Widow's Brief — Final Rejection
This internal Bureau of Pensions "Widow's Brief," Widow's Brief #6545, is the final document in the case file and formally closes out Malvina Roberts' 1902 claim for a widow's pension based on the Mexican War service of Elias Roberts. It summarizes the case in tabular form: soldier's rank Private under Capt. Gillispie's company, 1st Texas Mounted Volunteers, enlisted April 24 and discharged June 4, 1847 — a length of service of just 42 days — with attorney H.D. Phillips of Washington, D.C. recognized on the claim. Examiner Mary Brown processed it, Pension and Bounty Land Searcher J. Simmons confirmed no prior widow's pension had been applied for, and the case was stamped REJECTED on May 1, 1902. Reviewer D.W. Peters approved the rejection on April 14, 1902 on the explicit ground that the soldier had not served the requisite 60 days during the Mexican War — the same eligibility standard that had dogged Elias's own 1893 claims — and Re-reviewer Wm. M. Donald gave final approval on April 19, 1902. With this, Melvina's pursuit of a widow's pension, and the case file itself, come to an end.
Full Transcription
(printed form number, top center) (3—148.)
MEXICAN WAR PENSION. #6545 (handwritten)
Act of January 29, 1887.
WIDOW'S BRIEF.
Claimant, Malvina Roberts Soldier, Elias Roberts
P.O., Purcell Rank, Private Co. Capt. Gillispie's
County Chickasaw Nation State Indian Territory Regiment, 1st Texas Mounted Vols., Mex. War
RECOGNIZED ATTORNEY:
Name, H.D. Phillips Fee, $ [blank] Agent [blank] to pay.
P.O., Washington, D.C. Articles filed [blank], 18[blank]
IMPORTANT DATES:
Enlisted April 24, 1847 Claimant born October 15, 1826
Discharged June 4, 1847 Age: 75 Years, 4 Months, 26 Days.
Length of service: 42 days. Date of Marriage to Soldier: April 26, 1860.
Invalid app'n filed November 5, 188[8]; Inc. [increase], April 18, 1893
Invalid last paid to [blank], 188[blank]. Date of Soldier's death June 23, 1896
Record evidence of service in Bounty Land Claim: Record on Pension Office report
Rate: EIGHT DOLLARS PER MONTH, commencing January 29, 1887.
Submitted for Rejection April 2, 1902 Declaration filed March 13, 1902
Claimant does not unite (phrase transcribed literally — meaning not entirely clear from context; possibly a standard form notation, not fully interpreted here)
Mary Brown
Examiner.
No wid. pension previously applied for. Mex. Surv. Ctf. #17403,
(stamp:) REJECTED. MAY 1, 190[2]
J.[J?] Simmons,
Pension Searcher.
Bounty Land claim 484-40-55
J. Simmons,
Bounty Land Searcher.
Approved for rejection, April 14, 1902, on the ground that soldier did not serve the requisite 60 days during the Mexican War.
D.W. Peters, Reviewer.
Approved for rejection, April 19, 1902
Wm. M. [Donald? — low confidence], Re-reviewer.
