Military Pension Files for Private John Saunders a.k.a. William Gibson, 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Co. D. Special Examination by A.J. Green. Deposition C of Jesse Hays. p. 27

Transcription 4 of 4:

I repeat I did not live here before war of 1861-1865 and did not know this man Sanders or Gibson till after I was discharged which was a long time after Pres[ident] Lincoln was killed, and I never knew that he was in Co. D, 54" Mass. Vols. or that there was such a reg[imen]t or that he served in it under name of John Sanders. No, sir, Mr. Marshall wrote that wrong. I didn't tell him that wa[TBD]. No relation. No interest herein. Have understood your questions. Have heard you read my deposition herein and it is correctly recorded and I have nothing further to say.

• his mark X Jesse Hays, Deponent

Attest:

• Herbert Rowlinson
• Dan Forsen

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 10th day of March, 1899, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to [...]

Transcription 3 of X:

I don't know that this man present who is called both William Gibson and John Sanders was ever in Co. D, 54" Mass. Vols. Inf. or that he served under name of John Sanders in said service. No, sir, I did not know such was in my affidavit in this case. It is all false and I did not tell Mr. Marshall that and he did not ask me about that. I didn't know nothing about that before. I would not sign that paper if I had known that pack of lies was in it.

Transcription 2 of X:

Q[uestion]: Tell us how you made out your affidavit?

A[nswer]: I was taken to office of Joe Marshall, Madison, Ind[iana], and he wrote my affidavit and a lady swore me. King Sanders signed with me. No, Joe Marshall did not read my affidavit to me or to King Sanders nor did the lady. I have been blind 14 years. Joe Marshall is my attorney in my pension claim. No, I was not in Co. D, 54" Mass[achusetts] Vol[unteer] Inf[antry]. No, I did not swear in my affidavit that I lived here before War of 1861-1865 or that I knew William Gibson alias Sanders lived here before war of 1861-1865 and that I knew him before war of 1861-1865 - for I did not live here myself then [TBD] till after my discharge which was sometime after the war was over.

--(cont'd from p. 26) --

Transcription 1 of X:

it, and with stiffness in his legs. It is not due to vicious habits in my opinion. I never knew him to drink a drop. He uses tobacco, I think, but never to excess. He is a man of good habits. I know of no heart disease of which he ever complained or fainting or falling spells.

Yes, I have made an affidavit in this claim. Well, yes, I can tell you what I swore to in my affidavit. I swore I knew him when came here from the army, and about the names he went by after he came here, and that he enlisted with the U.S. regulars and that is all.

See also Special Examination Index

Public domain military record

National Archives Catalog #300020. "Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934."

National Archives retrieval courtesy of American Origins, LLC

Fee provided by J.M.

Photo editing and transcription by K Raymoure