Widow's Declaration for Army Pension by Catherine Tyson, December 10, 1866

On this 10' day of Dec 1866, before me, (1) a U S Comr of the (2) Dist West Tenn personally appeared Mrs. (3) Catherine Tyson aged 24 years, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that her Post office address is (4) Memphis in the State of Tenn and that she is the widow of (5) Jerry Tyson who was a (6) Private in Company (7) A commanded by Captain Charles Evaness in the (8) 11" Regiment of (9) U S C I Volunteers, and who (10) was killed at Fort Pillow Tenn on or about the 12' day of April 1864, by reason of (11) wounds received in action that she cannot [illegible] the evidence of the officers of his Regt this having gone to parts unknown

That she was married to the said (5) Jerry Tyson on or about the 15 day of March A. D. 1862, at Jackson Tennessee by one name not recollected a Col Parson; that her name before her said marriage was Catharine Epson; and she states that she believes there is no public record of her said marriage she was married during slavery & according to its laws and [illegible] & no record was kept of such marriages. She cannot obtain the evidence of the parson who performed the ceremony he having gone to parts unknown, that her husband the aforesaid (5) Jerry Tyson died or was killed on the day above mentioned, and she has continued a widow since that date, all of which will more fully appear by reference of the proofs hereto annexed.

No children whatever

She also declares that she has not in any manner been engaged in or aided or abetted the rebellion in the United States, and that she is not now in receipt of a pension under any act of Congress.

She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the pension to which she may be entitled under the provisions of the act of Congress, approved July 14, 1862, and hereby constitutes and appoints TUCKER & SELLS of Washington, D.C., her attorneys, with power of substitution to prosecute her claim and procure a certificate; hereby authorizing and empowering her said attorneys to do all necessary and lawful acts and things whatsoever in the premises, except drawing the money, which will be hereafter provided for, and revoking and countermanding all former authority that may have been given for the above specified purpose.

Attest
C E Bent
J. B. Frales

(13) Catherine Tyson
<her X mark>

Sworn to, subscribed and acknowledged before me, the day and year first above written; and also, personally appeared Amos Shackleford a resident of Memphis Tenn & Abram Huggins a resident of Memphis Tenn persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, who being duly sworn according to law, declare that they are personally acquainted with Mrs. Catherine Tyson who has made and subscribed the foregoing declaration in their presence, and were acquainted with her and her husband before he entered the military service of the United States, and know that they lived together as man and wife, and were so reputed and acknowledged by those who knew them. That she is the widow of the identical (5) Jerry Tyson who performed the military service mentioned in said declaration, and has remained a widow since his death, and they believe that all the statements made by her in the foregoing declaration are true. That their knowledge of the identity of her husband with the soldier, and of their marriage, was derived from being present and witnessing the ceremony, they served in same Co & Regt with said Jerry Tyson and saw him dead on the battlefield on the date as aforesaid

And they further state that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.

Attest T. L. Dean
C E Bent

(14) Amos Shackleford
<his X mark>

Abram Huggins
<his X mark>