Amanuensis Monday: General Affidavit by Ida Sanborn

Mary (Clabaugh) Townsend needed to provide a number of witness statements about her living conditions after the death of her husband William James Townsend who had served in Co K 133rd Regiment of the Ohio Infantry Volunteers during the Civil War. William had died in 1889 living Mary to care for four young children through her efforts to take on day labor. 

This witness statement is Ida Jane Sanborn. Ida also lives in Edward's Station... possibly near to Mary. Now, here's what I know that Ida does not reveal in her statement. She says she was working for Mary in 1884 for Samuel Townsend was born. Samuel is her brother and Mary is her mother. It's possible that Mary needed witnesses for the births of her children and only had family witnesses due to the poverty her family lived in with a blind farmer for a husband. It's possible that Ida could not say, "This is my mother and I was a witness to my brother Samuel's birth" because of these affidavits stating that the person witnessing is not concerned with the outcome of the claim. Well, Ida would certainly care about the outcome as it would greatly assist in the provisions for her mother and her siblings. Ida was 23 at the time this statement was recorded and she had been married for five years.




State of Ohio
County of Franklin, SS


In the matter of Pension Claim No. 422.500 of Mary, widow of Wm J Townsend late of Co. “K”, 133rd Reg't, Ohio Inft Vol.
Personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, Ida J Sandborn aged 23 years.


Citizen of the 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 was working for Mrs Mary Townsend the claimant on previous and subsequent to the 8thof July 1884 on which day I distinctly remember and known that she had a male child born to her afterwards named Samuel LeRoy who is still living and with his mother.
I can further state that the claimant has never remarried since the death of her husband Nov'r 13th 1889. That her children Harry A., Emma V., Samuel L. and Ethel May are in the care of their mother, the claimant and that the claimant is dependent upon her own labor for the support of her self and her children.


And I further say that my knowledge of the above facts is obtained from the following sources, viz: memory and personal knowledge as stated above.

Signed Ida Jane Sanborn

KNOWLEDGE GAINED
  • Ida was 18 when she witnessed the birth of her brother Samuel. 
  • Ida was living in Edwards Station in 1890/1891. 
QUESTION
  • How close was Ida's home to her mother Mary's in 1890/1891?
  •  Ida had three small children of her home at this time. Did her children play with their young aunts & uncles when Mary took in odd jobs for her family's support?


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