Notes
Note N486
Index
The evidence suggests that Mary rejoined her family after her husband Lewis died. John Watkins has military pension records for Lewis, which includes information that on April 18, 1908, J. F. Brouhard of Burlington, IA was appointed Mary's guardian by the District Court of Des Moines Co. Previously, I. S. Shontz had been her guardian from March of 1903 until his death. Mary had apparently been deemed insane, as the court put it. Perhaps she suffered from nothing more than Alzheimers or senility.
Mary applied for a pension on behalf of her husband's service . Application # 80761 was made. Certificate # 48563 was awarded. Date of filing appears to be Jan or Jun 24, 1865. The text of that filing is as follows: "On this 24th day of January, AD 1865, personally appeared before me the Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said county, the same being a court of record, Mrs. Mary E. Watkins, a resident of MKeesport in the County of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania aged 25 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, approved July 14th, 1862, that she is the widow of Capt. Lewis Watkins who was a Captain of Company E, in the 85th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War of 1861, who was wounded in an engagement with the enemy, at or near Deep Bottom, Va, on the 16th day of August 1864, by a musket ball in his left wrist and also in the left leg. He was taken from the Battle field to Hampton Hospital, Fort Monroe, where he died on the 26th of September 1864, from the effects of said wounds. I was married to said Lewis Watkins, by Rev L. R. Beacon, on the 31st of March 1864. He had no children. My maiden name was Mary E. Chrissinger. She further declares that she was married to the said Lewis Watkins on the 31st day of March in the year 1864 that her husband the aforesaid Captain Lewis Watkins died on the day above mentioned tha that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. She also declares that she has not, in any manner, been engaged in, or aided or abetted the rebellion in the UNITED STATES, and her post office address is Mc Keesport, Allegheny County, Pa. Mrs. Mary E. Watkins, Claimant.
Also personally appeared Rev. L. R. Beacon and Jacob Ryan residents of Allegheny County Pennsylvania persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say that they were present and saw Mare E. Watkins sign her name to the foregoing declaration; and they further swear that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of the applicant, and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. L. R. Beacon, Jacob Ryan, Witnesses.
Affidavit by Edward Campbell: Uniontown, Pa. May 26, 1865. I Edward Campbell, late Lieutenant Colonel, 85th Pa Vol Inf, being duly sworn, depose and say that Capt. Lewis Watkins 85th Pa Vol Inf while commanding Co, E of said Regiment, in the battle of Deep Run Va August 16th 1864, received from the enemy two gun shot wounds, one in the hand and the other in the thigh. My knowledge of the above facts is obtained from the following source: I was present commanding the 85th Pa Vol Inf and saw Captain Watkins carried off the field.
Brief in the case of Mary E. Watkins, widow of Lewis Watkins Captain in Co E, 85th Pa Vols, resident of Allegheny county, state of Pennsylvania, Post Office McKeesport, Pa. Proof Exhibited: The Rolls of the Adjutant General shows muster May 1, 1863 and death from wounds Sept 26, 1864. The Surgeon General ____ that the soldier died of Pyaemia from gun shot wound of left thigh and hand. Lt. Col Caughbell certifies he was wounded at the Battle of Deep Run Aug 16, 1864. Admitted June 3, 1865 to a Pension of $20 per month, commencing 26 Sept 1864.
April 11, 1865. I have the honor to return herewith application for Pension No 80,761, with such information as is furnished by the records of this Office, Captain Lewis Watkins, Co E, 85th Regiment Pa Vols is reported to this office by a surgeon E. McClellan as having died Sept 26, 1864 at Hampton General Hospital Fort Monroe Va of Pyaemia from Gun Shot Wound of left Thigh and Hand.
State of Iowa, Desmoines County: I, Mary E. Watkins, widow of the late Lewis Watkins, Captain Co E 85th Regt. Penn. Vols. in the service of the United States; and to whom was issued Certificate No. 48563 of Date June 7th 1865 for a pension of $20 per month, commencing on Sept 26, 1864, being desirous of having the payment of my pension transferred from the Pittsburgh Agency Penn. to the agency at Fairfield in the State of Iowa, and for that purpose make this application. I intend to make Desmoines County my permanent residence. My present Post Office address is Burlington Desmoines County, Iowa. 18th day of April 1870.
State of Pennsylvania, Allegheny County: Before me the Prothonotary of the Court of Common Please of said county, came the Rev. L. R. Beacon, to me well known, and whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and on his solemn oath, says that he was well acquainted with Capt. Lewis Watkins, late Captain of Company E 85th Reg Pa Vols, and with his widow Mary E. Watkins, formerly Mary E. Chrissinger. That as a minister of the gospel of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he married said Lewis and Mary on the 31st day of March, AD 1864, at the residence of the Bride's father in McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pa. He further says that the said Mary is still the widow of said Lewis Watkins, and that he has no interest in the provisions of the claim of said Mary for a Pension. 24 July 1865.
I. S. Shoutz was her guardian in 1901. She was resident at the Des Moines County Asylum during the period July 5, 1900 - July 4, 1901. His guardian ship extended through 6 Jan 1903
On May 4, 1908 the Commissioner of Pensions reported that J. F. Brouhard of Burlington Iowa had been appointed on April 18, 1908 as Guardian for Mary E Watkins, to replace I. S. Shonts, who had died. Mary had been judjed insane.