Skip to main content

A Civil War Widow's Pension (1899)

A few years ago, I obtained from the National Archives and Records Administration the civil war pension file for my ancestor, Christopher Tinkler (1834-1899)*, the first in this family line to be born in America.  In a family tree prepared by my great uncle Leslie Tinkler, Christopher's wife's name is given as Julia Carey.  Her name in the marriage record was Julia Ellen Carey.  It took some time to uncover her maiden name.  It can be challenging to find details about female ancestors.  Often the details of their lives are hidden in the records of their husbands, sons, fathers, and brothers.
 
Below is a transcription of an affidavit filed by Julia's brother, George Washington Kline, and sister, Lydia Ann (Kline) Nicholson, in support of Julia's widow's pension:
 

No. 707102
 
General Affidavit
 
Case of Julia A. Tinkler, Widow of Christopher Tinkler, Co. D 107 Ohio Infantry
 
Affidavit of Geo. W. Kline and Lydia A. Nicholson, Bethany, Illinois
 
Filed by Michael Shea, Decatur, Illinois
 
                                                                       
State of Illinois, County of Moultrie ss:
 
In the matter of Pension Julia Ann Tinkler Widow of Christopher Tinkler Co D 107 Ohio Inf.
 
Personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for the aforesaid County and State, George W. Kline, aged 56 years, and Lydia A. Nicholson, aged 63 years citizens of the town of Marrowbone Bethany County of Moultrie, State of Illinois well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid case as follows:
 
We lived in Stark Co Ohio knew claimant Julia Ann Tinkler all her life knew of her marriage to Charles F. Carey in May 26 1856 and know her husband Charles F. Carey Died October 16th 1857 all in Stark Co Ohio
 
We further know that Julia A. Carey the claimant married Christopher Tinkler the Soldier in Stark Co Ohio July 11th 1858
 
We further State that claimant was never married except the two times above named that her and Soldier lived together as husband and wife up to time Soldier was placed in asylum at Kankakee except the time he was in U.S. Service we further state that Soldier was not married ...[illegible]... to his marriage to claimant and that they were never divorced and that she still remains his widow.
 
We further declare that we have no interest in said claim and are not concerned in its prosecution.
 
            /s/ George W. Kline
            /s/ Lydia A. Nicholson
 

Sworn to and subscribed before me this day by the above-named affiant; and I certify that I read said affidavit to affiants, and acquainted them with its contents before they executed the same.  I further certify that I am in nowise interested in said case, nor am I concerned in its prosecution; and that said affiants personally known to me; that they credible persons and so reputed in the community in which they reside.
 
Witness my hand and official seal this 14th day of October, 1899

 
                                                                                                                        /s/ N. P. Mcguire

OFFICIAL SEAL                                                                                     Notary Public

 
My Commission will expire Dec 10 1899

*Tinkler, Christopher [alternate name Christian Tinkler]
BATTLE UNIT NAME: 107th Regiment, Ohio Infantry
SIDE: Union
COMPANY: D
SOLDIER'S RANK IN: Private
SOLDIER'S RANK OUT: Private
FILM NUMBER: M552 ROLL 109
INVALID APPLICATION NO.: 166512, filed 19 Jun 1871, Illinois
INVALID CERTIFICATE NO.: 156616
SPOUSE: Julia Ann Tinkler
WIDOW APPLICATION NO.: 707102
WIDOW CERTIFICATE NO.: 488385, filed 18 Oct 1899, Illinois
Labels:
Location: Bethany, Illinois, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mystery Mail from World War I Soldier

Mystery Mail from World War I Soldier The above postcard or carte postale is the oldest item in my grandmother's postcard collection.  A W. W. Allen sent the card via soldier mail from Paris, France, to Mrs. Frank Bryant of Los Angeles, California.  The front depicts an early 20th century street scene at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.  The message says, "Paris 4/13 [April 13th] - I'm having a short vacation and a wonderful time.  W. Allen."  Mrs. Bryant (nee Mary Ellen Ingersoll, 1862-1936), originally from Bloomington, Illinois, relocated to Los Angeles with her family in the early 1910s.  She was my grandmother's grandmother.  Mr. Allen is not a known relative.  So who could he be?  Perhaps he was a neighbor or a family friend.  There could be another connection.  There is a later postcard postmarked November 25, 1930, from Alice Allen of South Bend, Indiana, to Mrs. Bryant which starts wit...
1 comment
Read more

John Burwell Family

I found a pair of Burwell sisters in the DAR [Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books] that I believe are my great-great-grandfather John W. Burwell's sisters. From Volume 14, p. 122 (for the year 1896): Miss Nettie B. Burwell ID No. 13326 Born in Illinois Descendant of John Burwell, of New Jersey. Daughter of Moses T. Burwell and Isabella Goodfellow, his wife. Granddaughter of John Burwell and Missouri Thorp, his wife. Gr.-granddaughter of Jonathan Burwell and Mary Comer, his wife. Gr.-gr.-granddaughter of John Burwell and ___ Lyons, his wife. John Burwell turned out in Capt. Stephen Baldwin's company, Col. Sylvanus Seely's regiment of Morris county militia, 1780, at Connecticut Farms, N.J. He died 1825. Mrs. Mary Alice Burwell Burns ID No. 13327 Born in Illinois. Wife of Luther Burns. Descendant of John Burwell. Daughter of Moses T. Burwell and Isabella Goodfellow, his wife. See No 13326. I believe that these women are John W.'s sisters for several reasons:...
Post a Comment
Read more

Burwell House Hotel in Gibson City, Illinois (circa 1890)

GRAND OPENING OF THE BURWELL HOUSE A home thrown open to the "Boys," and the traveling public of which Gibson may justly feel proud.    A host of invited guests from home and abroad partake of a banquet at 6 p.m. this evening prepared by J. R. Lott and wife the genial host and hostess. Who will always be found pleasant people. For some months, attention of our home people and visitors from abroad has been directed to the fine brick hotel being erected by Mr. M. T. Burwell, a well-known banker, real estate broker, and wealthy citizen.    The hotel building is 26 x 160 feet, two stories high, and basement, built very completely with every convenience usual to a first class hotel, the whole structure costing about $15,000.    To-day this hotel is opened to the public by Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Lott who formerly kept the St. Nicholas in this city, and who enjoy a wide reputation for keeping a first class hotel, and a hearty patronage in the past, together with...
Post a Comment
Read more