If an adult Union soldier died as a prisoner of war and was never married or had children it has been my assumption there would be no pension benefits to anyone, (living parents or siblings). Is that correct?
Thanks, John
I have been working on local Civil War soldiers for years now . No, that's not correct. I have found several cases in which parents (usually the mother) have been awarded benefits.If an adult Union soldier died as a prisoner of war and was never married or had children it has been my assumption there would be no pension benefits to anyone, (living parents or siblings). Is that correct?
Thanks, John
This made me laugh harder than is probably strictly civilized.A lot of East TN Union pension claims are a hoot. They want it for injuries they had while in the Confederate Army, or for getting shot after the war was over or they try to impersonate someone else. One of my favorite is Lt. James Madison Giles...alleged to be related to Virginia Giles family..anyway he was with some Confederate unit and deserted or was booted out. He join the 3rd TN Mounted Infantry USA. He was commisoned as a Ist. Lieutenant. However he got in a gunfight with his Company Commander...James L J Pearson
Giles was shot in the leg and Captain Pearson killed. Giles took french leave but was caught. But it being East TN he was acquitted , self defense. After the war he filed for a pension on his bad leg. Lt. Clapp the investigating officer informed him that they gave pensions for wounds received fighting the enemy not their commanding officer or words to that effect.
Was the pension ever awarded?
Zella, after the war an ex Confederate named Boyd got possession of a muster roll of a TN National Guard unit (Union). The unit had pretty much been decimated by the Confederates during the war. Anyway he was filing for pensions under deceased members names. Using ex Confederates and Unionist to help him out. However he got caught. His friends broke him out of jail and faked his death with a recently deceased cadaver by setting it on fire. He escaped to Canada but returned to the country and was caught. After doing a little time he prospered fairly well. Years later he got in a argument with one of his relatives who shot him dead.This made me laugh harder than is probably strictly civilized.