Widow's Pension File

Letter to Commissioners of Pensions
December 4th, 1880
Dr. Roe
On behalf of Mary Ellen's application for pension

To the Commissioners of Pensions, I treated Theophlis Richardson at intervals from about July 1868 to the time of his death September 1873. I will make a statement of facts as near as I can. When he first came to me for medical aid I found him suffering from chronic diarrhia. He had pain in his stomach and bowls {bowels} his head ached and some pain in his back near his kidneys. His bowls {bowels} would swell at times and become very sore about two years before he died his bowls {bowels} was sore and swollen for 8 weeks during this time he called on Dr. John Frizell of Wheeling and go some treatment from him at times during my treatment he would get some better but never well. He died of inflamation of the bowls {bowels} originating from the chronic trouble. he told me that he contracted the diarrhia in the U.S. Military Service and its my opinion that he did. He was in Andersonville Prison 14 months he was in Belle Isle three months during this time he very near starved to death. He was also on the Steamer Sultanna that blew up and after the wreck burned up on the Mississippi river in the Spring of 1865 he was in the water three hours as the explosion took place about two O/clock in the morning at that time he very near froze to death. He was a good soldier the above is a true statement and I hope the commissioner of Pensions will give his a pension as the widow is very poor.
Dr. T. J. Roe

Affidavits

Ohio County, West Virginia
March 4th 1880
Dr. E. A. HILDRETH

made an oath that "he was present as physician at the birth of Allie RICHARDSON child of Theophilus and Mary E. RICHARDSON on the 26th of Sept. 1866

Monroe County, Ohio
Sept. 13th, 1886
Salathiel LEMMON and Wilson MARTIN

swore that "they were well acquainted with Theophilus RICHARDSON and know that at his death in 1873, he left no child under sixteen years of age, at the widows remarriage in 1883 except Joseph, Edgar, Eugene, Maud and Amy."

Monroe County, Ohio
Priscilla FARMER
73 years old, resident of Sardis
February, 1917

swore that "David W. SKINNER died on December 5th, 1888 I having attended the funeral.Mary Ellen SKINNER had not been re-married since the death of David W. SKINNER."

Monroe County, Ohio
Marinda J. COFFIELD
aged 67, resident of Sardis
February, 1917

swore that "David W. SKINNER died on December 5th 1888 I having attended the funeral."

Monroe County, Ohio
L.B. HARMAN
aged 69, resident of Sardis
February 1917

that "Mary Ellen SKINNER has not been married since the death of Theophilus RICHARDSON other than to David W. SKINNER I having been a resident of this town for 50 years and have known the above parties personally."

Monroe County, Ohio
William DUNN
aged 49, resident of Sardis
Feb. 15, 1917

that "Mary Ellen SKINNER was never divorced from David W. SKINNER."

Monroe County, Ohio
H.C. THOMPSON
aged 76, resident of Sardis
February, 1917

swore "David W. SKINNER died December 5th 1888. I have been a resident of Sardis Ohio for 54 years and have full knowledge of the above statement.

Monroe County, Ohio
Thomas W. MARTIN
aged 76, resident of Sardis
February 1917

swore that "David W. SKINNER did not serve in the Army or Navy of the United States-I have been personally acquainted with David W. SKINNER during the years of the war and a resident of Sardis Ohio and have full knowledge of the above facts.

Declaration for Continuance of Pension on Account of Helpless Child

State of Ohio, County of Monroe
On this 25th day of February, A.D. one thousand nineteen hundred and three personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the county and State Aforesaid Mary Ella SKINNER aged 57 years, a resident of Sardis county of Monroe, State of Ohio, who, being duly sworn in makes the following declaration in order to secure continuance of pension herefore allowed be certificate number 192827 on account of Amy J. RICHARDSON legitimate child of Theopholus Richardson, late corporal in Co. A WVA inf.
That by reason of mental weakness said child is helpless and has been so since birth
That the said child was born February 2nd 1873
That the mother of said child Mary Ella SKINNER, remarried & widowed
That declarant's post office address is Sardis
County of Monroe, State of Ohio
Attest: (1) H.A. HUMPHREY
(2) Adda KNIGHT
(note, both attestants residing in Sardis and had known her 10 and 30 years respectively. Sworn and subscribed Feb. 25, 1903)

Declaration for Widow's Pension
Monroe County, Ohio
1916
Mary Ellen Skinner

On this 18 day of Sept. A.D. one thousand nine hundred and sixteen personally appeared before me, a notary public within and for the county and State aforesaid Mary Ellen SKINNER aged 71 years, a resident of Sardis, County of Monroe State of Ohio, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Theophilus RICHARDSON who enlisted under the name of Theophilus Richardson at Wheeling WVa on the 14th day of Sept. 1861 in Co. A, 1st W.Va. Inf. and served at least ninety days in the late War of the Rebellion, in the service of the United States, was HONORABLY DISCHARGED March 27th 1865 and died Sept. 10th, 1873. That she was married under the name of Mary E. WILEY to said Theophilus RICHARDSON on the 21st day of Dec. 1865 by Rev. Alexander MARTIN at Wheeling, WVa, there being no legal barrier to said marriage no former marriage.
That she has remarried since the death of the said Theophilus RICHARDSON to David W. SKINNER on Dec. 25th 1883, who died Dec. 5th 1888. Widow's certificate no. 192827