help him any in winning
the contest? It did not
22.
Were the opportunities good in your community for a poor young man,
honest and industrious, to save up enough to buy a small farm or go in business
for himself? Yes provided he would save and work which was usually done
23.
Were poor, honest, industrious young men, who were ambitious to make
something of themselves, encouraged or discouraged by slaveholders?
Encouraged
24.
What kind of school or schools did you attend?
Small country school with one teacher.
Very few school buildings throughout the county
25.
About how long did you go to school altogether?
6 or 7 months
26.
How far was the nearest school? 3
miles
27.
What school or schools were in operations in your neighborhood?
Neson’s (?) School
28.
Was the school in your community private or public?
Public
29.
About how many months in the year did it run? 4
to 7 months
30.
Did the boys and girls in your community attend school pretty regularly?
Yes all they could
31.
Was the teacher of the school you attended a man or a woman?
Man
32.
In what year and month and at what place did you enlist in the service of
the Confederacy or of the Federal Government?
May 1861
33.
State the name of your regiment, and state the names of as many members
of your company as you remember 38th
Tennessee General Thompson several
Boones, Masons, Bakers. Do not
remember first names
34.
After enlistment, where was your company sent first?
To Jackson Tenn to drill
35.
How long after your enlistment before your company engaged in battle?
First battle was the Battle of Shiloh
36.
What was the first battle you engaged in?
Battle of Shiloh
37.
State in your own way your experience in the war from this time on to
close. State where you went after
the first battle - what you did, what other battles you engaged in, how long
they lasted, what the results were; state
how you lived in camp, how you were clothed, how you slept, what you had to eat,
how you were exposed to cold, hunger and disease.
If you were in hospital or prison, state your experience here. After first battle went into Mississippi.
Camped there till they run us over into Ala, Ga and then (?) to Ky.
Other battles fought in Ky at Perryville.
I was captured there. Was
then paroled and sent home until I was legally exchanged.
Fairly good clothes, poor sleeping quarters. Beef & mule meat and some time some pork.
Exposed to cold & hunger & disease.
Was in hospital.
38.
When and where were you discharged?
Out of prison at Indianapolis, Ind.
Stayed there 18 months. Discharged
May 16, 1883 (Note: That is the date given, not a typo.)
39.
Tell something of your trip home Traveled
home on train. Was funded money by
my Uncle Abner Mason
40.
What kind of work did you take up when you came back home?
Farming
41.
Give a sketch of your life since the close of the Civil War, stating what
kind of business you have engaged in, where you have lived, your church
relations, etc. If you have held
any office or offices, state what it was. You
may state here any other facts connected with your life and experience which has
not been brought out by the questions. Farming,
lived in Madison County, Tenn, Missionary Baptist Church
42.
Give the full name of your father Syon
Mason born at (now RFD) Humboldt in the county of Madison
state of Tenn. He lived at there
all his life. He came from North
Carolina while young. Give also
any particulars concerning him as official position, war services, etc., books
written by, etc. none
43.
Maiden name in full of your mother Peggy Baker.
She was the daughter of Joshua Baker and his wife Beckie Baker
who lived at Madison County Tenn.
44.
Remarks on Ancestry. Give
here any and all facts possible in reference to your parents, grandparents,
great-grandparents, etc., not included in the foregoing, as where they lived,
offices held, Revolutionary or other war service;
what country the family came from to America;
where first settled, county and state; always giving full names (if
possible), and never referring to an ancestor simply as such without giving the
name. It is desirable to include
every fact possible, and to that end the full and exact records from old Bibles
should be appended on separate sheets of this size, thus preserving the facts
from loss. Both grandfathers
came from England to North Carolina. All
farmers.
Tennessee
State Library and Archives, Civil War Questionnaire, Madison County, Roll Number
484-6
You may post your Gibson County TN pensions to Gibson Message Boards.
and/or
Send any transcribed Gibson pensions to me for posting to this board