Melvina's 1902 Declaration of Widow for Pension
Six years after her husband's death, Melvina Roberts had relocated to the Southern District of the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma), where on March 6, 1902 she swore this "Declaration of Widow for Pension" under the Act of January 29, 1887 — a new claim, distinct from the accrued-pension application on page 37. She stated she was the widow of Elias Roberts, private in the company of Captain James Gillespie, Texas Cavalry, who had enlisted at Vera Cruz in the fall of 1846 and served at Monterey and in the march to the City of Mexico. She recounted her marriage under the name Mulvina Bowers by Justice of the Peace R.W. Jolley at Blue Ridge, Texas in May 1860, and their life together until his death on June 4, 1896 near Hockley — a date that conflicts with the June 23, 1896 date established by the physician's letter on page 36 and Melvina's own 1896 application on page 37. Now 77 and nearly blind, with a lame side and back from a fall from a horse, she stated she was dependent on Mrs. Wm. Young, having no relatives she knew of, and referenced her earlier claim, No. 17403.
Full Transcription
MEXICAN WAR PENSIONS. — Act of January 29, 1887.
DECLARATION OF WIDOW FOR PENSION.
State of Indian Territory, County of Southern District, ss:
ON THIS 6th day of March, 1902, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty, personally appeared before me, clerk of a Notary Public, the same being a court of record in the State of in and for the Southern District of the Indian Territory, a resident of Territory in the County of Melvina Roberts (Name of Claimant) in the State of the Southern District of said Territory, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, deposes and says:
I am the widow of Elias Roberts, who served under the name of Elias Roberts, as a private in the Company commanded by Captain James Gillespie (If in Naval Service, name Vessel, etc.), in the [blank] regiment of Texas Calvary [sic — Cavalry], commanded by [blank], in the war with Mexico; that my said husband enlisted at Vera Cruz on or about the day of fall of 1846, A.D., for the term of six months, and afterward re-enlisted; that I was married under my name of Mulvina Bowers to my said husband, by Justice of the Peace R.W. Jolley, on or about the day of May, A.D. 1860, at Blue Ridge, in [Titus? — uncertain] County, in the State of Texas, and lived with my said husband from the date of my said marriage until the day of his death, to wit: the 4th day of June, A.D. 1896, when my said husband died at or near Hockley, Harris Co[unty], in the State of Texas, and that I have not since remarried; that there was never any legal impediment to said marriage.
No. 1. That my said husband, being duly enlisted, as aforesaid, actually served sixty days with the Army and Navy of the United States in Mexico, or on the coast or frontier thereof, or en route thereto, in the war with that Nation, which service was as follows: service with the army from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico — at Monterey, as a private soldier, and was honorably discharged at ___, on the ___ day of ___, A.D. 1847.
No. 2. That my said husband was actually engaged in a battle in said war, to wit: in the battle of the City of Mexico, at ___, on the ___ day of ___, A.D. ___, and was honorably discharged at ___ on the ___ day of ___, A.D. 1847.
No. 3. That my husband was personally named in a resolution of Congress for a specific service in said war, to wit: (left blank — struck through with a diagonal line) In the resolution of the ___ day of ___, A.D. ___, and was honorably discharged at ___ on the ___ day of ___, A.D. ___.
No. 4. That I am 77 years of age, and that I was born on or about the 15th day of October, A.D. 1826, at Washington, in the State of Arkansas.
No. 5. That I am disabled by reason of poor eyesight — nearly blind, really unable to do a single thing by physical disabilities — lame in left side and back from fall from a horse. And the said disability was not incurred while I was in any manner voluntarily engaged in, or aiding or abetting the late rebellion against the authority of the United States.
No. 6. That I claim pension by reason of the fact that I am dependent in whole or in part for my support upon Mrs. Wm. Young, who is not legally bound for my support, and that such dependence as alleged consists in this, to wit: that [struck illegible] [I am] nearly blind — left ribs broken and unable to work — have no relatives that I know of.
That I have heretofore made application for pension or bounty land, which said claim is No. 17403.
That I am a pensioner of the United States as ___ (rest of page not further transcribed here — cut off / continues beyond this page)
(round stamp, lower right of page:) PENSION OFFICE, U.S., MAR 13 1902.
(handwritten insertion, left margin, near marriage-place line:) Blue Ridge
(handwritten insertion, top right corner, partly cut off:) [illegible — a short cursive mark/initials]
