Historical Red Tape
This story is actually from Jess's side of the family, but is humorous for its similarities to modern-day dealings with the government. I'm sure that everyone will be comforted to learn that red tape also has a history.
Tully A. Slinker was born about 1830 in Green County, Kentucky, the son of Barnett Slinker and Susan Lile Slinker. On Valentine's Day (February 14), 1849, he married Mariah F. [maiden name currently unknown]. They were married in Jackson County, Tennessee. They had five children together:
- Lucretia/Louisa P., b.
abt May 1850; probably d. 1860-65
- Cynthia F.C., b. 2 May
1852
- Alexander P., b. 28
January 1854
- Zachariah T., b. 4
July 1856
- Mary B., b. 14 Jan 1860
From the documents below, it appears that Tully Slinker volunteered for 3 years of Civil War service (on the Union side) at Greensburg, Kentucky on September 28, 1861 and reported to Camp Andy Johnson near Campbellsville in Taylor County Kentucky in early November of 1861.
Tully Slinker would have mustered in to Company G, 13th Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers on December 31, 1861, but unfortunately died on December 5, 1861. He had reported for duty, and died of illness in the army hospital.
In the documents below, you can see how his widow attempted to get a pension for his (very short) service. She ran into numerous difficulties, among them the fact that the only record of her marriage to Tully was behind Confederate lines, that she used a "substitute" court clerk to erify her records, and that because Tully died so quickly he never appeared on the Muster Rolls for his company. The records below (transcribed from the original pension documents at the National Archives) show how she and her lawyer worked for several years to get a pension from the US government.
Pension: Slinker, Tully A.
Widow: Slinker, Maria F.
Minor: Duke, M. F. Gdn.
G 13 Ky Inf.
Widow: 1862 Nov 27 App # 6834 Cert. 37,610
Minor: Year? July 7 App # 149,370 Cert. 104,910
[form letter]
Treasury Department
Second Auditor's Office
Madam
Enclosed you will find a certificate No. 2506 for $100.00 payable to you as the widow of dec'd or to your order by any Paymaster of the U.S. Army being for pay due Tully A. Slinker, a late private in Captain Chandler Company "G", 13th Regiment of Ky Vols the bounty of $100- allowed by Act July 22, 1861. The term of his service was 1 month, for which he was paid by the state of Kentucky.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
E.B. French
Second Auditor
[form letter]
Adjutant General's Office
Washington, DC
January 24th, 1863
Sir:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your Office of application for Pension No. 6834 and to return it herewith with such information as is furnished by the files of this Office in answer to your inquiry of July 23/63.
It appears from the Rolls on file in this Office that Tully A. Slinker was enrolled at Greensburg Sept 28/61 in Co "G", 13th Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers, 3 years and mustered into service Dec 31 1861 as a Private at Camp Hobson, Ky in Co. "G" 13th Regiment of Kentucky. On the Muster in Roll of Co. G of that Regiment for the months of January and February 1862, he is reported "Died Dec 5th 1861"
I am, Sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Saml Ireck?
The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC
Memoranda
Name of applicant: Maria T. Slinker
Address: Green County, Ky
Greensburg, KY May 8, 1863
To the Hon. E. B. French
2d Auditor
Mrs. Maria F. Slinker, widow of Tully A. Slinker dcd, late private Co G, 13th Rgt Ky Vol, who filed her claims for Bounty and which was allowed her and is No 2506.
In her application she filed the certificate of the magistrate who performed the marriage ceremony of her marriage in Jackson Co Tennessee in 1849 by one Guiste -- this is all the record evidence she has here of her marriage --
Coming to the [??] state of the country & the fact that our communication is cut off from here to Jackson Co Ten she cannot procure any copy of the records if any was kept.
She has filed her application for a Pension and her case is now before the court & is No 6834 & it will be required to manifest her marriage
Will you be kind enough to permit me for this Mrs Slinker to withdraw the Justice's Certificate and give me a copy of it in order to file with the Court.
I have the honor to be very respectfully your able servant
SA Spencer
I certify that Tully A Slinker private of Company G, 13th Regt Kentuckyy Vol Inft in the service of the United States died whilst in said service at Camp Andy Johnson Taylor County Kentucky on the 5th day of December 1861 in consequence of sickness and disease at first the measles and terminating in Typhoid fever, contracted and incurred whilst in the course of his service and line of his duty.
Given under my hand as surgeon of said regiment the 8th day of May 1863.
Station Munfordsille Ky
C.D. Moore Surgeon
13th Regt Ky Vol Infty
[note below in different hand]
Pay Mr. Genl Office
June 12 1863
It appears upon examination of vouchers on file in this office C.D. Moore was paid as surgeon and the above signature is believed to be genuine.
[illegible]
Chief ClerkState of Kentucky Green County
May 25 1863
Maria F Slinker widow of Tully A Slinker dcd late private Co G, 13th Rgt Ky Vol states that she has obtained through the surgeon of the Regiment the certificate of the fact of the death of her 2d husbandand the disease of which he died while in the service of the United States: and the certificate of the marriage with her said husband from the Auditor with whom she had filed it with her claim for Bounty for which with the letter asking for it is here filed.
[signed] Maria F. Slinker
I Samuel B. Spencer Deputy for D.J. Towles Clerk of the County for the County and State above mentioned and having the custody of the [??] of said court and authorised to administer oath certify that the foregoing statement of Maria F. Slinker was sworn to and subscribed before me by her on this 25th day of May 1863 and I certify that I am in no wise interest on this claim myself my hand and seal of said county court this 25th May 1863 D.J. Towles By S.B. Spencer D.C.
[form letter]
Adjutant General's Office
Washington, DC
July 28th, 1863
Sir:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your Office of application for Pension No. 6834 and to return it herewith with such information as is furnished by the files of this Office in answer to your inquiry of July 23/63.
It appears from the Rolls on file in this Office that Tully A. Slinker was enrolled on the 28th day of Sept 1861 at Camp Andrew Johnson Co "G", 13th Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers to serve 3 years or during the war. On the Muster in Roll of Co. G of that Regiment dated December 31st 1861, he is reported "Died Dec 5th 1861" It appears from the Muster in Roll that Tully A. Slinker died previous to being mustered into service and was therefore not in the service of the United States.
I am, Sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Saml Ireck?
The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC
Memoranda
Name of applicant: Maria T. Slinker
Address: Green County, Ky
State of Kentucky County of Green
Maria F. Slinker states that she is not able to procure any further record of her marriage with her late deceased husband Tully A. Slinker who was late private to Co G, 13th Rgt Ky Volunteers in the service of the United States. She states that she was married to her said husband in Jackson County Tennessee by a Justice of the Peace she believes in 1849 a certificate for which was given her by said Justice whose name was Guiste this paper was all the evidence she ever had of said marriage. She filed the paper with the Hon. 2d Auditor E.B. French to obtain the bounty & arrears of pay & her claim is Numbered 2506 in his office. She states that the place she was married at Jackson County Tennessee is now and has been for 2 years past within the so called Confederate lines and all communication by mail from this region to that has been wholly obstructed nor can she procure any other copy of her said marriage record. She through her attorney S.A. Spencer made application to the 2d Auditor for [??] to withdrawn her certificate of marrage filed with him which was sent and was recorded by the said auditor and returned to her with his endorsement thereon which letter and endorsement are herewith filed. She is still a widow & has never intermarried since her husband's death. She refers to and relies upon her proof filed in her case for her identity as his widow and service disease and death of her said husband.
[signed] Maria F. Slinker
Personally appeared Mrs Maria F. Slinker before me late this day and subscribed and made oath to the within statement & I certify that she is the identical person she represents herself to be. Given under my hand this 27th Augt 1863 & I further certify that I have no interest in this claim.
Jon H. Helen J.P. ? C.
State of Kentucky Green County
I said David T. Towles Clerk of the Court in and for said county certify that John A. Alden whose [??] signature appears to the foregoing certificate is now and was at the time of signing his name therunto a Justice of the Peace for said county duly [???] and [???] In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said county court this 7th day of October 1863.
D.T. Towles Clk
State of Kentucky County of Green
At a County Court called and held for Green County on the 25th day of September 1862 Present Saml A. Spencer Presiding Judge
On motion of D. T. Towles Clerk of the Green County Court It is ordered
that Saml B. Spencer [???] and [???] is hereby appointed as his Deputy
and he had the proper oaths administered to him.
A Copy [???] D. T. Towles Clk
I certift that the foregoing is a true & correct transcript of the record of the appointment of Samuel B. Spencer as Deputy Clerk of the Green County correct and that by [???] of said appointment he had and has full authority to use & sign my name &[??] his official acts as Deputy aforesaid. In [??] whereof I have hereunto [??] my name and [??] the seat of said county court this 5 Jany 1863.
D T Towles Clk
Application referred to the "Adjutant General for official evidence of service and death"
Pension rejected Nov 24, 1863 because "never mustered into U.S. service"
State of Illinois
Edgar County
I Maria F. Slinker widow of Tully A. Slinker dcd late private Co G.
13th Regiment Kentucky Volunteers in the service of the United States
in the War of 1861 on my oath say that I am the identical Maria F.
Slinker who in right of my late husband said Tully A. Slinker dcd set
up my claim for a Pension under the act of Congres approved July 14,
1862. My claim was filed with the Hon. Commissioner of Pensions at
Washington and is Number 6834 which claim was rejected or suspended
under the act, upon the ground that my said husband Tully A. Slinker
died before he was mustered regularly into the service of the United
States. He volunteered and was enrolled in said service at
Camp Andy Johnson near Campbellsville in Taylor County Kentucky on the
4th November 61 and was sworn into said service and actually continued
in said service untill the 5th December 1861 when he died at Hospital
at Campbellsville, in consequence of Disease, measles and Typhoid fever
contracted and incurred whilst in the cause of his service and line of
his duty that he died leaving me his widow. I am still a widow and have
never since his death intermarried again.
I make this application to obtain the pension to which I claim now to
be entitled in right of the service of my said husband under the act of
Congress approved July 4 1864 (section 11th) I refer to my former
application No 6834 now on file with the Coms of Pensions and the proof
then filed as evidence for me in the application & I hereby
Declare that I have ever been and now true and loyal to the
Consitution, Government, and laws of the United States and have never
in any way engaged in or aided or abetted the rebellion therin either
directly or indirectly, so help me god.
I appoint Saml A. Spencer of Greensburg Green County Kentucky my
attorney in this case with full power of substitution and authority to
do all such things as may be legal & proper to obtain my
Pension Certificate my post office address will be at the same place by
Greensburg Kentucky. I am not in the receipt of any pension
under any law.
[signed] Maria F. Slinker
The foregoing statement of Maria F. Slinker was on this day subscribed
before us by her writing her name in our presence and no balance from
the appearance of the applicant & an acquaintance with her that
she is the identical person she represents herself to be and that we
have no interest in this claim we know her to be the widow of Tully A.
Slinker.
George Rechmond
George W. Patton
State of Illinois
Edgar County
The foregoing statement was on this day sworn to & subscribed before me by Maria F. Slinker, and her witnesses George Rechmond & George W. Patton who I certify the residents of the county of Edgar & state of Illinois and each of whom are credible persons & entitled to full credit and that I am disinterested in the matter. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name as clerk of the county court in and for said county this 5th day of December 1864 and affixed the seal of said court.
A.B. Austin County Court C.
I certify that Tully A. Slinker late private Capt Caldnell's Co G 13th
Regt Ky Vol Infantry in the service of the United States died at Camp
Andy Johnson near Camp [???] Taylor County Kentucky on the 5th day of
Dec 1861in consequence of illness and disease at first the measles
terminating in Typhoid fever contracted and incurred while in the
course of his service and line of his duty said Slinker was with the
other sick of the Regiment placed in the hospital and was treated and
attended untill he died. he was in good health professed of
sound constitution when he joined said Regiment.
Given under my hand as surgeon of said Regiment this 25th day of
December 1863.
C.D. Moon Surgeon
[letterhead]
Head-Quarters Kentucky Volunteers
Adjutant General's Office
Frankfort, January 12th, 1864
I certify in examination of the muster in rolls of the 13th Ky Vol Infantry commanded by Col Wm E Hobson that Tully A Slinker joined for duty and was enrolled November 6th 1861 in Capt J.R.H. Caldinell Company "g" as a private and was mustered into the service of the State of Kentucky to be mustered into the service of the United States for three years in during the war and accepted on the twentieth day of November 1861 by F. Gorin Slate mustering officer.
Given under my hand this day and date above written.
John Bozle
Adjt Gen of Ky
Pension Office
Jan 28th 1864
Madam:
In your application for pension No. 6834, it appears that your husband was never mustered into the U.S. Service, he having died before the muster in of the company to which he was attached. The claim is consequently rejected.
Respectfully yours,
Jos. H. Barrett
Commissioner
State of Kentucky Greensburg Green County Dec 12, 1864
Hon Joseph H. Barrett Com of Pensions
Dear Sir
I here respectfully inclose and submit to you the claim of Mrs. Maria F. Slinker widow of Tully A. Slinker dcd private Co G 13th Ky Inf Vol
She heretofore filed her claim for a pension under the act July 14,
1862, no 6834 which under that act was rejected because the Rolls did
not show he had been regularly mustered into US Service.
By the 11th Section of the act July 4 1864 I suppose she will now be
entitled to a Pension.
I have the honor to be very respectfully your obt servant
S.A. Spencer
A pension certificate was finally issued for Mariah Slinker on January 10, 1865. Maria Slinker was then listed as resident of Paris, Edgar County, Illinois. The pension was issued for $8/month, backdated to begin Dec 5, 1861. Beginning on July 25, 1866, the family also recieved $2/mo for each of Tully's four minor children: Cynthia, Alexander, Zacary, and Mary. It appears that Tully's first child, Lucretia, probably died (or married?) prior to this.
According to the Illinois Marriage Index, Mariah F. Slinker was married to "John Duke" on April 11, 1867 in Edgar County, Illinois. Iin 1870, the census records show Mariah and her four children (all but Lucretia) living in Paris, Illinois with Mariah's new husband, listed as John M. Drake. In 1880's census, I have not been able to locate her or her husband. She may have died between 1870 and 1880. Her daughters, Cynthia and Mary, were living in Paris, Illinois in 1880.
