What follows is a transcription of the Confederate pension application filed by my great-great-great-grandfather, William Jones Bowling (pictured) in 1911. Underlined portions are written in either W. J. Bowling’s hand or that of the clerk in order to fill out the application.
Form A
For Use of Soldiers, Who are in Indigent Circumstances
The State of Texas
County of Donley
I, W. J. Bowling, do hereby make application to the Commissioner of Pensions for a pension to be granted me under the Act passed by the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Texas, and approved March 26, A. D. 1909, on the following grounds:
I enlisted and served in the military service of the Confederate States during the war between the States of the United States, and that I did not desert the Confederate service, but during said war I was loyal and true to my duty, and never at any time voluntarily abandoned my post of duty in the said service; that I was honorably discharged or surrendered in Camp Douglass [sic] prison in Illinois when war ended. Liberated about 1st of May 1865 (Give date and cause.) that I have been a bona fide citizen of this State since prior to January 1, A. D. 1880, and have been continuously since a citizen of the State of Texas. I do further state that I do not hold any national, State, city or county office which pays me in salary or feeds one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, nor have I an income from any other employment or other source whatever which amounts to one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, nor do I receive from any source whatever money or other means of support amounting in value to the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, nor do I own in my own right, nor does any one hold in trust for my benefit or use, nor does my wife own, nor does any one hold in trust for my wife, estate or property, either real, personal or mixed, either in fee or for life, of the assessed value of over one thousand dollars; nor do I receive any aid or pension from any other State, or from the United States, or from any other source, and that I am not an inmate of the Confederate Home, and I do further state that the answers given to the following questions are true:
- What is your age? 71 years
- Where were you born? Haywood Co. Tenn.
- How long have you resided in Texas? about last of 1875 to present
- In what county do you reside? Donley
- How long have you resided in said county and what is your postoffice address[?] 3 years[,] Lelia Lake
- Have you applied for a pension under the Confederate pension law and been rejected? If rejected, state when and where[.] never]
- What is your occupation, if able to engage in one? Minister of Gospel
- In what State was the command in which you served organized? Tenn and Miss
- How long did you serve? Give, if possible, the date of enlistment and discharge[.] 8/1861 to discharge 1865
- What was the letter of your company, number or name of battalion, regiment or battery? 1st Ala. Tenn & Miss Regiment & Company K Inftry. surrendered under McCall Island no. 10
- If transferred from one command to another, give time of transfer, name of command and time of service[.] Exchanged at Vicksburg in 62 then to Miss [indecipherable]
- What branch of service did you enlist in — infantry, cavalry, artillery or navy?
- If commissioned direct by the President, what was your rank and line of duty? not comm
- If detailed for special service, under the law of conscription, what was the nature of your service and how long did you serve? was volunteer
- Have you transferred to others any property of any kind for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law? no
Wherefore your petitioner prays that his application be approved and such other proceedings be had in the premises as required by law.
(Signature of Applicant) W. J. Bowling
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 25 day of March, A. D. 1911
J. H. O'[name indecipherable]
County Judge Donley County, Texas.
Affidavit of Witnesses
[Note: There must be at least two credible witnesses.]
The State of Texas
County of Donley
Before me J. H. O'[name indecipherable], County Judge of Donley County, State of Texas, on this day personally appeared J. B. Cope, who are [sic] personally known to me to be credible citizens, who, being by me duly sworn, on oath state that they personally know W. J. Bowling the above named applicant for a pension, and that they personally know the said W. J. Bowling has been a bona fide resident citizen of the State of Texas since prior to January 1, A. D. 1880, an that they have no interest in this claim.
(Signature of Witness) J. B. Cope
