The Foy's of Craven, Jones & Onslow Counties, NC, and Their Descendants.
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Contents of J.M. Foy's Confederate Pension File
in the Texas State Archives, Austin, Texas
File No. 3187

Confederate Pension Application

The following data was extracted from James Madison Foy's "Application of Indigent Soldier or Sailor of the late Confederacy for pension under the Act of May 12, 1899"

His name was J.M. Foy, age sixty-six years; a bona fide citizen of Texas since at least 1880, he had been a resident of Nolan County for 16 years. He lived in Sweetwater and was a metal worker and plumber. He answered that his health was "unsound - bad" due to "old age and neuralgia". James indicated he was a member of the secret service and was attached to the Company A, 4th NC Calvary and "to other commands at different times", serving about 3 1/2 years. He was in the "naval engagement at New Bern and aided in burning U.S. vessel at Newbern, N.C.".

He had not previously received any type of pension or land donation but currently owned a "small house and lot in Sweetwater" worth about $300 and three cows and their calves worth $75". In the two years previous to 1899 James sold "tools and stock of hardware, for which I owed Hughes & Co. of Abilene = $720 which leaves me still owing them a balance of $100 or more." He had no income and was "wholly unable" to work at the present time.

Signed by J.M. Foy and dated 20 June 1899.

The "Affidavit of Witnesses" by signed by J.H. Freeman and Claud McCauley on 11 Aug 1899.

The "Affidavit of Physician" was signed by Dr. H.F. Burts, signed on 21 Jun 1899, found the following disabilites which rendered J.M. Foy unable to work to earn sufficient support for himself: "Neuralgia of the Fifth, sometimes called Father Fills' disease or Tic Douloureux.

The application was approved in August, 1899.

Direct Interrogatories

The following direct interrogatories were issued 21 Jun 1899 by Claud McCauley, Attorney-At-Law, Sweetwater, Texas for J.M. Foy.
 
Question 1: State your name, age and place of residence. My name is Alfred H.H. Tolar, age 56 years. I live in Alvin, Brazoria County, Texas. D.A. Murphy, am aged 50 years and live at Mexia, Limeston Co., TX Waters Williams. Am 54 years old and I live at Mexia, Limestone Co., Texas
Question 2: Are you personally acquainted with J.M. Foy, the applicant and if so how long have you known him? (gives his service record) ... have known him 38 to 40 years ...have known him for 37 years
Question 3: Do you personally know that said J.M. Foy enlisted in the service of the CSA ... If you say yes, then state when and where he enlisted and whether he performed the duties of a soldier ... I know Capt J.M. Foy. Capt. Foy entered the .... at Fayetteville, NC., J.H. McNiell, captain ... Their company went into the organization of the 4th N.C. Calvary ... he (J.M.) was detached and placed in scout and secret service duty ... until captured towards the close of the war and was in Fortress Monroe as a prisoner ... and was reported to have been court marshaled as a spy but I have no personal knowledge of this part of his history. No soldier had a better reputation for gallantry and cool ??? under fire than Capt. Foy. I saw him serve as a private in Capt. Jim McNeil's cavalry co. ... enlisted in 1862 in North Carolina I know that he served in the 5th North Carolina cavalry and in Capt. Jim McLeans company ...
Question 4: State how long you have known J.M. Foy, where he know lives, if you know and state what service he performed ... and give a description of him. I do. Further answer is in ent No. 3. He lives now at Sweetwater, Texas. He is about 5ft 10 in in height heavy set and about 65 year of age. He came to Texas in 1867 and has resided here continually since. Signed D.A. Murphie (sic) Have known J.M. Foy 37 years. He was in the cavalry.

Widow's Pension

After the death of J.M. in 1910, his widow, Mattie, applied for widow's pension benefits. Part of this process was verification of James' service. The reply from the War Department indicates he served in Company A, 5th North Carolina Calvary (not the 4th as indicated above). James enlisted May 14, 1862 and was captured May 22, 1864, at Pollocksville, North Carolina, and released May 31, 1865, at Point Lookout, Maryland.

Mattie, his widow, states J.M. Foy departed this life 14 Aug 1910 in Nolan Co., Texas. They were married 13 May 1875 in Limestone Co., Texas. She gives her age as 65 and her birthplace as Mississippi. Texas has been her home for 60 years. Nolan County has been her home for 26 years. Mattie gives her husband's full name as James Madison Foy.

Signed Mattie Foy , 19 August 1910.

Certificate of State and County Assessor

Her property was valued at $800 on 19 August 1910.

Application For Mortuary Warrant

This document pertains to the death of Mattie on 1 Jul 1925 in Sweetwater, Texas. Joe H. Foy is applying for the warrant. According to this document Mattie died at the home of her son, Joe H. Foy of acute diarrhea, old age and a broken hip. The undertaker was S. M. Johnston.

Return to James Madison Foy's page.

Submitted by Nancy Foy Archer
1997

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