Widow’s Claim for Pension
Submitted by
Roger and Carolyn Smith
Transcribed from copies
of original documents from NARA with no grammar corrections By Roger
and Carolyn Smith Claim # WC 65-544
On this 15th day
of April A D 1865, personally appeared before me Judge of the
Probate Court within and for said County Mary F Baker aged 23 years
a resident of Gallia County and State of Ohio who, being duly sworn
according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of
Congress approved July 14, 1862. That she is the widow of Newton A
Baker who was a Private in Company B Commanded by __________ in the
1st Reg’ment of West Virginia Artillery in the war of
1861. That Newton A Baker her said husband, on or about the 18th
day of July A D 1864 on the March to Maryland Heights from
Winchester on some point south, died while in the line of duty in
the service of the United States.
She further states that she was married to the said Newton A Baker
on or about 20th day of Dec 1857 by Andrew A Bostich A
Justice that her name before her marriage was Mary Hively and that
she has remained a widow since the death of her said husband, as
will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed
and that there is other secure enounce of said marriage save that
herewith presented
That during the existence of the aforesaid marriage, there were born
to her and her husband, the following children, viz:
John
Henry…. 6 yrs old
Elizabeth E…. 4 yrs old
Newton J
…… 6 mos old
All of
whom are still living, and reside in Gallia County Ohio. She also
declares that she has not in any manner been engaged in, or aided or
abetted the rebellion in the United States.
Her Post office address is Patriot Gallia Co Ohio
(signed)….Mary F Baker
Also personally appeared John Watts of the County of Gallia and
State of Ohio and R D Miller Of the same county and state persons
whom I certify to be respectful and entitled to credit, and who
being by me duly sworn, say they were present and heard the
foregoing declaration read to the said Mary F Baker and saw her sign
her name thereto. They further swear that they were acquainted with
the said Newton A Baker deceased in his life time and know that he
and the said Mary F Baker lived and cohabitated together as man and
wife, and were so reported. That she is the widow of the identical
Newton A Baker who performed the military service mentioned in said
declaration and has remained a widow since his death. That their
knowledge of the declarant and declared is derived from a long and
intimate acquaintance. That during their marriage there were born to
them the following children, John Henry, Elizabeth E, & Newton J.
And they further testify that they reside as above stated and are
disinterested in this claim.
John
Watts (signed)
R D
Miller (signed)
Sworn
to, acknowledged and subscribed before me, Probate Judge as
aforesaid after the foregoing statement of the declarant, with the
power of attorney and the statement of the witnesses were fully read
to them (before me) and they made acquainted with their contents;
and I certify that I am not interest is this claim or concerned in
its prosecution and I believe the declaring is the person she
represents herself to be.
In
Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto signed my name and affixed the
seal of my said court this 15th day of April 1865
Alexander Logue
Probate
Judge
[Transcribed
report filed for cause of death for Corporal Newton A Baker while on
duty in the Service of the United States in the War of the
Rebellion.
By Carolyn
Hines Smith]
Quaker
Bottom, Lawrence County Ohio
August 9th
, 1865
I,
Melvin A McLaughlin, on honor, certify that Newton A Baker
(Corporal) was a member of Battery B, 1st W Va Artillery.
He enlisted in said Battery at Ceredo Va on the 1st day
of October 1861 and was mustered by Col. Lightburn same date to
serve for (3) three years unless sooner discharged. While on the
march under the command of Brig. Genl. Duffie on the 18th
day of July 1864, in the Loudon Valley East Va the limber chest
exploded by some unknown cause and the fragments of shot and shell
mangled the said NA Baker so as to cause his death in a short time.
My knowledge of the above facts is obtained from the following
source: That I was also a member of the same Battery and was in
command of the section at the time Baker was wounded. Newton was a
good soldier and his death was lamented by his officers and all who
knew him.
Respectfully,
Lieut.
Melvin McLaughlin, late of Battery B, 1st Va Artillery
Attachment to
the Application for Widow’s Pension, made by Mary Frances Hively
Baker.
December
17, 1865
The
State of Ohio Gallia County
SS
Before
me Robert Grandstaff one of the Justices of the Peace for said
County, this day personly appeared Hiram B Depew & Cornelius
Lambert, each one of them being duly sworn according to Law,
Deposeth and saith each one of them were members of Battery “B”, 1st
Va Artillery and that they were personly acquainted with Corporal
Newton A. Baker and that he belonged to said Battery in the Veteran
Service of the United States, and that they were present when the
said Corpl Newton A Baker was killed., that he was killed on
the 18th day of July AD 1864 in the Louden Valley
between Ashby’s and Snicker’s Gapp in the State of W. Va by the
accidental explosion of a limber chest of said Battery and that they
also state that said Newton A Baker was killed while in Discharge of
his Duty as a soldier and that he was in no way to blame for the
said accident. Also that No Physician attended him as he was almost
instantly killed. And they also further state that they are not
Relatives of the claiment and have no intrust in the application.
Hiram B
Depew (signed)
Richard
Depew (signed)
Cornelius Lambert (signed)
Pension
approved, prorated from July 18, 1864 at the rate of $8 per month
with $2 extra per month for each child. Her pension continued until
her death March 10, 1914. She was receiving $12 per month at that
time. She is buried in a lonely grave in Waterloo Cemetery, Gallia
County Ohio. She never remarried. Newton A Baker was supposedly
buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
