Thursday, January 27, 2011

Treasure Chest Thursday - Isaac Seaver's Civil War Pension Papers: Deposition (Part 1) of the Widow

It's Treasure Chest Thursday, time to share one of the documents or artifacts in my family history collection.  In previous posts, I have displayed documents from the Civil War Pension File of Isaac Seaver, my second great-grandfather. 

I received the complete Civil War Pension File for Isaac Seaver on 3 January - see my post My Christmas Present Came Today - Oh Boy! - and it has 81 pages in the file.  Some of them have little or no information on them.  I'm going to cherry-pick some pages for this and later Treasure Chest Thursday posts.

The "treasure" this week is the first part of the "Deposition" that supports the application of the widow, Alvina M. (Bradley) (Lewis) Seaver, taken on 23 December 1901 by Frank Shapleigh of the Bureau of Pensions.  This deposition has three handwritten pages (written by the examiner and signed by the deponent):




The Deposition reads (filled in lines underlined, handwritten items italicized):

[First page]

DEPOSITION  __________________

Case of Alvina M. Seaver, No. 738086

On this 23 day of Dec, 190 1, at
Fitchburg, County of Worcester
State of Mass, before me, FRANK SHAPLEIGH
a special examiner of the Bureau of Pensions, personally appeared
Alvina M. Seaver, who, being by me first duly sworn to
answer truly all interrogations propounded to h___ during this special
examination of aforesaid claim for pension, deposes and says:  I am 53
years of age; my post-office address is 15 Clinton St.,
Fitchburg Mass.
No occupation

I am the widow of
Isaac Seaver 3d late
Co H 4 Mass H A who
died of cancer of the
Stomach on March 12, 1901

I had been married once
only prior to my marriage to
Mr. Seaver - to Joseph P.
 Lewis.

Soldier had been married
twice only prior to our
marriage - to Juliette Glazier
and Lucretia D. Smith.

There was three months
pension due soldier
at the time of his death
but same has not been

[Second page]

paid to me yet.

At time of soldiers death
the only property owned
by him/or us which he had
any interest was as
follows, including real
and personal property.

A three tenement house at
66 Mechanic St Leominster
Mass.

$325 in the Leominster
Savings Bank and
accrued interest.
He left no other property
of any kind.

About the last of Feby
???? soldier made his
will.  He gave me in will
an interest of $1200 in the
house 66 Mechanic St
and bequeathed the
remaining interest in the
house and his money
in the Bank to his
four children to be
equally divided.
Names of children:
Frank Seaver Leominster Mass
Juliette Bryant Fitchburg Mass
Lizzie Blanchard ? Cal
Nellie M. Seaver Leominster Mass
I understand that
each received about

[third page]

$450 upon the settlement
of the estate.

At time of soldier's death
I owned My home at
7 Cedar St Leominster Mass.,
valued at about $2500
true value.  I used same
as a home and
derived no income from it.
Taxes ........................... $35.75
Water Rent .................... 11.00
Insurance .........................3.60
Repairs (estimated) ....... 25.00
Total  .......................... $75.35

I occupied my home until
May 1, 1901, when I sold
same to a Mr. Milford for
$2500.
Of this sum I received
$1500 cash and a
note secured by mortgage
for $1000 at 5% interest.
I immediately bought
my husband's old
place at 66 Mechanic St.

/s/ Alvina M. Seaver Deponent

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 23 day of Dec
190 1 and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.

/s/ Frank Shapleigh, Special Examiner

This is Part 1 of Alvina's deposition to the Pension Bureau examiner.  Part 2 next week.

This deposition provides the clearest explanation I have of the real estate situation at the time of Isaac Seaver's death.  Previously, I had thought that Isaac owned the house at 7 Cedar Street in Leominster;  it is apparent, from this deposition, that Alvina owned that house and Isaac owned the house at 66 Mechanic Street.  I have not obtained the deed records for these properties, but I should! 

The facts of Isaac Seaver's estate are almost correct - see Amanuensis Monday - Probate Records of Isaac Seaver (1823-1901) to compare the facts.  The specific real estate was not mentioned in the probate records.  Alvina did not mention the $300 she received for the furniture in the probate distribution.

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