Jesse Greene Armstrong Mexican War Pension File 10.106
5 Sept. 1874: Declaration for original Pension of an Invalid: Jesse G Armstrong age 54 a
resident of near Fayetteville, county of Washington, State of Arkansas, enrolled in Capt.
Stephen B. Enyart Company Regiment Taylor’s Brigade at Fort Smith
Arkansas in 1847 and was honorably discharged at Mier (camp) on or about 1st day of
March 1848. He is 54, 5ft 10 ½ in, dark complexion, black hair, and black eyes. While
serving he received his disability by horse falling, by dislocating left arm at elbow joint.
Near Mier Mexico about the 15th of January 1884. I was treated by Dr’s Robinson and
Rimmalson at the camp near Mier, there was no treatment in the hospital for my injury.
He is a farmer and is 1/3 disabled
20 Oct 1882: Letter: State of Ark Co of Franklin: In person appeared before me A J
Nichols Clerk of the Circuit Court of said county in said State Jesse G Armstrong of said
County to me personally well known as the identical Jesse G Armstrong who is an
applicant for Pension on account of injuries received while a soldier in the war of Mexico
aand the said Armstrong having been duely sworn by me states that he was a member of
Capt Stephen B. Enyerts Company of Arkansas Mouted Calvery having volunteered in
Washington county Arkansas and having been mustered in on or about the first of May
AD 1847 at Fort Smith Arkansas and having been honorably discharged at camp near
Meir in Mexico about the first of March AD 1848,
That whn said company went to Mexico it was attached to Col Butlers Regiment for
supplies.
That at the time of his enlistment he was twenty eight years of age was a marmer by
occupation was born in White County in the State of Illinois his color of his hair and eyes
was dark and his height was five feet and ten inches
That his discharge certificate was filed he thinks in the fall of the year AD 1848 for a land
warrand and that he lived in the county of Madison in the State of Arkansas at the time
when he applied for and received his land warrant but that the appplication _______ was
made in Washington County Arkansas.
Jesse G Armstrong
Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 20th day of October AD 1882.
A J Nichols, Clerk
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2 Oct 1883: Declaration for original invalid pension: in Franklin Co. AR. Jesse
states that he has since served in 1864 as assistant surgeon to the 14th
Kansas US Army under employment temporarily by Col. W A Philips (civil war?)
says he is a farmer and now ½ disabled. Address is Ozark, Franklin, AR
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10 Mar 1886: Jesse G Armstrong Col Butler’s 3rd Dragoons???
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26 May 1887: Declaration of Survivor For Pension: I am 68, born at White
County Illinois on the 9th day of Feb. 1819. I am married. Wife’s maiden name was
Mary F. Davis, whom I married in Cooke County in the State of TX 1 Nov 1860.
I have resided in Madison Co, AR most of the time but have lived in Cal or Col, Texas, and New Mexico.
J R Berry, Atty. Huntsville, AR represents him.
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26 May 1887: Affidavit of Witness: James Hamilton Madison County Arkansas. Served
under Capt. Stephen B. Enyart. Says he served with Jesse in war from start to finish. Says
Jesse was about 24 or 25 when they joined and is now 62. Has known Jessie for 42 years.
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31 Mar 1893: applied for increase in Pension. Currently receiving $8 per month.
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20 Mar 1896: Declaration: Rudy, Crawford, AR says original pension was filed in
Knoxville TN cert # 10.106
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9 May 1896: General Affidavit of M H Tennison: age 23 residing in Rudy, Crawford,
AR. Has known Jesse for 7 years. Also, Affidavit of Y H Meek, 29 yrs old, Graphic,
Crawford, AR. Known Jesse for 5-6 years.
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17 July 1896: General Affidavit: Crawford, AR Jesse is 77. I live on a forty acre farm
with my son John W. Armstrong and his family a mile North of Rudy, Crawford, AR. He
is a very poor man and I am poor. He is under no obligation other than being family duty
to support me. I am receiving $8 per month pension. We live on 40 acres of land
belonging to the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railway Co. only 6-7 acres cultivated. I have
no one who is financially dependent on me for support.
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20 Nov 1900: Medical Affidavit: John Gettys, Doctor. He states that Jesse arrived in
Muldrow, Cherokee Nation, IT with La Grippe. He died on 30 Nov. 1900
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25 Jan 1901: Widow Pension: She states that Jesse had blue eyes, light hair and light
complexion, was a farmer, was born in McCoupin County, IL. She states that Jesse lived
in Washington Co AR for 15 yrs, Madison Co. AR for 10 yrs, and Lindale TX for 3 yrs.
And at Muldrow, IT for 20 days prior to death. She married Jesse 1Nov 1860 In Cook Co,
TX by Jacob Dye, minister. Says her husband died 1 Dec 1900. States she is 56 yrs and
was born 29 Apr 1844. She is disabled since 1890 due to weakness of lungs. Dependent
on relatives since Dec 14 1900. Owns mare worth $40 and household goods worth $26.
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22 June 1901: Power of Attorney: Mary F. Armstrong of Locke, AR gives power of
attorney to Nathan Bickford. But the Notary is from Indian Territory, Northern Dist.
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22 July 1901: Articles of Agreement: Mary F. Armstrong, widow of Jesse G. Armstrong.
Crawford County Arkansas. She hired, for $25, Nathan Bickford to represent her.
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13 July 1901: Marriage Certificate: J. G. Armstrong and Mary F. Davis:
License signed on 31 Oct 1860 by J. E. Hughes, Clerk of Cooke County,
TX. Marriage preformed on 1 Nov 1860 by Jacob Dye, Eld.
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31 Jan 1902: Indian Territory, County of Northern District: Mary F. Armstrong, widow of
Jesse G. Armstrong, Private late of Capt Enyart Co Ark. Mex Vol. appeared before notary
public for oath of M. H. Tennison and G. W. ___________, age 30 and 71, whose post
office is Muldrow County of Cherokee Nation, State of Indian Territory.
__ men well acquainted with the Claimant, and Jesse G Armstrong and her husband and
__ ___ the time of Jesse G Armstrong death they ____ living together as man and wife.
And that the claimant has not married since the death of Jesse G Armstrong’s death. And
she has no property of any kind either personal or ____. And is dependent her sons. She is
living now with one of them. And _GMB Meadows was a soldier durning the Mexican
War and was ____ acquainted with Jesse G Armstrong at that time and he never served in
the Army or Naval _______ before his enlistment in Capt. Enyarts Co. in serve they
Mexican War. And W_____ the Claimant __ her husband had been previously married.
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24 Feb 1902: General Affidavit: Jefferson Davis , age 64, of Graphic, AR. I have known
Jesse G. Armstrong and Mary F. Armstrong, wife and widow of said Jesse G. Armstrong
deceased since 1858 and that neither was married prior to nor since their marriage to each
other. I knew them in TX. Mary F. Armstrong was born 29 Apr 1843. (Brother of Mary,
now living in Southwest City, McDonald Co., MO)
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21 Nov 1903: Claimant’s Affidavit: Plymouth, Franklin Co. AR Mary F. Armstrong
states that she owns no land, has 2 cows. Has no Stocks or bonds. That no one is bound
for her support. That there was no insurance on husbands life.
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17 Jan 1905: Letter from Mary F. Armstrong to Nathan Bickford, her attorney in
Washington DC. States Jesse died Nov 30 1900. She was not present at his death. His
death occurred in Indian Territory at Muldrow.
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6 Feb 1905: Treasury Dept: Jesse G. Armstrong Cert# 10.106, Knoxville, TN agency,
Mexican War roll, records show that back payment to have been made at 12 per month in
Nov 1900 to Nov 4 1900. P.O. address in 1900 Swan, Smith Co., TX.
11 May 1908: Declaration for Widow’s Pension: Mary F. Armstrong , 58, of Crawford
County, AR. Mary and Jesse were Married 15 Nov 1860 in Gainsville, Cooke, TX by
Jacob Dye
11 Apr 1908: Letter to Hon. Thomas Hackney, House of Representatives: has Mary F.
Armstrong, of Southwest City, MO for pension as widow of Jesse G. Armstrong.
13 Aug 1908: In letter to Hon Thomas Hackney: it has Mary’s address as Locke AR.
13 Feb 1909: Locke, Crawford, Ar. Deposition of Mary F. Armstrong: I am in my 66th
year, p.o. Locke, Ark, am the widow of Jesse G. Armstrong, keep house out here on the
mountain for my son, Edward Armstrong, have no occupation. I am claiming pension as
the widow of Jesse G. Armstrong, who served in Capt. Enyart’s company, of some
Mexican War regiment. He also told me he had served as assistant surgeon of some
Kansas regiment at Fort Gibson, Okla, in the civil war. I never heard him claim any other
civil war service. He died at Muldrow, Okla, on November 30, 1900. I have not married
since his death. I was born near Harrisonville, Cass Co., Mo, on April 29 1843. My
parents were David and Dicey (Jenkins) Davis, they have been dead for many years.
I have no sisters and only one brother living: Jefferson Davis now of Southwest
City, Mo. I left Missouri when I was 12 yrs old with my parents and moved to Cooke
Co., Texas where we lived near Gainsville, TX and I married Jesse G. Armstrong,
the soldier at that place, the year before civil war broke out . He claimed never to
have been married before and during all the years since then I have never heard of his
having had any wife bit me. I have seen his sisters, Sallie Williams, and Rhoda Williams,
who lived in Madison Co., AR many years ago. I have not seen them in many yeas. If
Jesse had been previously married I think they would have told me something about it, as
I lived near them for a year. I had seven children by Mr. Armstrong of whom two are
living. John W. Armstrong, a farmer of Cisco, TX and Edward Armstrong, who lives
with me here. They were both over 16 yrs old when Mr. Armstrong died. Mr. Armstrong
was away from home when he died. He had gone away to Lindale, TX about three years
before for his health with our son John. He wrote me from Lindale four or five times a
year. No, he never sent me any money,. He was getting only a small pension and needed
all of that for his own support. He started home with my son but when they reached
Muldrow, Okla he took down sick and died there on Nov 30, 1900 of some case of fever.
My son John telegraphed the news to me the next day. No, it was a telephone message he
sent me. I was not able to go, as I was sick, but my son Edward attended the funeral with
John. Mr Armstrong was buried near Muldrow, Okla. No, there was no such thingas a
divorce mentioned or even thought of between me and Mr. Armstrong. He was always
kind and faithful, and I always acted the part of a loving and faithful wife to him. No, I
did not preserve the letters he wrote to me from TX while away from home. As a matter
of fact he did not write himself, but had my son John write for him. Yes, he sent word to
me in those letters and wanted to know how I was getting along. Q. Did you and Mr.
Armstrong always live peaceably together? A. We had our little quarrels sometimes, like
most married couples. Yes, he would leave home sometimes and go to his son John and
stay awhile, but always came back in a few weeks. We had had no serious disagreement
for several years before he went away to TX. We were then living three miles north of
Plymouth, AR now on a rural route from Mulberry, AR. The day he left he was friendly
toward me, wished me well. No, he did not kiss me or shake hands with me. People done
here don’t do that way here, it is not fashionable to do that way, except among people
from the North. If my husband had applied for a divorce from me I certainly would have
known of it. My son John would have written me about it. I know he never made such
application, and of course I never did. Mr. Armstrong left me no property whatever, he
owned nothing at the time of his death. I suppose I had $50 worth of milk cows at the
time, but I depended upon my daily labor for my support. About five years ago my
brother Jefferson Davis gave me the use of forty acres of his land in the
county. I stayed on it awhile, but could not make a living on it. So my
brother sold it, and I have been moving around with my son Edward
from place to place. I have kept house for him and he has fed and clothed me cause I
was not able to work for wages. I have been suffering with lung trouble and unable to
earn wages for several years past. If my application states that my husband served in Co.
M. of the 3d Kansas Vols., it was put in there wthout my knowledge. I cannot read or
write. No, I do not know why the name Nancy F. Armstrong was signed to my application
for pension. I know no such person and it must have been a mistake of the man who fixed
up the papers for me. I have none of my husbands army papers, have sent all such to
Washington to be used in my pension claim. Q. By whom can you prove that you were
never divorced from the soldier? A. By my sons, John and Edward Armstrong, by Jesse
Doss, Jesse Benner, and Vol Benner, all of Mulberry AR. No, they did not live near me
but they know me. People who know me better are William Sanders, and George M.
Smith of Graphic, AR. They can also testify to my financial condition, also William H.
Creekmore of the same place. I am not able to be present or represented by an attorney
during any further examination of my claim.
X
Mary F. Armstrong
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13 Feb 1909: Deposition of Edward Armstrong: 43 yrs old, farm laborer, Locke, AR. Has
lived with his mother always. Since Jesse’s death they have lived in Franklin and
Crawford Counties in AR. Other than that he didn’t say anything new.
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14 Feb 1909: Deposition of Nancy C. Spears: I am about 65 years of age, P.O.
Mountainburg, AR, am the wife of Henry Spears, a farmer. I have known Mary F.
Armstrong, the claimant, for about fifteen years past; was acquainted with her husband,
Mr. Armstrong, a Mexican War soldier for a few years prior to his death. The claimant
has lived at one place and another in this neighborhood for a good many years past, she
lived with the soldier within a few miles of me for some years before he left for Texas for
his health. He died away from home while on that trip. Mary F. Armstrong has not
remarried since his death. She has lived with her son, Edward Armstrong, at various
places since her husband died. He is a shiftless, idle sort of fellow, and she has lived a
hard life with him. Q. Was Mary F. Armstrong divorced from the soldier Jesse G.
Armstrong? A. She was not, so far as I ever knew or heard. I am quite sure I would have
heard of it, if she had been. Q. Why did the soldier leave home? A. Clamant and her son
Ed Said he left home for his health. It was the general talk among the neighbors at the
time that he left because his wife, the claimant, insisted on keeping the son, Ed, at home
in idleness when he should have been out at work. The old man was unwilling to support
Ed in idleness. No, there was never any rumor that there had been a divorce between the
claimant and Armstrong. So far as I ever knew or heard claimant and Armstrong lived
peaceably together. The son Ed was the only cause of disagreement between them, so far
as I know. The only property I ever knew claimant to possess was three cows and two old
ponies. I would not have given over $10 apiece for the horses. The cows were better. I
know, however, that she has had no means of support apart from her own manual labor,
since she became a widow. She is a poor, feeble old woman, living from hand to mouth,
following her worthless son from place to place, whenever he chooses to go. I believe,
without doubt, that claimant is the lawful widow of the Mexican Warsoldier Armstrong,
and know that she has had no income apart from her own labor since he died.
Nancy C. Spears
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14 Feb 1909: Deposition of Henry Spears: I am 65 years of age, P.O. Mountainburg, AR,
am a farmer, am pensioned as of the civil war service. I was acquainted with the Mexican
War soldier, Jesse G. Armstrong, for a number of years, he lived near me a good while.
He went out to Texas some years before his death, and was reported to have died at
Muldrow, OK several years ago on his way home. The claimant, Mary F. Armstrong, has
lived with her son Edward at one place and another in or near this neighborhood ever
since her husband died. I have seen her every year since then. She has not remarried, but
is still known as the widow Armstrong. Q. Was she ever divorced from the soldier
Armstrong? A. I am sure she was not. If there had been a divorce between them I
certainly would have heard of it. Armstrong used to leave home and stay with friends a
week or month at a time, but always returned home. It was reported that he was not
willing to support his son Edward in idleness; that Edward would not work to do any
good but would lie around home and live off his father’s pension money; and claimant
encouraged him in this sort of life. This was said to have been the only source of
disagreement between the old couple. The mother defended the sons idle way of living,
and the father would not stand for it; that was the whole story, so far as I could hear. The
family gave out the report that the old man went to Texas for his health, and it may have
been the truth, but the neighbors had the report I have mentioned before. Some of them
claimed to have heard claimant say to the soldier that she would not send Ed away from
home. Ed is a trifling, shabby fellow and has been accused of stealing meat etc. He has
carried his old mother, the claimant, around from pillar to post, and how they live is a
mystery, as he will not work. The son told me once that claimant and Ed had lived for
three weeks on boiled potatoes and said they were about to starve. The neighbors have
helped them some. Ed was driven away from the Piney neighborhood a couple of years
ago, because he was believed to hav been stealing chickens there, and his old mother the
claimant, spent several days and nights without shelter by the roadside before they could
find some empty cabin to move into. There has been no doubt of claimants poverty ever
since her husband died. She has been dependant upon her own labor or the charity of
others for a living during her entire widowhood, She has no property and no home of her
own since then. It is the general belief of this neighborhood that if claimant’s pension is
allowed, her money will soon be squandered by her worthless son and that she will then
be as destitute as ever. It is a great pity that her money, if it comes, could not be pit in the
hands of some reliable person to manage for her benefit, and keep it out of the hands of
her son Ed, who will have the handling and squandering of it, if he can. I have no reason
to doubt the claimant is the lawful widow of the soldier. She has borne a good reputation
all along and is and has been all along poor and needy.
Henry Spears
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22 Apr 1909: Affidavit of John W. Armstrong: My age is 40. PO address is Cisco, TX.
Occupation Farmer. This claimant Mary Frances Armstrong is my mother. The late
soldier Jesse Green Armstrong was my father. I lived at home with my parents until I
married, 1890, we lived in the same neighborhood then until the summer of 1897. I then
moved with my family to Lindale, Smith Co., TX. Father came down from Arkansas with
me and lived right with me all the time that I was there at Lindale which was about three
years. Father and Mother lived together as husband and wife from my earliest recollection
until 1897, and were never separated or divorced. When father came with me to Texas he
did not intend to leave mother, he only came to Texas to look out a location. He had not
been here in Texas long until he got so that he was not capable of traveling by himself he
was then nearly eighty years old and his mind became affected, he was very childish. He
had been in Texas only a few months until he wanted to go back to Arknsas but he could
not go alone and I was too poor to stop work and take him home. He kept on asking to go
home to Arkansas so I finally concluded that we would all move back and so we started
to go home about Nov 20, 1900 and stopped at Muldrow, IT with M. H. Tennison, my
wifes brother for a short visit and while there father took down with a heavy cold which
ran into LaGrippe or Pneumonia and he died there at Muldrow, on Nov 30, 1900. I was
present when he died and attended his funeral. I know positively that father did not apply
for nor obtain a divorce from mother while he resided in Texas. He lived right my house
with me the whole period and he could not have gotten a divorce without my knowing it.
He lived in Smith Co., Texas all the time he was here in Texas. Mother never applied for
a divorce from father so far as I know or ever heard. Father went by the given name of
Jesse. He was never called George, his middle name was Green. I have heard the letter of
the Clerk of the Court read and I know that th divorce proceedings of George Armstrong
vs. Mary Armstrong do not refer to my parents. I lived away from mother after father died
but I never heard of her remarrying. I know positively that it was not the intention of m
parents to separate when father came to Texas with me. Father always claimed he was not
married before. I have understood the questions asked. I am not interested in the case.
John W. Armstrong
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22 Apr 1909: Deposition of Mrs. Annie Armstrong: My age is 33. P.O. address is Cisco,
Tex. I married John W. Armstrong, a son of this claimant, Mary F. Armstrong, in 1890. I
then lived near claimant and her husband, Jesse G. Armstrong until 1897 when I moved
with my husband to Lindale, Smith Co., Texas. My father in law came right with us to
Texas as we came and lived with us at Lindale, Texas from about Sept. 1897 until Nov
1900. We then started to go back to Arkansas but stopped at Muldrow to visit my brother,
M. H. Tennison (now at Tecumseh, Okla.) and while there at Muldrow Mr. Armstrong
died. I was present when he died. He died late in Nov 1900, just about Thanksgiving Day,
I feel oure it was tie days after Thanksgiving. This claimant Mary F. Armstrong and the
soldier, Jesse G. Armstrong lived together as husband and wife from the date I first knew
them and were never separated or divorced up to the summer of 1897. I know positively
that soldier did not apply for or obtain a divorce while he lived here n Texas with us from
1897 to 1900, and he could not have gotten a divorce within this period without my
knowing it. I never heard anything to indicate that claimant ever applied for or obtained a
divorce. So far as I know or ever heard it was not claimant and soldier’s intentions to
separate when he came with us to Texas. Muldrow was in the Indian Territory in 1900 but
is now in Oklahoma.
Annie Armstrong
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14 May 1909: She got the pension! Payment of $870
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6 Nov 1916: Widow’s Brief: it looks like they gave it to her. And even paid the back
payments owed since Jesse’s death: $8 beginning Dec 1, 1900 and a raise: $12 beginning
Apr 19, 1908. Then $20 per month beginning Sept 8, 1916.
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12 Oct. 1916: Brentwood , Washington, AR: handwritten letter from Mary F. Armstrong
(looks like Ed’s writing to me) In regards to my pension increase, Brentwood or
Beentwood? Is my P.O. so you will pleas sent me my nesacery pension puffers and I will
fill them out at once.
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28 Mar 1918: A handwritten letter from “Mary F. Armstrong” ( looks like Ed’s
handwriting to me), Mountainburg, Crawford, AR. Says it has been brought to her
attention that widows are to get $50 a month. I am only getting $20. I am old and feeble
not hardly able to do any thing at all.
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20 May 1918: Widow’s increase: REJECTED May 16 1918 Act of Oct 6 1917. On the
grounds the soldier rendered no service in the Civil War, the War with Spain, or the
Philippine Insurrection.
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17 Dec 1920: Citizens Bank and Trust Co., Van Buren, Ark. Letter dated Dec 17, 1920:
Gentleman, Mary F. Armstrong who held Mexican War pension Cert # 15226 died Dec
12, 1920. The amount of pension due her estate at the time of her death should be sent to
E. D. Armstrong, Mena, Ark. Correspondence should also be addressed to him.
Yours Truly,
Ed Armstrong
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I'm afraid that the posting 2008 posting will be erased.
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http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/topics.Military.mexwar.general/359/mb.ashx
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Patti, prochette@Juno.com
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