Armistead Melville Witcher

Armistead Melville Witcher. He and his oldest brother, John Henry, went off to the civil war together in Walker's Texas Division. They were released at Hempstead at the end of the war in 1865. Armistead died in 1928 at the age of 86.

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For Use of Solders who are in Indigent Circumstances

THE STATE OF TEXAS

County of Williamson

I, A.M. Witcher do hearby make application to the Commissioner of Pensions for a pension to be granted me under the Act passed by the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Texas and approved April 7, 1913, on the following grounds:

I enlisted and served in the military service of the Confederate States during the war between the States of the United States, and that I did not desert the Confederate service, but during the war I was loyal and true to my duty, and never at any time voluntarily abandon my post of duty in the said service; or (that I was in the service of the State of Texas during the war, to protect said State against the Indians and Mexicans for more than six months.) That I was honorably discharged or surrendered.

Disbanded at Hempstead, Texas May 21st 1865

(give date and cause)

that I have been a bona fide citizen of this State since prior to January 1, A.D. 1900, and have been continuously since a citizen of the State of Texas. I do further state that I do not hold any National, State, or county office which pays a salary or fees of $300.00 per annum, nor have I an income from any other employment or other source whatever which amounts to $300.00 per annum, nor do I own in my on right, nor does anyone hold in trust for my benefit or use, nor does my wife own, nor does anyone in trust for my wife, estate or property, either real or personal or mixed, either in fee or for life, of the assessed value of over one thousand dollars, exclusive of a home of the value of not more than $1000.00; nor do I receive aid or pension from any other State, or from the United States, or from any other source, and that I am not the inmate of the Confederate Home, and I do further state that the answers given to the following questions are true:

What is your age?

80 years of age December 25th 1922

Where were you born?

Pittsylvania County, Virginia

How long have you resided in Texas?

Came to Texas December 1859

In what county do you reside?

Williamson County, Texas

How long have you resided in said county, and what is your postoffice address?

About 48 years. P.O. Liberty Hill, Texas

Have you applied for a pension under the Confederate pension law and been rejected? If rejected, state when and where.

Never applied before

What is your occupation, if able to engage in one? Farmer What is your physical condition?

Not good

In what State was the command in which you served organized?

Texas

How long did you serve? Give, if possible, the date of enlistment and discharge.

3 years 4 months, from March 1862 to May 21st 1865

. What was the letter of your company, number of battalion, regiment or battery?

Company C, Texas cavalry, Dismounted. Note 2

. If transferred from one command to another, give the time of transfer, name of command and time of service.

Never transferred

.What branch of service did you enlist in-infantry, cavalry, artillery or navy?

Cavalry -dismounted

If commissioned direct by the President, what was your rank and line of duty?

None-private

If detailed for special services, under the law of conscription, what was the nature of your service and how long did you serve?

None

What is the assessed value of your home, if you own a home?

$1000.00

What is the assessed value of your other property?

Less than $300.00-about $260.00

Have you transferred to others ant property of any kind for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law?

None at all

Wherefore your petitioner prays that his application for a pension be approved and such other proceedings be had in the premises as are required by law.

(Signature of Applicant) A.M. Witcher

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 5th day of May A. D. 19 23

F.D. Love

County Judge Williamson County, Texas

[seal]

AFFIDAVID OF WITNESS

(Note-There must be at least two creditable witnesses)

THE STATE OF TEXAS

County of Williamson

Before me the undersigned authority, a Notary Public Williamson County, State of Texas, on this day personally appeared C.F Vann and J.W. Connell known to me to be creditable citizens, who, being by me duly sworn, on oath state that they personally know A.M. Witcher, the above named applicant for a pension, and that they personally that the said A.M. Witcher has been a bona fide resident citizen of the State of Texas since prior to January 1 A. D. 1900 and that they have no interest in his claim.

(Signature of Witness) C.F Vann

(Signature of Witness) J.W. Connell

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 8th day of May A. D. 19 23

T. A. Bryson, a Notary Public

County Judge Williamson County, Texas

[seal]

AFFIDAVID OF WITNESS

(If possible the two witnesses should have served with the applicant in the army, and if so, let them or either state in oath, their source of knowledge; also any information regarding applicant's army service)

THE STATE OF TEXAS

County of Williamson

Before me the undersigned authority, a Notary Public Williamson County, State of Texas, on this day personally appeared W. M. Casbus who are is known to me to be creditable citizens, who, being sworn, on oath state that they he are is personally acquainted with the foregoing applicant, and that the facts set forth and statements made in his application are correct and true, to the best of their his knowledge and belief, and that they he have has no interest in his claim, and said applicant's habits are good and free from dishonor. And I further make oath to the following facts touching the applicants service in the Confederate Army: (State fully your source of knowledge)

"I know the said A. M. Witcher to have been a courier from General McCullough to Allen's Regiment 17th Texas Regiment Infantry in the battle of Milliken's Bend on July 7th 1863." See note 3

(Signature of Witness)

(Signature of Witness) W.M. Cashaw

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 8th day of May A. D. 19 23

T. A. Bryson, a Notary Public

County Judge Williamson County, Texas

[seal]

CERTIFICATE OF STATE AND COUNTY ASSESSOR

I, F. C. Humphrey State and County Assessor in the County of Williamson State of Texas, do certify that A. M. Witcher, or his wife or his trustee, or trustee for his wife, whose name is signed to the foregoing application for a pension, under the Act of the Thirty-third Legislature, approved April 7, 1913, is charged on the tax rolls of said county with a homestead of the value of One Thousand Dollars, and of other property, real or personal, or both, of the value of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars.

Given under my hand, this 7th day of May A. D. 19 23.

F. C. Humphrey

State and County Assessor

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WAR DEPARTMENT

THE ADJUDENT GENERALS OFFICE

WASHINGTON

May, 22, 1923

"Armistead M. Wicher, pvt. (Corp.) Co, C, 16 Regt.

Texas Cav., C.S.A., enlisted Feb. 22, 1862

at Sherman, Texas. He is shown on rolls as follows:

July & Aug., 1863 Absent, furlough on Surgeon's Certificate for (60) from Aug. 25, 1863

Jan. & Feb. , 1864 Absent without leave

No subsequent rolls are on file and no later record of him has been found.

The period of enlistment is stated as one year.

Robert C. Davis

The Adjutant General

A. M. Witcher is know to have carried a piece of shrapnel in the heal of his foot until his death. It is possible that this wound was received at the Battle of Milliken's Bend and was the reason for the medical in July and August of 1863. His unit was disbanded May 21st, 1865 in Hempstead, Texas.

Document notes:

Note 1

This is a the application for a Texas Confederate Veterans Pension. I made ever effort to reproduce the original document as accurately as is possible in an HTML file. The original form was printed with blanks to be filled out by the applicant, officials and witnesses. All hand entrees are reproduced here in Blue Italics. All words crossed out were actually crossed out by the Notary Public.

Note 2

Units from Texas were often dismounted because of the level of supplies needed to support a cavalry and their mounts.

Note 3

A. M. Witchers application was verified with the following note from the war department:

Title/Collection: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Texas

Publication Number: M323

Publisher: NARA

Military Unit: Sixteenth Cavalry (Fitzhugh's Regiment; Third Regiment, Johnson's Brigade)

Surname Starts With: W

Given Name: Armstead M

Surname: Witcher

Age: 21

Year: 1862

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1900 United States Federal Census

about Armstead Witcher

Name: Armstead Witcher

[Armistead Witcher]

[Armand Witcher]

Home in 1900: Justice Precinct 3, Williamson, Texas

Age: 57

Birth Date: Dec 1842

Birthplace: Virginia

Race: White

Ethnicity: American

Relationship to head-of-house: Head

Father's Birthplace: Virginia

Mother's Birthplace: Virginia

Spouse's Name: America A

Marriage Year: 1870

Marital Status: Married

Years Married: 30

Residence : Justice Precinct 3 (All South of S. Fork of San Gabriel River), Williamson, Texas

Household Members: Name Age

Armstead Witcher 57

America A Witcher 48

Charles C Witcher 19

Albert P Witcher 17

Fannie B Witcher 11

Zora M Witcher 4

Dora E Witcher 2

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Burial::

Liberty Hill Cemetery

Liberty Hill

Williamson County

Texas, USA

Sources ::

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Witcher&GSbyr...