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Pelham Depot
Caswell Co
Nov 13th 1866
Mr John P. Auld
Sir,
Mr Brandon, Clerk of our County Court informs me of the contents of a letter received from you mentioning that there were two pensioners in this County. I write you this in behalf of William Norman's widow. Mr. Norman died last June and at the time of his death he was taking steps to secure his pension due for the last four years. I desire to know if you have arrangements so as to collect the pension and also to know your charges.
What proof will be necessary to establish his loyalty during the War & c. He was very old and feeble and can satisfactorily establish his loyalty during the entire War. Is his widow entitled to any pension after his death? Please write me at your earliest convenience and give me the necessary information and we will forward the papers with the power of attorney.
I am sir very _____,
E. B. Withers
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Letter written 13 November 1866 by E. B. Withers from Pelham Depot, Caswell County, North Carolina, to Mr. John P. Auld/Ould concerning the pension of the widow of William Norman, who apparently died in 1865. With respect to what war William Norman believed he was due a pension is unclear.
The reference to two pensioners in Caswell County would seem to indicate a war before the Civil War, perhaps the War of 1812. However, the statement with respect to "his pension due for the last four years" and "proof necessary to establish loyalty during the War" are confusing. At least fourteen men with the name William Norman are known to have served in the War of 1812. Source: Ancestry.com War of 1812 Service Records.
If inquiry was being made with respect to a Civil War pension for a Confederate soldier, why was mention made of establishing loyalty during the War (presumably the Civil War)?
In 1867 North Carolina began granting pensions to Confederate veterans who were blinded or lost an arm or leg during their service. In 1885 the State began granting pensions to all other disabled indigent Confederate veterans or widows.
However, if William Norman was very old and feeble when he died June 1865, is it likely that he served in the Civil War? Moreover, one who fought in the Civil War (which in the this case presumably would have been on the Confederate side) would have difficulty establishing loyalty during the entire War. However, the general amnesty covered all Civil War participants except for certain categories.
On May 29, 1865, President Andrew Johnson provided for amnesty and the return of property to those who would take an oath of allegiance. However, former Confederate government officials, officers with the rank of colonel and above from the Confederate army or lieutenant and above from the Confederate navy, and people owning more than $20,000 worth of property had to apply for individual pardons. Though it was difficult for ex-Confederates to ask for a pardon for something they did not believe had been wrong, thousands did ask for and receive amnesty from President Johnson.
On Christmas Day 1868, Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all Civil War participants except high-ranking military and civil officials. In May 1872 the Congressional Amnesty Act gave the right to hold office again to almost all Southern leaders who had been excluded from public office by the 14th Amendment.
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The author of the letter, E. B. Withers, probably is Lieutenant Colonel Elijah Benton Withers (1836-1898), Civil War veteran and lawyer in the Yanceyville, North Carolina, law firm of Watt & Withers.
Elijah Benton Withers (1837-1898), twenty-five, also a lawyer and an 1859 graduate of the University of North Carolina, succeeded Graves as captain of the Yanceyville Grays. In 1863, Withers was promoted to major and transferred to regimental headquarters. He was succeeded as captain by Ludolphus B. Henderson, a 28-year-old former dentist.
Source: When the Past Refused to Die: A History of Caswell County North Carolina 1777-1977, William S. Powell (1977) at 189.
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Caswell County Clerk of Court, Mr. Brandon, is Henry F. Brandon, who served in that office 1866-1874.
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The identity of the letter's addressee, John P. Auld, had not been established. It is possible that he was a lawyer.
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Whether any of the following are with respect to the William Norman of this entry has not been confirmed and are placed here for research purposes only:
1850 United States Federal Census
Name: William Norman
Age: 53
Estimated birth year: abt 1797
Birth Place: Granville
Gender: Male
Home in 1850 (City,County,State): Caswell, North Carolina
Family Number: 1352
Household Members: Name Age
William Norman 53
Elizabeth Harris 33
John M Harris 8
American Civil War Soldiers
Name: William Norman
Residence: Caswell County, North Carolina
Enlistment Date: 23 Jul 1864
Enlistment Place: Brunswick County, North Carolina
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: North Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 23 July 1864.
Enlisted in Company B, 3rd Light Artillery Regiment North Carolina on 23 Jul 1864.
Sources: 16
U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
Name: William C Norman
Residence: Caswell County, North Carolina
Enlistment Date: 23 Jul 1864
Rank at enlistment: Private
Enlistment Place: Brunswick County, NC
State Served: North Carolina
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company B, North Carolina Co. B 3rd Light Artillery Battery on 23 Jul 1864.
Sources: North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster
1860 census: Caswell, North Carolina
Post Office: Graves
Value of real estate: $300/$100
W Norman 66 b.NC, farmer
N Norman 34 b.VA
North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
Groom: William Norman
Bride: Milcey West
Bond Date: 14 Jan 1812
Bond #: 000017225
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 008487
County: Caswell
Record #: 01 219
Bondsman: John Norman
North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
Groom: William Norman
Bride: Nancy Bays
Bond Date: 1 Dec 1858
Bond #: 000017228
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 000514
County: Caswell
Record #: 01 219
Bondsman: Levi C. Page
North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
Groom: William Norman
Bride: Nancy Yates
Bond Date: 3 Jul 1845
Bond #: 000017226
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 008968
County: Caswell
Record #: 01 219
Bondsman: A. Slade
North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
Groom: William Norman
Bride: Betsey Harris
Bond Date: 9 Oct 1850
Bond #: 000017227
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 003381
County: Caswell
Record #: 01 219
Bondsman: Henry Made his Mark Trice
Witness: A. Slade
North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2004
Name: William Norman
Spouse: Mrs. Betsey Harris
Marriage Date: 9 Oct 1850
Marriage County: Caswell
Marriage State: North Carolina
Source Vendor: County Court Records - FHL # 0478484-0478488
Source: County Court Records at Yanceyville, NC & Family H
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Genealogical Records of the War of 1812
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