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| Certificate granting Wallace W. Thorpe a pension for his service in the Civil War, dated 2 Oct 1912 - he died the following year |
I have long wanted to write about this particular ancestor's pension file. However, it is the longest one I've ever received and full of handwritten declarations and affidavits. 258 pages to be exact. The thought of going through this pension file page by page and gleaning the important information, as I do with others, was daunting. I received this pension file back in November 2017.
Enter, AI - the genealogists best friend and quiet assistant. I used ChapGPT to glean information I had asked for, such as all names of family & witnesses, types of disability, places of residence and service details. Of course I proofread the entire document. But, what a relief to finally have this one done.
Chaplain Wallace Walter Thorp (also spelled Thorpe) is my half 2nd great granduncle, a half brother to my paternal 2nd great grandfather, Horace Henry Thorp, Sr.
The opening pages of the pension file establish the administrative framework of both the invalid and widow’s pension claims for Chaplain Wallace W. Thorp. The file begins with National Archives cover sheets identifying Pension Certificate No. 771883, issued to Julia M. Thorp, widow of Wallace W. Thorp. These covers confirm Wallace W. Thorp as the veteran and Julia M. Thorp as the pensioner under the widow’s claim. ¹
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| Chaplain Wallace W. Thorp & his wife Julia M. Austin The writing on his photo, received from a descendant reads - Rev. Wallace W. Thorpe, Chaplin for the New York Volunteers, Wappingers Falls, N.Y. April 11, 1898 |
Wife / Widow
·
Julia M. Austin
Thorp
· Listed as widow on pension certificate
· Receiving pension as of Dec 1, 1913
· Pension dropped June 18, 1914 (likely her date of
death or remarriage)
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| Letter from Julia & Wallace's son, Theodore C. Thorpe, letting the Commissioner of Pension know that his mother died 10 Jun 1914 |
Early administrative cards identify Wallace W. Thorp as Chaplain, 3rd New York Heavy Artillery, appointed on 27 August 1864. War Department correspondence confirms that his resignation was accepted without misconduct. ⁷
The Declaration for Pension executed by Wallace W. Thorp states that he served as Chaplain in the 3rd New York Heavy Artillery and was honorably discharged. In this declaration, Thorp affirms that his disabilities originated during service and that he had not rendered service for the Confederacy nor engaged in disloyal conduct. ⁴
Nature of Service
·
He
was a Chaplain, not a combat soldier.
·
Chaplains
often:
Ø Conducted services
Ø Visited hospitals
Ø Assisted surgeons
Ø Wrote letters for
soldiers
Ø Performed burials
Ø Provided moral
support
From the earliest pension filings onward, Thorp consistently reported these conditions, which were used to justify his pension.6 8
Original invalid pension Claim No. 495,960. These cards record multiple pension acts under which the claim was reviewed, including the Acts of July 14, 1862; March 3, 1873; and June 27, 1890.²
An increase application under the Act of February 6, 1907, lists Wallace W. Thorp as residing in Binghamton, Broome County, New York, and confirms that he was already on the pension rolls prior to that date.³
Indexes to Special Examiner reports within these pages list early witnesses, including Dr. E. K. Everett and Dr. O. E. Carrier, whose depositions were later incorporated into the evidentiary record.⁵
Thorp was awarded an invalid pension under Claim No. 495,960, later receiving
Certificate No. 102,273. His pension was repeatedly reviewed and increased,
including under the liberal provisions of the Act of June 27, 1890, which
required only proof of inability to perform manual labor. ⁹
The size of Civil War pension files varies greatly from several pages to several hundred. However, they are worth their weight in gold in regards to the information contained in most of them. From the names of parents, spouses, siblings, neighbors to locations where the pensioner lived. You may also find actual vital records of births, deaths or marriage. And some lucky researchers have also received images of the soldier. I have not yet received one, but still hoping.
Other items of interest in this file include:
Sister-in-law
· Mrs. James Peterson
· Identified as sister to Wallace’s wife
· Lived in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
· Mention in witness testimony
WITNESSES & ASSOCIATES
Oshkosh, Wisconsin witnesses
·
Dr. Ira Kizertel – dentist, testified about
Wallace’s health
·
O. E. Barrier – church member, testified about illness
·
Mrs. O. E. Barrier – housekeeper, testified about
family and health
·
Morris Jones – businessman
·
E. P. Sawyer – prominent Oshkosh figure
·
M. Williamson – church deacon
·
E. Class – sexton of Congregational Church
· Trickwine – church member
1908
pension declaration witnesses
·
Vandrell & Chammy – residents of
Lestershire
·
Say. Andersen – resident of Lestershire
·
William White – Notary Public
· Mabel Vergason – witness
RESIDENCES
(Pages 1–25)
Wallace
gives a detailed list of where he lived after the war:
· Oshkosh, Wisconsin
· Marshalltown, Iowa
· Center Point, Iowa (written as “Centerville” but context suggests Center Point)
· Millington, Illinois
· Skaneateles, New York Born January 17, 1833
Residence at time of 1907–1908 pension filings
· Lestershire, Broome County, New York
He married Julia M. Thorp on 30 May 1861 in Binghamton, New York, officiated by Rev. Zachariah Paddock. The couple resided continuously in Binghamton, Broome County, New York. ¹⁰
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| Notarized record of the marriage of Wallace W. Thorpe to Julia M. Thorpe (although her maiden name was Austin) in Binghamton, N.Y. on 30 May 1861 |
Wallace W. Thorp died on 17 November 1913, aged 77, while still a pensioner. Following his death, his widow Julia M. Thorp filed a dependent pension claim, which was approved after submission of affidavits proving marriage, cohabitation, and absence of remarriage. ¹¹
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| Pension card showing that Wallace W. Thorpe died 17 Nov 1913 and the bureau was notified on 12 Dec 1913 (see bottom portion of card) |
You can clearly see the value in these documents for knowing where to look for your ancestor, records pertaining to his or her life, family members etc.
Footnotes
2. Pension index and administrative cards, pages 3–4.
3. Increase application under Act of Feb. 6, 1907, page 5.
4. Declaration for Pension by Wallace W. Thorp, page 7.
5. Index to Special Examiner’s Reports, page 9.
6. Depositions of Wallace W. Thorp, pages 17–20.
7. War Department service verification, pages 100–101.
8. Early depositions and medical testimony, pages 1–25.
9. Pension increase determinations, pages 51–99.
10. Marriage certification and affidavits, pages 13–14.
11. Widow’s pension claim and affidavits, pages 9–25.
If you are related to or
connected to anyone in this blog post, please get in touch. Let’s
exchange information.
Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl
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