National Archive File WC327-143 (Complete File Copied 42 pages) Received 18 Feb 2004 Civil War Pension Records Widow- Martha Wilson Declaration of Martha Wilson, Woodbury, TN, Widow of Michael Wilson, Pr. D-4 Tenn. Mtd. Inf., Died May 1, 1887. Injury to right shoulder. 28 March 1889 Application filed 16 March 1889 Attorney: Samuel Barrette Primary cause of death was sunstroke. Pension was awarded the widow: Rate per month $8.00 commencing 31 July 1890. Certificate 327143 issued at Knoxville, TN 12 March 1892 Pensioner Martha Wilson dropped because of death. She was last paid 4 Feb 1897. Declaration of Widow dated 12 March 1889 at age 66. Michael enlisted 2 Oct 1864 in Co D Cap M.E. Quinn 4 Regt TN mtd Infantry and was discharged 25 August 1865 at Nashville TN. Michael & Martha were married 16 Oct 1838 by Francis Cooper, J.P. at her fathers residence in Cannon Co. Michael was thrown from his horse and his right shoulder broken from which he never fully recovered. Said Michael died on the 1st day of May 1887. Test. Stephen H. Herriman, M.J. Wilson, Martha (her mark) Wilson. County Clerk certification of marriage record is in the file. It was taken from the marriage record book we already have record of. No marriage certificate is in the file. 10 June 1889 – Certificate from War Department Mikel Wilson, private, Company D, 4 Regiment Tenn. Mtd. Volunteers was enrolled on the 2 day of October, 1864, at Liberty, 1 year and is reported on roll to Oct 31 ’64, present same to June 30 ’65. Muster Out roll of Co dated Aug 25 ’65, Nashville Tenn. Reports him prob mustered out at that date & place. Records of this office furnish no evidence of disability. Declaration filed 28 July 1890 declaring same evidence of marriage and death of Michael. Appointed H.D. Phillips of Washington, D.C. attorney and paid a fee of $10. Wit. W.A. Wilson & L.A. Wilson Affidavits in file: 12 March 1889 – John S. Herriman both in Co D 4 Tn Mtd Inf and at the time of Hoods raid in the winters of 1864 & 65 said Wilson was thrown from his horse near Nashville and his right shoulder was broken. 18 Aug 1889 – J.T. Tedder was a member of the same company as Wilson and saw Wilson being helped to his horse after being thrown during a charge near Nashville. He was then carried to a wagon and taken back to command at Alexandria and was then sent home. Tedder lived 3-4 miles from Wilson after the war and Wilson was never able to anything after the war because of his injury. 31 Aug 1889 – John Mc Alexander Saw Wilson after he came back from fight in Nashville and he was crippled in that fight when he was thrown from his horse. He was injured about 15th or 16th of December. He has been a neighbor ever since the war and Wilson never recovered from the injuries. 6 Sept 1889 – J. E. Tedder age 44 Auburn PO - Was aquainted with Wilson and served in same unit. They enlisted about Oct 1864. I was left at Liberty on detail on the 14 or 15 of December 1864 when the regiment was sent to Nashville when Hood made his raid. When the company got back to Liberty Wilson was brought in a wagon having been thrown from his horse in a skirmish and hurt so much that he was sent home. He came back to command just before we were discharged but was never able for service and was discharged with the rest of us. 8 April 1890 – William H. Fann (Michael’s Son in law) Michael was a private in the same unit as William. The command left Nashville about the same time as Hood’s raid and when they were about 5 or 6 miles from Nashville on the Gallatin Pike some time the first of January 1865 in crossing a small bridge the ground being covered with snow and ice the horse Wilson was riding fell with him and fell partially on him injuring him very much. I was several steps from him saw him fall and I went to and with others helped him to get from under the horse and he was then helped back onto his horse. The command returned to Alexandria where Wilson was sent to the hospital from there he went home on furlow and returned sometime shortly before he was mustered out of service. He was never able to do any active duty after he was hurt and was always complaining of his shoulder being hurt so bad that he could do nothing. 8 April 1890 - D.D. Bryson age 54 years Woodbury PO Lived near Wilson and test that he was injured after war and widow had not remarried. 8 April 1890 - N.M. Bogle same 24 Jun 1890 – William Davenport age 67 & Samuel B. Barrett age 57 Davenport has known soldier for 40 years and 52 years respectively and Davenport has lived about ½ of a mile from Wilson all his life. He knew him to be a stout healthy man before the war but he came home crippled. The day he died he went out on the farm to see about some fire that had been left out in the woods and became exhausted and could not return. His shoulder was hurting him and he asked those nearby to rub his lame arm and shoulder and while they were doing that he fainted. After the war he was not able to get about mush and much of the time not able to leave the house or bed. Barret test he has know Wilson since 1940 and confirms Davenports statement. 14 Feb 1891 – Physicians Statement – R.D. Hubbard M.D., Auburn, Cannon Co.,TN Aquainted with the soldier for 30 years. Disability was rheumatism, neuralgia and sun stroke. Before the war he knew him to be a stout healthy man but since the war he has been weak and puny and unable to perform manual labor. His right shoulder had been crushed and mushed up when soldier was in service and his horse fell on him. His right arm was of little use to him. Michael died by being over heated by fighting a fire in a weak and debilitated state caused by wounds from the war. 14 Feb 1891 – J.A. Davenport & W.H. Smith They are aquainted with Martha Wilson and test that she has not remarried and has no means of support. They are unrelated to the claiment. 5 Oct 1891 – T.W. Davenport age 68 & William Blanks age 62, both Woodbury PO They know the claiment well being friends and neighbors and that neither the widow or soldier were married prior to their marriage of each other. Michael Wilson has not been in active military or naval service since August 25, 1865. 8 Nov 1891 – M.J. Wilson age 26 years & W.H. Davenport age 68, P.O. Woodbury,TN They are aquainted with said Martha Wilson, she is living with one of her sons, has no home of her own. She has no other income from any source, her sons are keeping her and these facts are known by being neighbors to her and have known her for a number of years. [this appears to be her son Michael and b.i.l William Davenport]