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This Week's Story

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THE WHOLE STORY

This is the concluding installment of the story of the family
of James, Isaac and Cincinnatus during the Civil War
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Deposition, Case of Isaac Pierce, C. No. 506209

On this 4 day of March 1903 at Phoebus, County of Elizabeth City, State of Va., before me, H. D. F. McLooley, special examiner of the Bureau of Pensions, personally appeared Isaac Pierce, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this special examination of aforesaid claim for pension, deposes and says:

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...... Will be 62 tomorrow, residence and P.O. address are Co. A, Soldiers Home, Elizabeth City County, Va. I am pensioned under the General Law under the above certificate number, having served as a private and sergeant of Co C 2 Union Vols and private of Co F 1 NCVI.

I was born in Hertford Co., NC, near Winton. My father's name was Jesse Pierce (dcsd) and my mother's Lucretia Pierce (dcsd). Was born in 1841. My full and correct name is Isaac Pierce, and I have never been known under any other name.

I enlisted at Newbern NC Dec. 25 1863, in Co C 2 Union Vols and was made duty sergeant of that company.

I served in that company until it was consolidated with Co F 1 NC Inf Vols, along about Feb. 1864, and then the two regiments were consolidated in 1 NCVI.

I was stripped and given a thorough physical examination at enlistment and was sworn in at Newbern, NC. John A. Reid, of Harrisburg, Pa., and who belonged to 103 Pa. Inf. and who subsequently became 2nd lt. of that company, recruited me.

I was honorably discharged at Beaufort NC June 8 1865.

I broke my leg (left) at Beaufort NC and hurt my left foot there along about the forepart of Feb. 1865, while moving commissary stores from Morehead City NC to Beaufort NC. A load of hardtack, barrel of pork and myself broke through a bridge, and hurt me in the manner described.

QUESTION: Did you ever serve in the CSA or Navy?

ANSWER: Well, I was attached to Co G 31 NC Inf CSA for about a year. I was attending school, military school, at Harrellsville NC, Hertford County, in 1861, and the Confederates moved our whole school up to Raleigh NC and we did guard duty. I never got a discharge but when my year's schooling was out, I came home to Hertford Co. and remained there up to the time of my enlistment.

I was about 21 when I enlisted in the Union Army.

(Examiner's note: Original discharge certificate shows Isaac Pierce, private of Lt. J. W. Smith's Company F 1 NC Inf Vols, was enrolled on Dec. 25, 1863, and discharged June 8, 1865, at Beaufort NC, in accordance with General Order No. 37 Dept. NC dated May 5, 1865 ...... born in Hertford County NC, 21 years of age, 5 ft 8 in high, fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair and occupation farmer ...... Present personal description tallies with above, pensioner being 5 ft 8 in tall.)

I was mustered out and paid off at Newbern NC, and went back to Beaufort, Carteret County NC, where I lived for some years and then went back to my home in Hertford Co. NC, living there and in Bertie Co. NC up to about six years ago when I moved up here.

I never enlisted in the USA or CSA or Navy after my discharge from 1 NC Inf.

Col. of 2 NC was Walter S. Poor, or rather he acted as such. He was a lt. col.

Major was ...... I forget ...... from NC. Captain was Edmund C. Blount ...... 1st lt. was Wm. Kraft from Pa. ...... 2nd lt. was John Reid, who was the officer who recruited or enlisted me. Orderly sgt was Wm. H. Hendricks.

I bunked with James Barber. I didn't really stay in camp much for I got married down there and had my house right near the camp, and the officers permitted me to go home nights.

I never saw the 1st Regiment from Feb. when injured, until discharge. I was in the General Hospital at Beaufort NC. J. C. Salter was the surgeon in charge.

My pension certificate is in the treasurer's office in the Soldiers' Home, Va.

I have been drawing a pension about seven or eight years for fracture of left leg previously described. I draw $6 under the General Law.

My witnesses ...... can't recollect, except ...... can't think of any. Joe Etheridge, Colerain, Bertie Co. NC, did some of my writing in my claim but I don't recollect that he charged me a cent. Jos. W. Hunter, Washington, D.C., was my recognized attorney, and I paid him $25.

I draw my pension through the treasurer of the home. I never borrowed a cent on my pension papers.

I have been married only once. Was married to Annie Maria Salter of Beaufort NC in May 1864 by Squire Jas. Ward, JP. Neither of us had been previously married. I have no children under 16.

Questions are understood. Answers are correct.

Signed: Isaac Pierce

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BOND OF MATRIMONY
State of North Carolina
Carteret County

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,
That We,

Isaac Pierce and Benjamin T. Clark

all of Carteret County are held and firmly bound unto the State of North Carolina, in the just and full sum of One thousand dollars, to be paid to the said State, and for the payment thereof well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals and dated the 24th day of May A.D. 1864.

THE CONDITION of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bounden Isaac Pierce hath made application for a license for a marriage intended to be solemnized between him and Maria Ann Salter of the county aforesaid. Now in case it shall not appear, at any time hereafter, that there is any lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage, then the above obligation to be void; otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.

Isaac Pierce (Seal)
Benj. T. Clark (Seal)

Signed, Sealed and delivered
in presence of Jas. Rumley

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FIRST AND ONLY WIFE

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C., Jan. 2, 1915

Sir: Please answer at your earliest convenience the questions enumerated below. The information is requested for future use, and it may be of great value to your widow or children. Use the inclosed envelope, which requires no stamp.

Signed: Commissioner of Pensions

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ISAAC PIERCE, 506209

1. Date and place of birth? Hertford County, North Carolina.
2. What was your post office at enlistment? Newbern NC.
3. State your wife's full name and her maiden name: Annie Maria Pierce – Salter.
4. When, where, and by whom were you married? May 24, 1864, James Warde, Justice of Peace at Beaufort, N.C.
5. Is there any official or church record of your marriage? No.
6. Were you previously married? No.
If so, state the name of your former wife, the date of the marriage, and the date and place of her death or divorce. If there was more than one previous marriage, let your answer include all former wives. Answer: None. I never married but one time. Got the first and only wife now.
7. If your present wife was married before her marriage to you, state etc: Was never married before.
8. Are you now living with your wife, or has there been a separation? Living with her now.
9. State the names and dates of birth of all your children, living or dead.

C. W. Pierce (dead), born March 20 1865
Walter J. Pierce, born Nov. 14 1866
J. J. Pierce, born Oct. 7 1869
James F. Pierce, born Jan. 13 1872
Isaac T. Pierce, born March 4 1875
Rosa H. Pierce, born June 13 1878
Arthur D. Pierce, born April 13 1881
Ernest M. Pierce, born June 9 1884

Signed: Isaac Pierce
March 29, 1915

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MARIA'S MARKER
Ann Street (Ocean View) Cemetery, Beaufort NC
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In Loving Memory of
Annie M. Pearce
Daughter of
Joseph & Easter Salter
Wife of
Isaac Pearce
Departed this life Jan. 9, 1916
Born Nov. 28, 1844
We hope to meet you, Mother
~
Note: The gravestone name "Easter" is an error.
Annie M.'s mother was "Hettie Esther" (Lupton)
~
Isaac (third from left) c. 1917 with unidentified kin at Maria's grave

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PLEASE HELP

Ahoskie, N.C.
March 9, 1917

Hon. Commissioner of Pensions:
Am I not entitled to increase of pension? I was born March 5, 1842.
Pension Certificate No. 506209.
Please advise.

Yours truly
Isaac Pierce

Please address me:
Isaac Pierce
22 Bank Street
Hampton, Va.

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DROP REPORT

Pensioner 506209, Isaac Pierce, Marietta Ga.

Finance Division, Sept. 4, 1924

The name of the above-named pensioner, who was last paid at the rate of $72 per month to Aug. 4, 1924, has this day been dropped from the roll because of death August 29, 1924.

~
(Following handwriting is on this card in red ink)
Died August 29, 1924, at Marietta Ga.
Pension Certificate 506209 to be buried at Ahoskie NC.
This, his oldest living son, making this report.
Walter J. Pierce

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APPLICATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT

Statement of attending physician

Give pensioner's name in full: Isaac Peirce.

Give date of commencement of pensioner's last sickness: March 14, 1924.

Give date of pensioner's death: Aug. 29, 1924.

From what date did the pensioner require the regular and daily attendance of another person constantly until death? From March 14 1924 until death Aug. 29 1924.

During what period did you attend the pensioner? From March 14 1924 until death Aug. 29 1924.

State nature of disease from which pensioner died? Faluvlor (?) heart disease, hardening of arteries, chronic pleuritis and general impecunities of old age.

Give name of any other physician who attended the pensioner in last sickness. G. F. Hogood, M.D., Marietta Ga.

Does your bill include a charge for all medicine furnished the pensioner during last sickness? No.

Has your bill been paid? If so, by whom? Yes, by W. J. Pierce, pensioner's son.

Mention any other facts within your knowledge which, in your opinion, would be helpful in adjusting this claim for reimbursement. Bills for attendance were promptly paid each month by W. J. Pierce, pensioner's son. Mrs. W. J. Pierce, pensioner's daughter-in-law, carefully and tenderly nursed pensioner throughout his last illness.

C. D. Elder, attending physician
Marietta Ga., Sept. 18, 1924.

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BILLS PAID
by Walter J. Pierce, Marietta Ga.,
to J. F. Pearce, Ahoskie NC:

100.00 for F. D. Flythe, undertaker
  35.00 for cemetery lot
    1.75 for recording deed
  10.65 for A. J. Dilday's bill for work on grave bricks; sand, cement
147.40 total

OTHER BILLS:

122.00 physicians
100.00 medicine

190.00 Black Undertaking Co., Marietta, Ga.
    Includes:
    150.00 casket, box
      15.00 embalming
      25.00 suit

Reimbursement approved Dec. 6, 1924, $559.40 for expenses.

Accrued pension, $62.40, paid to Walter J. Pierce, Marietta Ga.

Check from Walter J. Pierce to J. F. Pearce, Ahoskie NC for $147.40

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This Week's Verse

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The hands that toiled for us are folded,
the dear warm hearts are stilled.
We have lost the most precious ones,
whose places cannot be filled.
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(1925.   Jesse Pearce)

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This Week's Mailbox

In the interests of everyone's privacy, only the letter-writer's name
and general location will be used here ~ unless the addition
of an URL or an address is approved by the writer

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...... I liked the part about the watermelon-rind pickle ...... What makes this funny was that for supper tonight, I had a large bowl of navy beans (Poor Town News No. 37) and some watermelon-rind pickle (PTN No. 61) that my wife made before she passed away ...... Hers was as good as her mother used to make ...... I have one jar left ~ going to keep it for a keepsake. ~ Joe Dickerson, Northeast North Carolina.

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...... The seasons for formal celebration of Thanksgiving and Gift-Giving have passed. However, we remain thankful for gifts received not only at those times but also throughout the year, and we want you to know how much we appreciate the gifts you send us in the form of The Poor Town News ...... Back in September we wrote you that "The Yankees Are Coming." We now have been assured by those Yankees that they would like to be put on your emailing list for The Poor Town News ...... The fact that we received Issue 64 on February 28 means that you must have recovered from the snowstorm that reportedly battered your area. We hope you were lucky in avoiding adverse effects from the ice storm which followed ...... Thanks again, and keep up the good work. ~ Lee and Mary Erickson, Fairport, New York.

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...... I've been enjoying The Poor Town News. Boy, you are having quite an impact all over the world! ...... I'm reading the book, "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy," by an investigative reporter, Greg Palast. Sure is depressing ...... I can't even watch the news any more. The media makes me so sick. Do you have anything positive to say about all of this? ...... I need to read again that essay you wrote about necessities to have on hand when all of this greed and power comes to a head ("Nuked, or Things to Remember When the Horn Blows," under "Clem's Bookshelf") ...... Should I start raising chickens? Will I be able to exchange eggs for fuel? Should I get my few dollars out of the bank and exchange them for a gold bar? ...... Your niece in California, who needs to watch a Three Stooges film. ~ Valerie Sumner, Ukiah, California.

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