Geiszler Genealogy

Last week, I posted the first affidavit from Mary Townsend. It seems she had to reapply for a Pension in 1890, after initially applying in 1889 after her husband William James Townsend's death. State of Ohio County of Franklin } SS. In the matter of Pension Claim No. 422.500 of Mary Townsend widow of William J Townsend late of Co “K”, 133rd Reg't, Ohio Infantry Vols. Personally came before me a __________ in and for said County and State, Mary Townsend aged 44 years. No. ___________ St. Citizen of the town of Edward Station County of Franklin State of Ohio well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declares in relations to aforesaid case as follows: I am the claimant above named my husband William J Townsend did no serve in the military or naval service of the United States after his discharge from Co. “K” 133rd Regt. Ohio Inft. Vols. On August 20, 1864.  PROBLEM... Unfortunately, the bottom of the letter was not scanned by the person I ...

This installment of William James Townsend's Civil War pension file opens the  voice of Mary (Clabaugh) Townsend to me to an extent. I do not know if she wrote her affidavit. However, this is her testimony and I feel like she's speaking to anyone who would listen, not knowing that someday a great+ granddaughter would hear. Mary (Clabaugh) Townsend's statement for Widow's Pension   State of Ohio County of Franklin } SS. In the matter of Pension Cliam No. 422.500 Mary Townsend widow of William J Townsend late of Co “K” 133 rd Reg't, Ohio Inft Vols. Personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, Mary Townsend, aged ___ years, NO. St. Citizen of town of Edwards Station County of Franklin State of Ohio well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to aforesaid case as follows: I am the claimant named above I am not able to furnish Public or Church record of the dates of Births of my...

In case you didn't know, Civil War Pension files are potentially filled treasures. One of which is a certificate of marriage for the ancestors I've been featuring... William James Townsend and Mary Clabaugh. What's interesting is there are two certified copies of the marriage record. The only thing that is different in the date  and the signature of the person completing the certificate verification. Certificate of Marriage for William Townsend and Mary Clabaugh Marriage Certification The Sate of Ohio, Franklin County, SS. I Certify that I this day solemnized the MARRIAGE of William Townsend with Mary Clabaugh Witness my Hand, This 10 day of November A.D. 1864 W.W. Kile J.P. THE STATE OF OHIO, FRANKLIN COUNTY, SS } PROBATE COURT I, CHARLES G. SAFFIN, Judge of the Probate Court within and for the County of Franklin, State of Ohio, do herby certify that the foregoing is a full and correct copy of the CERTIFACTE OF MARRIAGE of the parties therein named, as the same appears of ...

It seems that Mary (Clabaugh) Townsend of Franklin County, Ohio had to file a second Widow's Pension in 1890 following the one completed in November 1889 following her husband William James Townsend's death. (click here for previous pension file ) DECLARATION FOR WIDOW'S PENSION Act of June 27, 1890 This Must be Executed Before a Court of Record or Some Officer Thereof Having Custody of its Seal. State of Ohio, County of Franklin, ss: ON THIS 5th, day of July, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety personally appeared before me, a Deputy Clerk of the Common Pleas court, the same being a Court of Record within and for the County and State aforesaid, Mary Townsend, aged 43 years, a resident of the Town of Edwards Station, County of Franklin, State of Ohio, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of William J Townsend who enlisted under the name of William J Townsend at Groveport Ohio on the 2nd day of May A.D. 1864, in as a private of Compa...