James W. Reid Mexican War Pension

Submitted by Rich Nallenweg

Pension records of James Washington Reid Sr. from the Mexican War. Declaration for Service Pension, War of 1846 with Mexico. State of Kentucky, County of Clay ss:

On this 4th day of January, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six persoanlly appeared before me a Circuit Court Clerk, the same being a court of record within and for the county and State aforesaid, (1) James W. Reid, Sr. aged 57 years, a resident of ______________, in the county of Clay, State of Kentucky, who, being duly sworn according to law declares that he is the identical (2) James W. Reid, Sr. who served under the name of (3) James Reid as a (4) Private in Company E, commanded by Captain T.T. Garrard in the 16th regiment of U.S. Infantry, commanded by John W. Tibbatts in the war of 1846 with Mexico; that he enlisted at (5) Manchester, Clay County, Kentucky on or about the 5th day of April, A.D. 1847, for the term of during the war and continued in actual service in said war for the term of (6) fifteen months, and was honorably discharged at New Port Kentucky, on the ________ day of August, A.D. 1848. The following is a brief statement of his service: (7) Company E Capt. Garrard Commanding started from Manchester on the 25th day of April 1847 for New Port, Ky. Then mustered into the U.S. Service. Embarked on board steamboat for New Orleans. Embarked on board ship for Brazos Island. From there the Company was ordered to Camargo on the bank of the San Juan River. From there the Company was ordered up to Camp near Mier on the bank of the Rio Grande River just below the mouth of the Alamo River. Six companies of the Regiment was ordered to Monerrey Col. Tibbatts commanding. Company E and three others was ordered up to Cerralvo in August 1847 Lieut. Col. Webb commanding Cerralvo. Was in duty at Cerralvo about nine months ordered to report to Gen. Wial at Monterrey. Was at Monterrey when peace was made. Ordered back to New Port, Ky. Then and there honorably discharged on or about the 4th day of August 1848.

That some of the officers and soldiers of his company were as follows: Captain T.T. Garrard, Lieutenants Helm, Smith, and Garrett, Sergeants Garrard, Collins, and White, Corporals Singleton, Keller, and Jackson, Privates J. Price, J. Lucas, Wiley Crook, John Roark, J.T. Harris.

He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the pension to which he may be entitled by law, and hereby constitutes and appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, Alexander M. Kenaday, of Washington, D.C. 621 H street, N.W. , {Secretary National Association Veterans of Mexican War,} his true and lawful attorney, to prosecute this claim. He also declares that he has heretofore made no application for (8) pension and that his residence is No. _______ street, city (or town) of the County of Clay, State of Kentucky, and that his post-office address is Manchester Clay County Kentucky.

(9) Applicant declares that he was born at Shelbyville, in the County of Bedford and State of Tennessee, that he is 57 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches high, of dark complexion, grey eyes, grey hair, and by occupation Farmer. His occupation before or at te time of enlistment was that of a had none a minor.

Attest: J.W. Reid, Sr. T.T. Garrard (Claimant's Signature) Livingston Hampton

General Affidavit of Livingston Hampton

State of Kentucky County of Clay SS. In claim No. 14194 of Nancy Reid widow of Jas. W. Reid, Sr. of the 16th U.S. infantry Vols. War of Mexico. Personally appeared before the undersigned duly authorized to administer oaths within the said county, Livingston Hampton aged 68 years whose P.O. is Manchester County of Clay State of Kentucky, whose being duly sworn, states in relation to said claim as follows: That the said J.W. Reid's first wife was Sophia Garrard to who he was married about the year ____. That afterwards on or about the 24th day of June 1865 the said Sophia departed this life and that afterwards on or about the 5th day of December 1866 the said J.W. Reid was married to his present widow Nancy with whom he resided at the time of his death and that the said Nancy is still alive and has not married since his death and that she is the widow of J.W. Reid decd. That I was in the Mexican War with the said J.W. Reid and have been personally intimate with him and matters pertaining here in ever since. both of us having resided in Clay County Ky ever since the Mexican War, I know when his first wife Sophia died. I know when he was married to his last wife and widow Nancy. I am and was at the time of his marriage with the said Nancy a Minister of the Baptist church, and acting under that authority as such minister solemnized the rite of matrimony between them as above stated and that they lived together in Clay Co. Ky. in which county I also resided up o the time of his death, that his widow Nancy is alive and resides in Clay Co. Ky and has not remarried since. That he personally knows ofthe matters herein having been a neighbor and comrade of the said J.W. Reid nearly all of his life. Affiant further states that he has no interest in this claim or its prosecution.

Livingston Hampton (Affiant's Signature)

Sworn to and subscribed before me on the 18 day of Aug. 1892, and I hereby certify that the contents of this affidavit were fully made known to the affiant before signing and I have no interest in this claim or its prosecution. T.G. White (Official Signature) Clerk Clay County Court