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Pension Claim of Melissa King Witherington Widow of Daniel E. Witherington |
Transcribed Copy of Pension Claim of Melissa King Witherington,
Widow of Daniel E. Witherington,
Private, Louisiana Militia
Dated 25 April 1878, Conecuh County, Alabama
Note: Witherington Served with Gen. Andrew Jackson at New Orleans
War of 1812
Claim of Widow for Pension, under the Provisions of Sections 4730 to 4740 Inclusive
Revised Statutes And the Act of March 9, 1878.
County of Conecuh, State of Alabama
On this 25th day of April, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and Seventy-Eight, personally
appeared before me, F. M. Walker, Judge of Probate, the same being a Court of Record within and for the county and State
aforesaid, (1) Melissa Witherington, aged 73 years, a resident of Conecuh CO, in the State of Alabama, who, being duly sworn
according to law, declares that she is a widow of (2) Daniel Witherington deceased, who was the identical (3) Daniel
Witherington, who served under the name of (4) Daniel Witherington as a (5) private in the company commanded by Captain
Patterson (as she believes) in the War of 1812; that her said husband (6) was drafted in the East Feliciana Parish on or
about the 25th day of December, A.D. 1814, for the term of 90 days, and continued in actual service in said war for the term
of (7) 90 days, and whose services terminated, by reason of (8) an honorable discharge at New Orleans on or about the 25th
day of March, A.D. 1815. She further states that the following is a full description of her said husband at the time of his
enlistment, viz: (9) Age 19 Years, height 5 feet 10 or 11 inches, Complexion fair, Eyes grey, Color of hair Auburn, Weight
106 lbs, a farmer, Born in Darlington Dist., SC. She further states that she was married to the said Daniel Witherington,
in the County of Conecuh, and in the State of Alabama, on the 28th day of January A.D. 1825, by one (10) John Ellis, who was
a (11) Minister of the Gospel and that her name before her said marriage was Melissa King, and that she has not remarried
since the death of the said soldier; and she further states that (12) neither had been married before and that her said
husband (13) Daniel Witherington, died in Conecuh Co., in the State of Alabama, on the 21st day of August, A.D. 1860; and
she furtherdeclares that the following have been the places of residence of herself and her said husband since the date of
his discharge from the Army, viz: (14) Said soldier lived in La. Then in Conecuh Co, Ala. Claimmant in Darlington Dist. SC
then in Conecuh Co, Ala; both in Conecuh Co, Ala since date of marriage.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the pension to which she may be entitled
under the provisions of Sections 4736 to 4740 inclusive Revised Statutes, and the Act of March 9, 1878, and hereby
constitutes and appoints with full power of substitutin and revocation, Messrs. McNeil and Birch, her true and lawful
attorneys to prosecute her claim and she further declares that she has heretofore made no application for (15) Pension.
Application No. 178,791 for Bounty Land under Act of March 3rd, 1855 was made by Daniel Witherington and that her residence
is County of Conecuh, State of Alabama, and that her post office address is Evergreen, Conecuh Co., Alabama.
ATTEST: W. W. Somerall Robt. A. Lee
(X Her Mark)
Melissa Witherington
State of Alabama, County of Conecuh
Personally appeared before me, F. M. Walker, Judge of Probate in and for said State and County, (the same being a Court of Record) Wm L. Witherington, and his sister, Mary H. Somerall, both of them being residents of the aforesaid State and County, who being duly sworn said that they are children of Daniel Witherington and his wife, Melissa Witherington, and were born, according to their Father’s family Record, and that they have been tolb by their parents, respectively as follows: Wm L. Witherington was born the 10th day of November, A.D. 1827, and Mary H. Somerall, the 17th day of September, A.D. 1832; that their parents had Ten Children, the oldest, who is dead, was born the 9th day of November, A.D. 1825, and the youngest was born the 15th day of July, A.D. 1846; that their parents, Daniel and Melissa Witherington, lived together as husband and wife from their earliest recollection to the time of their father’s decease, which took place on Tuesday morning, the 21st day of August, A.D. 1860, that their mother, Melissa Witherington, has not married since, and is now a widow.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 11th day of April, A.D. 1879.
Wm L. Witherington Mary H. Somerall
F. M. Walker, Probate Judge
Submitted by Bill King