Claim of Soldier for Service Pension
This is Elias Roberts' original application for a Mexican War service pension, sworn before notary H. Paul Georgi at Hockley, Harris County, Texas, on October 27, 1888. Then 64 years old and born about December 25, 1823 in Tennessee, Roberts testified that he served as a private in the company of Captain James Gillaspie, 1st Regiment Texas Volunteers, under Col. J.C. Hays, enlisting in Walker County, Texas around 1846 and serving about six months before being honorably discharged at San Antonio when the regiment disbanded. (A later document in this file, the November 1888 War Department service record, instead documents his enrollment as April 24, 1847 and muster-out as June 4, 1847 — a one-year discrepancy from his own recollection here; both accounts are preserved as part of the record.) He appointed Fitzgerald & Co. of Washington, D.C. as his attorneys, and the declaration was witnessed by Jno Warren Jr. and G.G. Dupree. A faded pencil note in the left margin, most likely written by Pension Bureau clerk Silas Boyce, records that Roberts said he had made an earlier application for which no record could be found.
Full Transcription
Mexican War.
CLAIM OF SOLDIER FOR SERVICE PENSION.
This must be Executed before a Court of Record or some Officer thereof having Custody of the Seal.
State of Texas, County of Harris, ss.
On this 27 day of October, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight, personally appeared before me, H. Paul Georgi, Notary Public a court of record within and for the county and State aforesaid,
Elias Roberts
aged 64 years, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Elias Roberts who served under the name of Elias Roberts as a Private in the company commanded by Captain James Gillaspie in the first regiment of Texas Vols., commanded by Col. Hays in the Mexican War; that he enlisted at Walker Co., Tex, on or about the ___ day of ___, A.D. 1846, for the term of "the war", and continued in actual service in said war for the term of six months, and was honorably discharged at San Antonia [San Antonio] Tex on the ___ day of ___, A.D. "at the time the regiment was disbanded." That since his discharge from said service he has resided as follows, viz: in the State of Texas.
The following was his description at the time of his enlistment, viz: Age, 21 years; height, 5 feet 10 inches; color of hair, dark; color of eyes, dark; occupation, farmer.
Furthermore, he alleges that he was born [blank], in the State of Tennessee, on or about the 25th day of December, 1823 [?], and that he is at this time 64 years of age,
He further declares that he is not now under the political disabilities imposed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the pension to which he may be entitled, and hereby appoints with full power of substitution and revocation, Fitzgerald & Co. of Washington, D.C., his lawful Attorneys to prosecute his claim.
He also declares that he has heretofore made application for pension at a former date, also received a warrant for land.
...and that his residence is No. ___ street, city (or town) of, near the, Hockley, county of Harris, State of Texas,
and that his post office address is Hockley, Harris Co., Tex.
ATTEST: (Two Witnesses who write sign here:)
Jno Warren Jr.
G.G. Dupree
Elias Roberts — Claimant's Signature.
Left margin note (written sideways along the left edge, pencil, partially faded): "[This app]licant says he has made an application heretofore and no record of [f]it. Boyd Nov. 10 [?], 18[88?]." — best read as the initials/signature of Pension Bureau clerk Silas Boyce.
