Military Pension Files for Private Charles Reed, 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Company D: Deposition D of Lydia J. Dyer

Transcription

DEPOSITION D

Case of Charles Reed, Certificate No. 602,710 See Widow's Certificate No. 328,339

On this 8 day of January, 1900, at Worcester county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, before me, Ernest S. Bartlett, a special examiner of the Bureau of Pensions, personally appeared Lydia J. Dyer, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to her during this special examination of aforesaid claim for pension, deposes and says:

I am 65 years of age; my post-office address is #4 Newberry Street, Worcester, Massachusetts. I am the wife of Joseph E. Dyer, but do not live with him. Sarah Maria Reed, who is right here is my sister, and the wife of Charles Reed who served in the 54 Massachusetts Infantry. I do not know the company. My first husband William H. Hector, wasn't in the same regiment. I was married then.

I lived in the same house, on School Street, in this city, Annie De Camp [note in margin: not "Maria Moulton"] lived in, about five years ago. A man we called "Old Man Moulton" was called her father. She was called Annie Moulton sometimes. She is dead, and so is her mother. They both died here. I never heard her called Maria. I never heard she was in New Bedford, Massachusetts or Washington, Connecticut or Columbus, Ohio.

I never heard of but one Maria Reed, and that is my sister, now here.

I never heard of any Charles Reed, except my said sister's husband, also now here, nor that he has ever been in any state except this one and Connecticut.

I never heard he was married to anyone except my sister, and Sarah Matison Reed, who was Fred Reed's wife.

Within two or three years I have heard Charles was married to her, but where or by whom I did not hear. I do not believe they were married.

I think there has not been a year since the war when I have not seen Charles, and generally I have often.

I never heard he and my sister were divorced.

I never heard of Robert Ford, Aaron Backster, or Mary Wiggins, or Elizabeth Sisco. I had a cousin Maria Sisco, and knew a Mary Jackson. Both are dead. It seems to me

--cont'd on p. 20--

Public record of military pension files

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."

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Photo editing and transcription by K Raymoure