New document?: yes
Document type:
Date:
Place:
County:
State:
Transcription: Page one is the cover page for John and Mary Bennett’s pension file. Remarks; Mary Bennett widow of John Bennett. The second page is a document that was later added in the digitization process when indexing key information for this pension file. Widows Certificate file number, WC 131045. John was enlisted in Co. C. 108th Regt. USCT. Pensioners listed were, widow, Mary Bennett (Maiden name: Garner.) No other pensioners listed. Page three is the claim for Mary Bennett's widow's pension including details on James E Bennett, John’s enlistment, marriage with Mary and death. Pension details are listed at the bottom of the claim. Page four is Mary’s Widow application for army pension dated November 1868. Mary was 24 years old and residing in Jefferson County, Louisville, Kentucky. The application lists Johns death during the war of 1861 in Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 29th, 1865, from “the effects of the inflammation of the lungs” and states that he only had one child, James E Bennett, born September 28th, 1864, in Nelson County, Kentucky. The marriage date listed for John Bennett and Mary Garner is June 15th, 1862, in Fairfield, Nelson County, Kentucky. Mary swears to have remained widowed since John’s death. Two residents of Louisville that Mary considered creditable and respectable (Raphael Beard and Malindia Darsey) adhered to be witnesses on her behalf November 18th, 1868 and swore to be present for Mary’s declaration. Page five is additional documentation for Mary's widow application for army pension. The letter on page six is from the commissioner of pensions (Adjutant General's office) in Washington D.C. dated January 7th, 1869. In this letter the officer is acknowledging pension No. 168397 with information gathered from the rolls on file from that office about John Bennett enlisted in Co. C. 108th Regt. This letter reports John’s death identically to page four, stating he passed; in Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 29th, 1865, from inflammation of the lungs. Page seven is a document from the commissioner of pensions (Adjutant General's office) in Washington D.C. dated December 18th, 1868. A request for information on John Bennett regarding the rolls of the pension office has been solicited involving pension No. 168397. The document on page nine from the surgeon general's office dated January 1869, states that John died from inflammation on the lungs and of that, disease. Page ten is an additional document from the commissioner of pensions (Adjutant General's office) in Washington D.C. also dated December 18th, 1868, identical to the document on page seven. A request for information on John Bennett regarding the rolls of the pension office has been solicited involving pension No. 168397. Page eleven is the cover page for John’s death certificate. The letter on page twelve, thirteen, and fourteen dated November 19th, 1868, Jefferson County, Kentucky, regards the affidavit of Sophia Berdine and Fanny Stone. Sophia and Fanny swore to being intimately acquainted with Mary Bennett for eight years. Both Sophia and Fanny state that they were the slaves of Thomas Bryant from Nelson County, Kentucky and they were both present for the birth of James E Bennett on September 28th, 1864, aiding as nurses/assistants through Mary's birth. They continue to say that James was born on the farm of Edward Garner (Mary Bennett’s enslaver) in Nelson County, Kentucky. Mary is stated to have remained the Widow of John Bennett since his death and has not remarried or had any other children outside of James. Before John’s enlistment, John and Mary are said to have lived in the same domicile since the date of their marriage and were known/recognized as husband and wife. Page fifteen is a document connected to Sophia and Fanny’s affidavit. Remarks; Affidavit of Sophia Berdine and Fanny Stone to birth of child. Page sixteen dated August 6th, 1901, Louisville, Kentucky, is a document from the U.S. Pension Agency stating that the pension for Mary Bennett has been dropped (Certificate No. 131045) because of violation. Mary was stated to receive her last pension payment of $12 on May 4th, 1901. Page seventeen is a document regarding pension information and enlistment details for Mary and John Bennett. Page nineteen is another document regarding pension information and enlistment details for Mary and John Bennett dated June 29th, 1869. Mary is listed as receiving a pension of $8 a month commencing July 30th, 1865. An additional $2 was granted for John and Mary’s son, James E, commencing July 25th, 1866 and ending when he became sixteen years of age, September 27th, 1880. Page twenty is a dropped pension document. There is a stamp that states the pension agent is directed to drop pension on account of violation. At the bottom of this document the pension dropped date is listed as August 6th, 1901. The letter on page twenty-one is from the headquarters of Kentucky volunteers (Adjutant General's office) in Frankfort, Kentucky dated November 21st, 1868. Sating from the rolls located in the pension office, John Bennett was enrolled on June 30th, 1864 and mustered into service that same day in Co. C. 108th Regt to three years of service. The rolls also state that John died in a hospital located in Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 29th, 1865 from inflammation of the lungs. The letter on page twenty-three and twenty-four contains the affidavit of Wraitt Beard, dated June 19th, 1869, in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Wraitt has sworn under oath that he formally served in Co. E. 108th Regt. He states that he was well acquainted with John Bennett who served in Co. C. 108th Regt and was present in Vicksburg, Mississippi with John when he passed. He also states that he visited John often when he was sick of inflammation of the lungs up until the day he passed in the hospital. Wraitt also said that he knows Mary Bennett, widow of John Bennett and that she has remained a widow since his passing. Mary attempted to obtain an affidavit from an officer in the Regt but couldn't. The letter on pages twenty-five, twenty-six and twenty-seven dated November 18th, 1868, is another affidavit of Raphael Beard (AKA Wraitt Beard) and Malinda Darsey. Both affiants state they were raised/brought up in the same neighborhood as Mary Bennett. Mary and John’s former enslaver’s, Edward Garner and Edward Bennett are mentioned, said to be adjoining farmers. Both affiants say they resided in the same neighborhood as Mary and John Bennett, witnessing their marriage on June 15th, 1862, in Fairfield, Nelson County, Kentucky by Father Elliott who had passed away before this oath was given. Malinda and Raphael also testify that has remained the widow of John Bennett since his death and has not remarried since. Before John’s enlistment, John and Mary are said to have lived in the same domicile (Edward Garner’s farm) since the date of their marriage. Raphael identifies himself as the identical Wraitt Beard who formally served in Co. E. 108th Regt. Both affiants further state that James and Mary Bennett only had one child overall, James E Bennett, and that Mary had sole custody and support of James who was living with her when this oath was given. Page fifteen is a document connected to the affidavit of Raphael and Malinda. Remarks; Affidavit of Raphael Beard and Malinda Darsey to marriage of Mary and John Bennett. Page twenty-nine is a document from the Board of Review, requesting any evidence relating to Mary’s pension dated July 17th, 1901, returned with no evidence. A registry receipt is also attached sent from a post office in Washington, D.C, addressing Mary Bennett residing in Louisville, Kentucky dated June 6th, 1901. Page thirty is the brief approved for dropping Mary Bennett's pension on the basis of violation. Mary’s P.O address is listed as 805 Hancock St, Louisville, Kentucky. The pension was approved for dropping on the grounds of the evidence provided, proving Mary’s violation in terms of living in an open and notorious adult relationship since the death of her husband John. The brief was reviewed July 22nd, 1901 and re-reviewed July 22nd, 1907. Mary’s pension is dated July 30th, 1865, for $12 a month. Page thirty-one is a letter from the Department of Interior, Bureau of pensions dated June 3rd, 1901, in Washington, D.C. Mary is being addressed for her violation of pension shown by evidence on file, adduced on special examination. The Commissioner of pensions granted Mary 30 days to file any evidence regarding her case, failure to do so will result in an automatic dropping of her pension. Pages thirty-two and thirty-three contain another letter from Emma Poynter (AKA Pointer) dated June 5th, 1900, stating she can report the character of Mary Bennet who is not living the life of a true widow and hasn’t done so in the past twenty years. Emma further says that she can report the names of ten men that have been living with Mary Bennett. Emma’s address is listed as 807 Hancock St, Louisville, Kentucky between Walnut and Madison. Pages thirty-four and thirty-five regard a letter dated June 18th, 1901, Louisville, Kentucky from Mary Bennett's neighbors; Fannie Hall (Address listed: Preston St, Louisville, Kentucky, between Walnut and Madison- known Mary 14 years), Theresia Prather (717 Nest St, Louisville, Kentucky- known Mary 24 years), Bettie Ricks (833 Hancock St, Louisville, Kentucky- known Mary 30 years) and Minerva Williams. Mary's neighbors/friends; Fannie Hall, Theresia Prather, Bettie Ricks, and Minerva Williams state that Mary Bennett is a good and right woman and that the charges brought against her are wrongful. The letter on pages thirty-six and thirty-seven is sent from the special examiner located in Louisville, Kentucky dated May 19th, 1901. The examiner explains that he is submitting a report in claim of pension certificate No. 131045 for Mary Bennett. Without notice a deposition was taken from Emma Pointer and in pursuit of keeping Emma’s name from being connected as the informant, another deposition was later taken reaffirming Emma’s statement in front of Mary. The special examiner states that the second deposition was shorter because indication of belligerence from the women, especially Mary, was showing. The claim is that Mary has not been living the life of a true widow by having open and notorious adulterous cohabitation. Mary explains this claim was the subject of a special investigation years ago. It’s stated she “practically” admitted since 1882 she has had a man boarding or renting a room with her and throughout this period, alternating between having one to two rooms. Mary reports John Vaugh as residing with her for five years in a separate bed. Dave Stowers is also someone Mary states lived with her but during this time she slept in Dave’s aunt’s room, Bettie Hicks and Bettie slept in a separate bed than Dave but in the same room. Though Mary admits men have lived with her, she insists all the relationships were non-adulterous. Mary referred Mrs. Huber Grocer on her behalf but Huber referred the examiner to her husband whose deposition is stated to be the same as his wife’s, so the examiner didn’t take any remarks from her. After questing a great deal of individual’s living in Mary’s neighborhood, they were all non-committal and deny any knowledge beyond the fact that men have lived with Mary. Emma Pointer is the only person who would provide any personal knowledge regarding Mary occupying the same bed with any men. The investigator forwardly explains the sexual perception of two individuals of the opposite sex, unrelated, sleeping in the same bed and believes this case can be adjudicated without Emma Pointers testimony being she has some animus. Emma denied any prejudice, but reports have shown she was mad at Mary for being unable to obtain quarters in the remodeled house where Mary lived. Emma was said to be a conjurer that sprinkles salt and pepper on neighbors' doorsteps who have incurred her enmity. The investigator still believed Emma was telling the truth when testifying that Mary and John cohabited in the same bed despite these allegations. John Vaugh, who was said to have appeared in the former investigation of this case, is residing in Indianapolis. George Boyd is listed as the last man to live with Mary while having two rooms with outside entrances. The front room is described as some sort of parlor with a bed. The rear room is described to be the kitchen with a narrow bed. George’s father and three brothers were said to reside next door in the same house as Mary. George located quarters somewhere else when the investigation began but while he was still in the house with Mary, the investigator noticed the keys for the rooms being on the kitchen side (George’s quarters.) Mary is described as a very ignorant woman and contrary to the facts, the investigator believes that Eddie (James E Bennett) was born after Mary’s arrival to Louisville. Nacy Miles reports a time when Mary was sharing a story about her carrying Eddie ten miles in her arms the night she left her white folks, about 10 miles from where she was owned to the nearest R.R. point, Bardstown. The examiner concludes that it is unnecessary to spend any more time on Mary’s case and recommends consideration of Chief of Board of review. Page thirty-eight is a document sent from the special examination division regarding the allegations Emma Poynter made against the title to pension of Mary Bennett, dated June 15th, 1901, in Louisville, Kentucky. Page thirty-nine is the cover page index of Mary’s pension claim No. 131045. Some of the claimants were listed by page/deposition, with their reputation also stated at the end of each name. Bettie Ricks (reputation ranking: fair only), J.C. Huber (good ordinarily), Nancy Miles (fair to good), George Boyd (fair), Minerva Williams (fair), Mandia Tolbert (fair), Emma Pointer (fair see summary.) Pages forty-one through forty-six display Mary Bennett’s deposition dated May 3rd, 1901, in Jefferson County, Louisville, Kentucky. Mary states she was married as a young woman to John Bennett who belonged to Edward Bennett, and she belonged to Edward Garner who lived below Fairfield, Nelson County, Kentucky on the pike opposite of where said, Edward Bennett lived and that she cannot recall her age. One of Mary’s two children is said to have died when he was little and the other was killed in Chicago by orders of Edward Bennett. John and Mary married before the war and cohabited together as man and wife until his enlistment. Mary states John’s death occurred at Rock Island, Illinois, in service of camp fever and that she remained the widow of John since. Mary left Nelson County, one to two years after freedom then moved to Louisville, Kentucky, remaining her home ever since. First living on 5th St. with Mrs. Wallace between Walnut and Chestnut Sts. for two to three months, then moving to Walnut at bet. Jackson and Preston, to a white lady (Miss. Laura Jamerson) for six to seven months. After Laura, Mary moved to Sophie Berdine’s on Hancock and Madison Sts. living in this neighborhood ever since. One home Mary lived in for 25 years and when she began to draw her pension in 1869, she lived a half sqaure away from where she lives now (805 Hancock St.) During remodeling of the house on Hancock, Mary lived around the corner on Madison St., then moved back after construction was finished. The special examiner began asking Mary a variety of questions. When were Mary’s children born and where? Mary replies that one child was born in Fairfield and the other in Louisville. Mary’s first child didn’t live long enough for her to call him a name and she cannot recall if his birth was before or after the war. An older colored lady assisted Mary with her labor while living at Edward Garners. Mary can't recall exactly where she lived when James E Bennett was born but she knows it was in Louisville. Ed was what Mary called James and she has no knowledge of others calling him James. (Pension card shows James E, 16 years of age September 27th, 1880.) The examiner follows up by asking if Ed (James Bennett) was born after John Bennett’s enlistment on June 30th, 1864. Mary replies that she can't recall the exact time, but she is sure she remained in Nelson County for one to two years after the colored people began to move and Ed was born after she moved to Louisville. Mary never saw John after his enlistment and states that others thought for awhile she’d go crazy. Mary was asked who her son Ed’s father was and she replied John Bennett but the examiner questions how that could be if John had been gone two years since Ed. was born. Mary explained it may not have been two years after John’s enlistment and she did not bring any children to Louisville with her. Mary was then questioned about any men/man that have lived with her in the past twenty years but states she has lived with no men. Mary was then questioned about the authenticity of her charges of residence with Dick Bell when she first got her pension and that she has not been without a man two weeks since, being she cannot get along without a man. Mary replies that she can and has got along without men. George Boyd rented Mary’s back room (The kitchen quarters) and she made sure he was okay with her doing her washing in his quarters when he was not present. Mary adds she had two rooms on 628 E. Madison St. where she rented one to George Boyd and continued renting her second room to George when she moved back to 805 Hancock St, believing it would aid in lighter rent by renting him a room. Every month Mary paid seven dollars in rent with George paying half ($3.50) to Mary. Both Mary and George had their own rooms with beds they slept in separately. George Boyd was about Mary’s age, working at the market and not married during his residence with her but had a woman and Mary adds she has known George near a year. Dick Bell was a married man living in “Smoketown” at the time of this examination but had a room with Mary prior when is Aunt Harriet Rowlett was alive at the time Mary first start receiving her pension The examiner then asked Mary if she has ever used her pension money to purchase clothes for Dick Bell, she replied no, “I ask God to paralyze me if I ever bought any man clothes”, and that she has never been Dick Bell’s woman nor has he ever been her man. Mary recalls Dick Bell residing with her for about a year or less. Mary was then asked if John Vaugh was the man that stayed with her the longest and she answered she believes so and that five or six years ago when a prior investigation was active the examiner asked her if John was “keeping her” (sharing an unlawful romantic relationship with John paying all the bills.) Mary restates she had never been in bed with John in her life and anyone who claims otherwise is false. John has been in Indianaoplis for five or six years or longer but when he stayed with Mary serval years, they had separate beds, and he was nothing more to her than any other man. Mary was then questioned about Dave Stowers, who rented a room from her for two to three years or more and married after that time. Mary isn't aware of where Dave lives since leaving her home. A man referenced as “Banjo picker named Clarence”, is brought up in questioning, Mary replies that he stayed with her two or three months renting a room and paying for it just like the others. Mary’s relations with Henry Pyles were questioned and she explained that he is not a married man; she does his washing and he picks them up every other Sunday, before this he roomed at her house on Madison St. the past winter when she had two bedrooms. The examiner asks if it's not fact that Mary only had one room on Hancock St. The back room that was downstairs. Mary confirms she only had one room on Hancock St. but has two rooms there now. When John Vaughn took up quarters with Mary on Hancock, they both slept in their own beds and never got in the same bed. The examiner states if Mary means to tell him that she undressed and slept in the same room for four or five years with a man and they never got in each other’s bed. Mary confirms that she does mean that and after being asked if anyone else lived with her and John Vaughn she says yes, a little boy named Louis Vaughn (she seconds guesses if his last name was Vaughn and states she cannot recall his father’s name.) Mary also says she raised Louis from a little boy to a decent size, he is now in New Jersey where Ed. was before Chicago and coming back to Louisville. Ed. Passed about 15 to 20 years before this examination. Mary was then asked who Louis's mother was and she replied Easter Vaughn (Caroll or McCarl) who asked Mary to raise him before she died. (1887 Directory is highlighted showing; Mary Bennett as laundress living at 805 Hancock St. with John Vaughn as a laborer boarding at the same address.) Mary was asked about her idea of swapping rooms, she answered that the cooking was done in her room and that’s also where the fireplace was located with the two beds so when Aunt Bettie lived there it was best for her to sleep in Mary's room with Dave being that’s his aunt. Mary mentioned a man named Nat Watthews or Brown and said he never said with her, she was then asked if she was known as Mrs. Vaughn when John Vaughn lived with her, she answered no and that she was only known by Mary Bennett or Garner. Ed. Was also known by Ed. Garner sometimes, he was 22 when he was killed at the Barber’s picnic in Chicago then buried in White’s graveyard (Eastern Cemetery) under Ed. Bennett. The examiner then questions why Mary’s pension certificate shows she has a pension for a son named James, Mary explains that James Edward is the name Ed. Was christened under in a church that was tore down on 4th street. The church is said to be a Baptist church and no child was ever christened there so the examiner asked Mary how Ed. could have been christened there and she says she knows the church was catholic so maybe it was on 5th St, she used to attend this church often. Mary mentions Emma Pointer and explains how she has threatened to write Washington about Mary’s pension numerous times, accusing her of sleeping with Dave Stowers. Emma is the only person Mary has ever heard say anything relating to this matter and can’t think of anyone else who had it out for her. Emma pretends to be a conjuror and got mad at Mary because Mr. Douglas would not rent her a flat where Mary was living. The examiner asks if Mary can name any witnesses to show that there has been no open and notorious adulterous cohabitation on her part in the last twenty years, she names Mr. Jim Douglas (lives at 1520 First St.) that she rents from, his brother-in-law Mr. Ashby who attends to the renting, Mrs. Hoover from the corner grocery, Bettie Ricks, Minerva and Mary Willaims. Mary offers to go with the examiner when meeting the witnesses but also states it's okay if he goes without her. Pages forty-seven and forty-eight regard the deposition for Bettie Ricks dated May 3rd, 1901, in Louisville, Kentucky. Bettie starts by explaining she doesn't know her age and has had five children, her eldest would have been fifty at the time of this deposition if still living. Bettie lived at 833 Hancock St. Jefferson County, Kentucky and states she would do any work she could get. Bettie was owned as a slave in Nelson Co. Kentucky by Thomas Aud, when her master died her missus moved to Fairfield placing her a mile and a half away from Mary’s master’s farm. Bettie says she knows nothing about Mary’s husband (John) and her young miss married a McGill then moved after the war commenced. Bettie reckons Mary married after she left Fairfield because she knew nothing of her having any husband or children then. Several years after the war when Bettie met up with Mary (she called her Mary Bennett), Mary had Ed. with her and he was a decent size boy. Bettie says she has been living close to Mary for about 20 years and once lived with Mary on 805 Hancock St. The examiner asks if Mary has Married or had any husband in the last 20 years, Bettie replies no, she has not seen Mary walk with any man. Bettie says she is Dave Stowers’s Aunt, Dave is her own dear brother's son. Bettie was asked if Dave lived with Mary awhile, Bettie says yes, and she was there too. They had a door between two rooms and Bettie and Mary lived like sisters. The room Bettie and Dave mainly slept in had two beds and Mary’s room had one. Dave and Mary never slept in the same bed and he never supported her. Dave paid for his food and rent, Bettie was home every night and they never showed any familiarity in front of her but were always nice. The examiner asked if Bettie moved and left Dave and Mary alone at 805 Hancock St. Giving her room up as well, she replied yes, he was boarding with her after she went three miles out in the country and gave her keys to Mary, unknowing if she kept the room or not. Bettie was then asked if her and Mary both slept in the same room as Dave at different times, she said yes but she never heard of Mary being Daves Stowers’s woman and it's because everyone knew Bettie knew better and says the same for John Vaughn when she lived a half sqaure from him and Mary. Bettie never seen Mary in bed with John and never heard anything either. Bettie was asked if its fact Mary and John slept in the same room together, she replied yes and Louis, she is unaware of who Louis’s Mother and Father was and information on any other men that lived with Mary. The Examiner asked if it was not general understanding that Mary was John’s woman and Bettie said no, not that she heard of with him or any other man. Bettie was then asked if she thinks a man and woman would sleep in the same room for five years without getting together and she replied that she is not a judge, “Judge not lest ye be judged.” Pages forty-nine and fifty are another deposition given by J.C. Huber who was 54 years old and a resident of Hancock St. The document is dated May 4th, 1901. Pages Fifty-one and Fifty-two display the deposition for Nancey Willis who was 39, a laundress and resident of Louisville living at, 422 E Walnut Alley. Nancey’s father was Jerry Willis also know as Jerry Redd. When Nancey first met Mary, she recalls her having a little boy with her named Eddie. Nancey seen Ed. when he was brought to Louisville for burial from Chicago and she attended his funeral. Jerry and Nancey once resided with Mary at 805 Hancock St. when Nancey was a little girl, big enough to hold Ed. Mary told Nancey Eddie’s father was Mr. Bennett. Jerry and Mary were never married and Nancey only addressed her as Mary Bennett. Nancey also knew of Dick Bell boarding with Mary. Pages fifty-three and fifty-four dated May 6th, 1901, displays the deposition of George Boyd who was going on 42 years old and a residence of 805 Hancock St. Louisville, Kentucky. George was working different jobs in the winter and summer and says he had known Mary almost a year. George explained Mary was a good hard-working woman that takes in washing and that he resided with Mary before 805 Hancock St. When Mary moved back to 805 Hancock St. On March 28th, George moved with her paying 75 cents a week and occupying the kitchen while she slept in the front room. George explains he is a Christian and the only other man he knew of living with Mary was Henry Pyles. Henry is said to have slept in the separate room with the kitchen as George did. Pages fifty-five and fifty-six display the deposition of Minerva Williams dated May 18th, 1901. Minerva couldn’t recall her age and states she had two children before the war. Minerva resided at 827 East Walnut St., Louisville, Kentucky, living with Mary in 1882 at 805 Hancock St. Mary had two bedrooms and a son named Ed Bennett. Minerva recalls no men living with Mary but sometimes boarding. One man that she knows boarded with Mary is John Vaughn. When John resided with Mary, she had one bedroom, but two separate beds. Minerva testifies she never seen Mary in bed with John Vaughn or any other man ever. Henry Pyles is said to be the last man that boarded with Mary before her house was rebuilt. Pages fifty-seven and fifty-eight contain the deposition of Mandia Tolbert dated May 19th, 1901, in Louisville, Kentucky. Mandia was turning 30 that May and lived at 827 East Walnut Street. Mandia’s husband was Leo Tolbert, and her father was Mr. Williams who moved above Mary Bennett in 1882 at 805 Hancock St until January of 1901. Mandia lived with her father and witnessed Mary optimize her second room with boarders, some being Bettie Ricks and Josephine. The examiner asked if Mary ever had any men boarding with her, Mandia replied as boarders but never as a husband. Mary always had two beds in the back room and did the cooking/washing there. When Bettie stayed with Mary, Dave Stowers did as well and moved out before Bettie. John Vaughn boarded with Mary when she had one room, but they slept in separate beds and was never address or acted like man and wife. Mandia recalls Henry Pyles (AKA Piles) as the last man living with Mary before her and her father moved. Pages fifty-nine and sixty display another deposition for Emma Pointer dated May 18th, 1901, in Louisville, Kentucky. Emma was turning 60-61-years old the 23rd of next September, residing at 816 Hancock St. For 21 years. Emma states she saw Mary Bennett with Henrietta Brown and recognized her to be the same woman she lived adjourning to on Hancock. Mary and Emma rented from the same landlords, Mr. Douglas and his brother Mr. Ashby. Emma states that some people used to address Mary as Mary Redd and Ed as Eddie Redd but Jerry Redd (Nancey Willis's father) was not around when she met Mary. Ed was a baby in 1866, small enough for Mary to hold in her arms. John Vaughn and Mary Bennett are said to have lived in the same room for five years with only one room and sometimes one bed. Emma claims John slept in Mary’s bed with her and that when Mary was sick John got up to let her in and she seen him return to be with Mary. Emma says when she told Mary about John Vaughn, he came and threatened to knock her in the head. Emma also states that everyone know John was Mary’s man and that they were sleeping together. The examiner asked Emma if she ever seen Mary in bed with other men, she replied yes, whenever she had a man, she slept with him. Pages sixty-one and sixty-two contain another deposition from Emma Pointer dated February 4th, 1901, in Jefferson County, Louisville, Kentucky. Emma states she has known Mary since 1868 and was around when she first started to draw pension, her first pension was a good sum and she had Dick Bell living with her. Emma claims Mary bought Dick Bell a pair of pants for sixteen dollars and has always lived with a man and can't go two weeks without a man. Emma repeats that John Vaughn stayed with Mary five years and called her his wife while sleeping together. Emma said John and Mary called her in the room when Mary was sick and John got back in bed with Mary, not making anything of her presence. Dave Stowers was another man that lived with Mary for three years then she had a “Banjo Picker” named Clarence, but Emma couldn’t recall his real name. Emma lived at 807 Hancock for many years while Mary was at 805 Hancock St. Until they remodeled the houses. Mary only had one room before and now has Henry Pyles living with her on Madison St. Between Hancock and Clay. Nat Watthews AKA Nat Brown is also said to have boarded with Mary occasionally. Mary has two rooms where she lives now but Emma says she has never seen her with a child full time since she has known her. It was also said that the child Eddie that Mary claimed pension on is the son of Jerry Redd. Julia Russel, Minerva Williams and the whole neighborhood (White and Black) are said to have known Mary was living in often adultery for years and years but they hate to talk. Pages sixty-three and sixty-four display Mary Bennett's deposition dated May 18th, 1901, in Jefferson County, Louisville, Kentucky. Mary has been presented with the testimony of Bettie Ricks, J.C. Huber, and Emma Pointer. Mary was also given George Boyd’s, Minerva Williams, Mandia Tolbert, and Nancey Willis statements and asked if she was satisfied with what they said. Mary said yes, all true. Mary did take care of Jerry Redd and his little girl Nancy Redd. Jerry never lived with Mary or came around much only when he visited Nancy but didn’t sleep at Mary’s. Mary also said she has no memory of Henrietta Brown. Mary says Emma is sick, saying she seen her in bed with John Vaughn and others. Emma is said to be a lair and Mary told her to her face. Mary told the examiner if they hadn’t been there, she would have knocked her head off with a chair. Mary has never been in bed with a man and knows Emma told a lie because she never seen her in bed with a man. Mary can provide many witnesses to testify, and they did, but she will not say the men weren’t there because they were, she just did not sleep with any of them. Mary was asked if she had affairs with John Vaugh and she said no, Minerva Williams and Mandia were in her room just as often. Emma Pointer hardly ever came inside Mary’s house. Page sixty-five is the source documentation for John Bennett and Mary Garner Bennett’s pension file.
Summary: This document is the cover page for the pension file of John and Mary Bennett.
EN
