Fort Gibson; Indian Territory,
February 15, 1871.
Sir: We enclose herewith additional declaration and testimony in the case of Nancy Jumper, widow of Jumper, application No. 110,510.
If evidence as to birth of children of the character furnished is to be accepted, we recommend the allowance of this claim with increase. We have, as in all cases, fixed the date of birth at as early a day as it could have occurred consistently with the allegations of claimant and witnesses. The witnesses-George O. and Jesse Sanders-are intelligent men, speaking English fluently, and were both, as Jesse now is, neighbors of the claimant prior to the war. The discrepancies appearing in the declarations simply illustrate the method pursued by the attorney in conducting his business, and are no more glaring than usual.
Respectfully, yours,
GEO. E. WEBSTER,
F. E. FOSTER,
Special Agents United States Pension-Office.
Hon. II. VAN AERNAM,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Widow’s declaration
Indian Territory, Cherokee Nation, ss:
On this 15th day of February, A. D. 1871, before me, George E. Webster, pension agent at Fort Gibson, in the nation aforesaid, personally appeared Nancy Jumper, a resident of Tahlequah district, Cherokee Nation, who being by me duly sworn, according to law, makes the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the acts of Congress granting pensions to widows:
That she is about forty-one years of age, and is the widow of Jumper, who enlisted under the name of Jumper at ____ , on or about ____ , 1862, in Company E, Third Regiment Indian Home Guards, in the war of 1861, and who died of small-pox at Fort Gibson (Blunt) on or about July or August, 1863, and who bore, at the date of his death, the rank of private in the company and regiment aforesaid; that she was married under her maiden name of Nancy (father’s name Sober Joe) to the said Jumper, in or about the year 1846, there being no legal obstacle to such marriage; that she has up to the present time remained his widow; that the following are the names and (approximately) the dates of births of all the legitimate children who were surviving, and under the age of sixteen years of age, at the date of soldier’s death, viz: Harle-sa, born not earlier than December 5, 1852; Lizzie, born not earlier than September 5, 1854; Susie, born not earlier than September 5, 1857; Katy, born not earlier than March 5, 1861, children of herself and said Jumper, deceased; that she has not abandoned the support of any of the children of the said soldier, but that all of them are living with her, and are under her care and custody; that she has not in any manner been engaged in, or aided or abetted the rebellion in the United States; that no prior application has been filed by her deceased husband; that she made a previous application (No. 110,510) through John W. Wright, her attorney, and for an explanation of such discrepancies as may appear between the allegations of this and the statements of any former declarations, she refers to her deposition of this date; that her residence is as above stated, and that her post-office address is as follows: Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory.
Her XX mark NANCY JUMPER.
F. E. FOSTER,
GEO. 0. SAUNDERS.
Also personally appeared Jesse Saunders and George O. Saunders, residing in this nation, persons who appear to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, say they were present and saw Nancy Jumper make her mark to the foregoing declaration; that they have been intimately acquainted with her for the twenty years last past, and were also acquainted with her husband, now deceased, for the fourteen years preceding his death; that for the whole of that period they know that the said Jumper and Nancy lived together, in their immediate vicinity, as man and wife, and were recognized as such throughout the community, and that they have every reason to believe, from the claimant’s appearance and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be; and that they have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.
GEO. O. SAUNDERS,
JESSE SAUNDERS.
Indian Territory, Cherokee Nation:
On this 15th day of February, A. D. 1871, before me, George E. Webster, United States pension-agent at Fort Gibson, in the nation aforesaid, personally appeared Nancy Jumper, who, being duly sworn and identified, makes the following affidavit in order to explain discrepancies appearing between her declaration of this date and a former declaration dated 14th August, A. D. 1865: That she was raised among the Creeks, and subsequently adopted as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and that she is unable to speak English, to which circumstances, and the carelessness of the parties who drew said former declaration, she attributes the miss-statements therein appearing; that she never told said parties that her age was thirty years, that she was married by the Rev. Eben Jones, that she was married as late as the year 1853, or that her deceased husband died of wounds received in action; on the contrary, she now deposes, and has always so stated, that the facts as to her age, marriage, and her husband’s death, were as stated in her declaration of this date; and she prays that the discrepancies before alluded to may be attributed to the causes assigned, and in no manner prejudice the claim for pension by her presented. She further deposes that since the death of her husband, Jumper, she has not remarried, nor lived with any man as his wife; and further says not.
Her XX mark, NANCY JUMPER.
GEO. O. SAUNDERS,
MORTER VAUN.
Subscribed and sworn before me, this 15th day of February, A. D. 1871, and I certify that the contents of the foregoing were fully made known and explained to the deponent before swearing, the interpreter being sworn to correctly translate; that the identity of deponent was fully established; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in her claim for pension.
GEO. E. WEBSTER,
United States Pension-Agent.
A true copy:
GEO. E. WEBSTER,
Pension-Agent.
FEBRUARY 15, 1870.
Evidence of birth of children.
Jesse Saunders, being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says: That he has been well acquainted with and lived in the immediate vicinity of Nancy Jumper, now widow of Jumper, deceased, for the past twenty years, and knew said deceased Jumper fifteen years prior to his death; that he knows and frequently sees the children mentioned in Nancy Jumper’s declaration for pension of this date; that he has carefully considered her statements as to the ages of said children, and by a comparison of said children with his own, and from his acquaintance with them, he knows that the said children are not older than stated by said declaration; and he further deposes that all of said children were recognized by said soldier, now deceased, (as also by the community,) as the legitimate children of Jumper, and Nancy his wife; and that he has no interest, direct or indirect, of the claim of Nancy Jumper for pension.
Jesse Saunders.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 15th day of February, A. D. 1871; and I certify that the deponent was fully identified, and appears to be respectable and entitled to credit.
GEO. E. WEBSTER,
United States Pension-Agent.
A true copy:
GEO. E. WEBSTER.
Widow’s claim , for pension.
Cherokee Nation, ss:
On this 10th day of August 1865, personally appeared before me, a district judge in and for the Illinois district, Cherokee Nation, Nancy Jumper, a resident of Cherokee Nation, aged thirty years, who, being duly sworn , makes the following declaration, in order to obtain the pension provided by the act of Congress approved July 14, 1862: That she is the widow of’ Juniper, who was a private in company E, commanded by Captain Pegg, in the Third Regiment of Indian Home Guards, the war of 1861; that her maiden name was Nancy, and that she was married to said Jumper, deceased, on or about the 10th day of May, 1853, at Flint, in the Cherokee Nation, by Rev. Eben Jones, and that she knows of no record evidence of said marriage.
She further declares that said Jumper, her husband died in the service of the United States as aforesaid, at Fort Gibson, in the Cherokee Nation, on or about the 31st day of July, 1873; said Jumper died of wounds received in action. She also declares that she has remained a widow ever since the death of said Jumper, and that she has not in any manner engaged in or aided or abetted the rebellion in the United States; and she hereby appoints John Wright, of Washington City, D. C., her lawful attorney, and authorizes him to present and prosecute this claim, and to receive and receipt for any orders or certificates that may be issued or paid in satisfaction thereof.
Her XX mark, NANCY JUMPER.
S. S. Stephens.
J. B. Wright.
Also appeared personally before me. Ar-li-chir and Archy, residents of Cherokee Nation, to me well known as credible persons, who, being duly sworn, declare that they were present and saw said Nancy Jumper sign her name to the foregoing declaration, and that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of said applicant, and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, and know that said deceased recognized her as his lawful wife, and that she was recognized by the community in which they resided; and that they have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.
His XX mark, AR-LI-CHIR
His XX mark, ARCHY
S. S. Stephens.
J. B. Wright.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this fourteenth day of August, 1865, and I hereby certify that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim; and I certify that I hare read and explained the same to said affiant.
ROBBERT CROFFORD,
District Judge.
NOTE. If there is any record evidence of the marriage insert-except that of which a true copy is hereunto annexed-and append a certified copy of the record accordingly. The cause of death must be specified in the second clause of the declaration. The declaration must be made before a court of record, or before some officer of such a court duly authorized to administer oaths, and having custody of its seal, which must be attached.
Post-office address of claimant: Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory.
All herein written on original herein italicized.