Affidavit

I certify, on honor, that Ezra M Reed, a corporal of Captain T. A. Fleming, Company B of the 12th Regiment of West Virginia Volunteers, of the State of West Virginia, born in Marshall County, State of West Virginia, aged 25 years; 5 feet 9 inches high; fair complexion, grey eyes, dark hair, and by occupation a farmer, who joined for service and was enrolled on the 15th day of August, 1862, at Belton by M. B. Bonar, for the period of three years, and mustered into the service of the United States as a recruit on the __day of September, 1862, at Brickhanon, West Virginia by Capt. Carr; and having served honestly and faithfully with his Company to the date of his capture is now entitled to a discharge by reason of death. Died of Scorbutis October 8th 1864 at Andersonville, GA. while prisoner of war. Information of the fact received by affidavit now filed in A.G.O.

The said Ezra M. Reed was last paid by Paymaster Maj. Hammond, to include the 31st day of December, 1863, and has pay due him from that time to the date of his death; he is entitled to pay and subsistence for traveling to place of enrollment, and whatever other allowances are authorized to volunteer soldiers, drafted men, or militia, so discharged. He has received from the United States clothing amounting to thirty seven dollars, since the 15th day of June 1863, when his clothing account was last settled. He has received from the United States twenty five dollars advanced bounty.

He is entitled to commutation of subsistance from the date of his capture May 15th 1864 to the date of his death October 8th 1864.

He is indebted to Griffith & McCarmel, Sutlers, Six Dollars.

Given in duplicate Nea Richmond, VA, this 17th day of May, 1865

/s/ T.A. Fleming, Captain

A.G.O, No. 96--First
Commanding Company

Affidavit
State of West Virginia
County of Marshall

On this lst day of August A.D. 1865, personally appeared before me a Clerk of the Circuit Court, Jane Reed a resident of the County and State aforesaid, aged 19 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress approved July 11th 1862.

That she is the widow of Ezra Reed who was a Corporal in Company B commanded by Capt. John C. Roberts in the 12th Regiment of West Va Infantry Volunteers in the war of 1861, who was taken prisoner by the rebels on or about the 15th day of May 1864 at the battle of New Market, and from thence was taken by them to Andersonville in the State of Georgia where he died on or about the 30th day of January 1865 of disease contracted in the line of his duty while in the service of the United States.

She further declares that she was married to the said Ezra Reed on the 9th day of January 1862, that her husband the aforesaid Ezra Reed died on the day above mentioned, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.

She also declares that there was born to her and her husband during their said marriage but one child to wit Isadora Reed born December 3, 1862 who resides with this applicant in Marshall Co. Wva.

She also declares that she has not been engaged in or aided or abetted the rebellion in the United States, and hereby constitutes Hanson Criswell her attorney to prosecute this claim and procure a pension certificate.

My post office address is as follows
Easton Sideling
Marshall County
West Virginia

/s/ Jane Reed

Attest
A.O. Baker
Walter Evans

Also personally appeared Arthur O Baker and Walter Evans residents of the County and State first above named, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say that they were present and saw Mrs Jane Reed sign her name to the foregoing declaration and they further swear that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of the applicant and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.

/s/ A. O. Baker
/s/ Walter Evans

Sworn to and subscribed before me this lst day of August A.D. 1865; and I hereby certify that I have no interest direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim.

Witness my hand & official seal the day & year aforesaid /s/ Hanson Riggs
Clerk

Affidavit

State of West Virginia, Marshall County to wit

Personally appeared before me John H. Dicky a Notary Public in and for the county and state aforesaid, Jane Reed the wife of Ezra Reed who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that she was married to the said Ezra Reed on the 7th day of January 1862 by Adam Wise a Minister of the Gospel in Green County Pennsylvania and that she has no record of said marriage and for further proof thereof refers to the testimony of the said Adam Wise which is hereto annexed.

/s/ Jane Reed

Also appeared before me Adam Wise a Minister of the Gospel who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that at the time above stated that he united Ezra Reed and Jane Criswell in the bonds of Holy Matrimony.

/s/ Adam Wise

Sworn to and subscribed to before me this 31st day of July 1865 by Jane Reed the wife of Ezra Reed and Adam Wise whom I certify that he is a Minister of the Gospel and I further certify that I have no interest in the prosecution of the claim of Jane Reed for pension back pay or bounty.

/s/ John H. Dicky Notary Public

State of West Virginia)
County of Marshall )ss

I Hanson Riggs Clerk of the Circuit Court do hereby certify that John H. Dickey, Esq. before whom the within affidavit was made & who has thereunto signed his name was at the time of so doing a Notary Public within for the County & State aforesaid duly commissioned & sworn & that all his official acts as such and entitled to full faith & credit & that his signature thereto is germain and that I have no interest in this claim

Given under my hand and official seal this 25th day of February 1866

/s/ Hansan Riggs Clerk

State of West Virginia)
Marshall County )Ss

I, John Evans, after first being duly sworn according to law declare & say that Ezra M. Reed and Jane Criswell were married together on the 9th day of January 1862 and that the same Ezra M. Reed afterward enlisted in the service of the United States in Company "B" in the 12th Regiment of West Virginia Volunteer Infantry and was reported as being taken prisioner on or about the 15th day of May 1964 and who as this affiant is informed and believes died at Andersonville in the State of Georgia some time in the month of January 1865 and that the identity of the soldier with the said Ezra M. Reed who was married to said Jane Criswell is derived from a long personal & intimate acquaintance.

/s/ John Evans

Witness sign here
/s/ Joseph B. Wayt
/s/ unreadable

Sworn to & subscribed before me this 29th day of March 1866 at my office in Liberty Township Marshall Co. WV

/s/ G Richter JP

State of West Virginia )
Marshall County to wit)
Personally appeared before me a Notary Public for the County and State aforesaid Adam Wise who being sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he united in the bonds of holy matrimony Ezra M. Reed to Kiziah Jane Criswell on the 9th day of January 1862 in Alleppo Township Green County Pennsylvania and that there is no public record of marriages .... by the laws of Pennsylvania and this informant further says that he is a regular ........... minister of the Gospel in the German Baptist Church and that he has no interest in the prosecution of the claim of Isadora Reed for a pension.

/s/ Adam Wise

I do hereby certify that the above deposition of Adam Wise as duly signed and sworn to before me and that Adam Wise is a respected Minister of the Gospel in the German Baptist Church and that I have no interest in the prosecution of the above claim ..................my hand and official this 10th day of October 1868

/s/ John H. Dickey
Notary Public

State of West Virginia)
Marshall County to-wit)

Personally appeared before me a Notary Public for the county and state aforesaid A.J. Hinnenman Esq who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is an acting justice of the peace in and for the county of Green of State of Pennsylvania and by the laws of said state authorized to celebrate the rites of matrimony and that on the 17th day of August 1865 he united together in the bonds of matrimony Wm Evans and Keziah Jane Reed that his docket verifies said statement and that there is no public record left in the State of Pennsylvania and further this informant saith that he has no interest in the application of Isadora Reed for pension

/s/ A.J. Hinneman

I John H. Dickey a Notary Public for the County of Marshall in the State of West Virginia do hereby certify that the above deposition of A. J. Hinneman whom I certify to be creditable and respectable and I further certify that I have no interest in the aforesaid claim. Given under my hand and official seal this 20th day of March 1869.

/s/ John H. Dickey
Notary Public

Claim of Guardian of Orphan Children for Pension.

The State of West Virginia, County of Marshall,ss

On this 30th day of May A.D., 1871 before me, Walter Evans, Clerk of the Circuit Court in an for the County and State above named, personnally appeared Hanson Criswell, a resident of Moundsville, in the County of Marshall and the State of West Virginia, aged thirty six years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on oath make the following declaration as guardian of the minor child of Ezra M. Reed, deceased, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress approved July 14, 1862, granting pensions to minor children under sixteen years of age of deceased officers and soldiers:

That he is the guardian of Isadora Reed whose father was a Corporal in Company B commanded by Captain John C. Roberts in the Twelfth Regiment of West Virginia Infantry Volunteers, in the war of 1861, and that the said Ezra M. Reed died at Andersonville, Ga. On or about the seventh day of October 186_, by reason of scorbutus disease contracted while in the service of the United States.

That the mother of the aforesaid child remarried on the 17th day of August 1865 being now the wife of one William Evans

that the date of birth of his said ward is as follows: Isadora Reed was born on the 3rd day of December 1962.

He further declares that the parents of his said ward were married at Green Co. Pennsylvania, on the third day of January 1862, by H.J.Hinneman a Justice of the Peace; and he also declares that he has not in any manner been engaged in, or aided or abetted the Rebellion in the United States.

/s/Hanson Criswell

Sworn to, subscribed and acknowledged before me the day and year first above written, and on the same day personally appeared Gustav Richter & Joseph Criswell, residents of Marshall County and the State of West Virginia, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, who being duly sworn according to law, declare that the child named in the foregoing declaration is the only child under sixteen years of age of Ezra M. Reed who died in the service of the United States as stated in the said declaration which has been made and signed in their presence, that the mother of said child has remarried and that they believe that the date and place of marriage of the parents of said child, and the date of birth, are correctly stated in said declaration. That their knowledge of the marriage of the said parents of the date of birth of said child and of the remarriage of the mother is derived from a long personal acquaintance with the parties and living near neighbors to them long before at the time & since their said marriage and further testify that they are disinterested in this claim for a Pension.

/s/ G. Richter
/s/ Joseph Criswell

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th day of May 1871; and I certify that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto signed my name and affixed my official seal.

/s/ Walter Evans, Clerk

U. S. Pension Agency
Wheeling, W. Va 21 June 1875

Hon. H. M. Atkinson
Comm of Pensions,

Dear Sir,
I have the honor to inform you that the pension certificate of Minors of Robt Watson, #169.037 Jos. Oden, guard (ian), and also the pensions Cert of Minor Child of Ezra M Reed, Hanson Criswell guard (ian) #169024 bearing date 15th May -75 which has failed to reach me, were put into my hand today by a citizen, who informed me that they were found by some children on the P.Office steps.

I can only account for this by the theory that my box might possibly have been left unlocked by mistake, or oversight, and these papers taken from it by children playing in the open hall or vestibule of the office, or otherwise that they may have been put by mistake in an adjoining box, and taken out by some ........ .......... for mail belonging to that box.

This is the first time during my Admin here that such a mishap has occured. My clerks are both young men of most careful and reliable habits, and I feel sure the fault is not in my office, except it be on the theory first advanced.

These certificates, with vouchers made up for payment thereon, have been forwarded to the address of the respective guardians.

Am very respectfully,
Your Obdt Servt
/s/ T.M. Harris

State of West Virginia, Marshall County.

On this 18th day of March 1875 before me, O. Moore, a Justice of the Peace within and for said County & State personally appeared Andrew Gill and James Criswell persons whom I know to be respectable and entitled to credit who after being duly sworn according to la deposes and says that they were acquainted with Ezra M. Reed late private, Co. B. 12th WV Infantry and know that Isadora Reed is the only child he left surviving him and that he left no other minor children and that............ not interested in the pension claim No. 219489 now pending.

/s/ Andrew Gill
/s/ X James Criswell, his mark

Sworn to subscribed before me this 18th day of March, 1875 and I certify that I am not interested in the above claim.

/s/ O. Moore,Justice

The State of West Virginia
Circuit Court of Marshall County

September 6, 1865

On motion of Hanson Criswell the Court doth assign him guardian of Isadora Reed, an infant of Ezra M. Reed, Decd. And thereupon the said Hanson Criswell, together with John Criswell his security who qualified to his sufficiency, entered into and acknowledges their bond in the penalty of five hundred dollars conditioned and payable according to law.

I, Walter Evans, Clerk of the circuit Court of Marshall County in the State of West Virginia, do certify, that the foregoing is a true copy from the record of the appointment of Hanson Criswell Guardian of Isadora Reed infant of Ezra M. Reed Decd.

In witness hereof I hereto sign my name and affix the seal of said court this 23rd day of March 1875.

/s/ Walter Evans Clerk