The Library of Virginia has made applications for pensions from Confederate veterans and their widows available online. Some are difficult to read, so if this is your relative, be sure to confirm these details for yourself. 

John R. Goodwin of Stafford County

Summary by Laura Keyes Perry keyesperry@msn.com

Pension applications can be accessed from the Library of Virginia site
http://eagle.vsla.edu/conpen/virtua-basic.html


On 30 September 1902, John R. Goodwin of Onville, Stafford County, applied for a pension as a disabled Confederate veteran. He was 74 years old and had lived in Virginia all his life. He was born in Prince William County. He stated that he had been a member of Company A, 9th Virginia Cavalry, under Captain Thomas Waller and Sergeant Hugh Adie. He had joined the service at Chappawansic in 1862. He had served for only about 6 months when he was captured by the enemy. He was paroled and turned home, where he was disabled by the effects of his confinement. He was now disabled by "disease of the stomach & bladder." He had been a farmer nearly all his life, but now he was unable to work and had no income. Two men who had served with him were John A. Evans and Thomas B. Gallahan. Others who had knowledge of his disability and his service were Captain J. C. Cox and R. L. Arrington. He signed his application -- "J. R. Goodwin" -- and the Clerk of the Circuit County, C. A. Bryan, sign!
ed a statement that Goodwin had sworn to the statements in his application. 

R. D. Fritter and H. S. Abel signed as resident witnesses, stating that they had known Goodwin for 25 years, that he was a resident of the county and was disabled -- crippled, hardly able to get around, and not able to earn his living. [These men probably were Robert D. Fritter and Hawkin S. Abel.] John A. Evans and Thomas Gallahan stated that they had served in Company A, 9th Infantry, with Goodwin, and that he had been a "loyal and true soldier." E. S. Moore and R. H. Bryan signed as Confederate veterans who, though they had not served with Goodwin, could testify that he had been "faithful in the discharge of his duty" and deserved a disability pension. E. M. Sneed, M.D., stated that Goodwin was entirely disabled by rheumatism, bladder trouble, and the infirmities of age. Hugh Adie and J. W. Evans signed as Confederate veterans who had examined Goodwin's application and considered it justified. Wesley Knight, Commissioner of Revenue for Stafford County, stated that Goodwin!
 owned real and personal property valued at $74. John R. Goodwin was approved for a full pension of $36 a year, and the first payment was made on 2 September 1908. 

Margaret (Bridwell) Goodwin, widow of John R. Goodwin

After her husband's death, Margaret E. Goodwin applied for a pension as the widow of a Confederate veteran. In her application, signed on 16 November 1911, she stated that she was 69 years old. She had been born in Stafford County and lived there all her life. She now was living with her son; her post office address was Onville. She had married John R. Goodwin on 7 June 1858 in Stafford County; the minister was Elder Jno. [Cloe?]. John had died at home on 9 August 1911, attended by Dr. R. W. Hill. Margaret had not remarried. 

John had served in Company A, 9th Virginia Cavalry, under Colonel Walker [Waller] and Captain Towson. Two "comrades" who had served with him were Jno. W. Evans of Onville and [can't read word] Hugh Adie of Garrisonville. The same men are listed as familiar with the circumstances of John's death. Margaret stated that she had no sources of income, and only the "assistance" provided by her son. She had no real property and personal property worth $150. C. A. Bryan, Clerk of the Circuit Court, certified her statement, which is not signed. 

R. T. Dent and J. K. Bryan Jr. signed as resident witnesses, stating that they had known the applicant for 20 years and knew her to be a resident of the county and "a woman of good reputation for truth and honesty." J. C. W. Embrey and W. S. Cloe signed as comrades, stating that they had served in the same company with John Goodwin and that he was "a true and loyal soldier." F. M. Mountjoy and J. P. Garrison stated that they had served as Confederate soldiers and, having examined Margaret Goodwin's application, believed it to be accurate and valid. The physician, whose name appears to be Ralph William Hill, stated that John had died of general debility. 

Seth R. Cooper and Henry T. Garrison signed as ex-Confederate soldiers who supported Margaret's application. The Commissioner of Revenue for the county noted that she had no taxable real or personal property. (C. A. Bryan signed for Commissioner H. M. Tolson.) A. E. Bloxton, Chairman of the County Pension Board, signed his approval. Judge Chichester signed to indicate that the evidence presented was convincing and the witnesses who testified were reliable. 

The next item in the file is a two-page letter handwritten by "Mrs. M. E. Goodwin," in which she complains that she had not received the pension payment she expected. She attributes this to tardiness on the part of the County Pensions Board. The puzzling thing about this is that it appears to occur in November 1912, which is a full year after Margaret filled out the original application. So there certainly has been a hitch somewhere. A letter from the Pensions Office in Richmond, dated 18 November 1912, says that they had requested John R. Goodwin's records from Washington, stating that he had served in Company A, 9th Virginia Cavalry, under Colonel Thomas Waller and Captain Thomas Towson. They had received the information "that John R. Goodwin enlisted in March, 1862, and is reported as having been taken prisoner on 3 April 1862. No later record of his service is found." The Pensions Office requested statements from his comrades about when John left the service, and whether!
 "whether or not he left the army in good standing." 

Margaret responded with another handwritten letter, stating that her husband had "served faithfully" and had "entered and left the army in good standing." She signs her letter, "his aged and afflicted widow, Mrs. M. E. Bridwell." The next item in the file is not really readable (at least in the online image). It seems to be a statement, perhaps by W. S. Cloe and John A. Evans, that Goodwin was a soldier in good standing when he was captured in 1862. The Pensions Office replied that they needed a sworn statement from these 2 men that Goodwin left the service in good standing. On 24 November 1912, Cloe and Evans stated that Goodwin had left the service in good standing, and their statement was witnessed by F. M. Mountjoy, Justice of the Peace. 

Margaret then received her pension as the widow of a Confederate veteran, beginning in November 1912.