Melvina's Widow's Pension Docket Card — REJECTED
This printed Bureau of Pensions docket card, No. 16545, summarizes Melvina Roberts' 1902 widow's pension claim for the Mexican War service of Elias Roberts — and carries a stark diagonal stamp across its upper right corner: "REJECTED." It lists her address as Purcell, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, and confirms her husband's service as a private under Capt. Gillespie, Texas Cavalry, enlisted 1846 and discharged 1847. The card records his death as June 4, 1896 — again at odds with the June 23 date given by the physician and Melvina herself in 1896 — and her age as 77. It cross-references the earlier surviving-pensioner claim, No. 20682, and Certificate 17403, and shows the claim was placed on file March 21, 1902 by examiner N.W. Bridges, with attorney H.D. Phillips of Washington City handling the case.
Full Transcription
(torn upper-left corner; illegible pencil scrawl; a vertical cursive pencil word along the right edge, illegible)
(3–229a.)
No. 16545
B. L. No. .................
Widow's Service Pension,
MEXICAN WAR.
(stamp, diagonal, upper right: "REJECTED.")
ACT OF JANUARY 29, 1887.
Melvina Roberts
Purcell, Chickasaw Nation, Indian (i.e., Indian Territory)
WIDOW of Elias Roberts
Pvt. — Capt. Gillespie.
Tex. Cav.
Enlisted ......... 1846
Discharged ......... 1847
Died ......... June 4, 1896.
Age 77
Disability .................
Mex. Sur. Orig. 20682, Ct[f]. 17403
(smaller handwriting beneath, examiner's shorthand, low confidence:) No Ow. Inv. or Wid. [?] W.I. [?] Sur. or Wid. [?]
.................. claim on file Mar. 21, 1902
N.W. Bridges
Received Mar. 13, 1902.
H.D. Phillips
City.
