Tennessee Genealogy Research by Debbie W. Spero

The depositions continue concerning the widow application of Emma Langford, wife of Union and Confederate Soldier, Silas James Lankford…

8 Feb 1906   Tabitha Lankford:  I am 63 years of age.   My post office is Defeated, Tenn.  I have no occupation.  

James Lankford was my brother.  His name was Silas James Lankford.   He lived at home with his parents till he married.  I lived at home too.

His first marriage was to Nancy Susan McKinnis.  They married in this county, Smith County, Tenn about six or seven years before the Civil War.  I was not at their wedding.  It is my recollection that my said brother showed me his license to marry the said woman, and that it was the first marriage license that I ever saw.

I do not remember who performed the marriage ceremony.

Jim and Susan lived together as husband and wife from the time they married till he joined the army.  He served under Burk Hart (Capt) and that is the only service he rendered so far as I know.

He lived about here only a few months after the war–less than a year, then left Susan and never came back to her anymore.

So far as I have ever heard, Jim and Susan were never divorced.  I think that they were not divorced.   The next wife he had that I ever heard of was Zilph Dunn.  I never saw her and only heard of her.  I do not know where Jim got her.

The next wife he had was Emma Brown whose maiden was Hunt or Hunter and whose first husband–a man named Brown, had been drowned. 

So far as I know Susan lived only in Smith Co. Tenn and near Franklin, KY from the time brother Jim left her till she died.

Burk Hart was Capt in the the Southern Army, and after Jim had served under him he served in the Northern Army and I don’t know what company or regiment he belonged to.    Signed by Tabitha X Lankford and attested to by Rome Dillard and Willie Lankford.

The next deposition was by Julia Ann Chaffin on 8 Feb 1906:  I am 60 years of age.   My post office address is Carthage, Tenn.  I am the wife of Harvey C. Chaffin.   My cousin Susan McKinnis married Jim Lankford.  I was present at the wedding.  Susan had not been married prior to her marriage to Jim Lankford.   I know that to be a fact because we lived in the same neighborhood.  This was signed by Julia Ann X Chaffin and attest to by C.C. Chaffin and Rome Dillard.

The next paper in the file was a letter by the Special Examiner, W.L. Sullivan, to the Clerk and Master of the Chancery Court of Dickson Co., Tenn.   Sullivan asked the Clerk and Master if the records of Dickson Co. Chancery Court showed divorce proceedings between 1864 and 1882 between Silas James Langford and Susan Langford.       The Clerk and Master, W.G. McMillan, answered at the bottom of this page certifying that he could find no record of the case. Feb 12, 1906.

W.L. Sullivan sent a similar letter to the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Dickson Co., Tenn and received a reply from the Clerk, J.J. Taylor, that he could find no reocrd of divorce in his court between Silas James Langford and Susan Langford.

On 19 Feb 1906 W.L. Sullivan , Special Examiner, wrote this report to the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.: 

Sir,   I have the honor to return herewith the papers in the above cited claim and to report as follows: 

The claim was referred for special examination on the question of claimant’s legal widowhood.   It came to me for initial examination.

Claimant was given the usual notice of special examination.   She waived her right to be present or represented by an attorney in the examination of her claim.  She waives further notice.   Claimant had been married but once prior to her marriage to the soldier.  Her first husband was Thomas Brown who was drowned April 20, 1877.

The claimant mentions the soldier’s former wife Zilpha Dunn, and offers evidence proving her death prior to the marriage of the soldier to this claimant.  But, she swore falsely in her initial statement, in that she stated hat so far as she had heard her husband, the soldier, had not been married prior to his marriage to Zilpha Dunn.  When as, she later told me, the soldier told her, before they married, that he had married the mother of Marion and that he had deserted the said first wife.

I searched the marriage records of Smith Co., Tenn, but found no record of marriage for the soldier.  There is one of the marriage books missing covering 1854 to 56 inclusion.

Julia Ann Chaffin a cousin of the first wife, Susan McKinnis, testifies that she was present at the marriage of the soldier to said first wife.

It appears that soldier was never divorced from his first wife, Susan.  I searched the divorce records of Smith Co. Ten, and Simpson Co., KY from the early fifties to 1890, and found no record of any divorce proceedings between the soldier and his first wife, Susan.

The statements of the Clerk and Master of the Chancery Court and the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Dickson Co., Tenn show that soldier never instituted any proceedings for divorce from Susan, in the said county of Dickson, state of Tennessee.

I respectfully submit the claim for consideration of the Chief of Board of Review, signed by W.L. Sullivan, Special Examiner.

The reply of the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Board of Review, Law Division:  The facts are substantially as follows:

The claimant and the soldier were married Dec 15, 1881, as shown by the evidence.   At that time the claimant was free to marry–her only other previous husband, one Brown, having died April 20, 1877.

The soldier had been twice previously married:  His first marriage was to one Nancy Susan McKinnis–sometime between 1853 and 1857.    By her he had four children–three of whom are yet living.  He deserted his first wife about the beginning of the Civil War–going first into the Confederate Army and afterwards into the U.S. service.   He never returned to his first wife.  Shortly after, or just before the close of the war he married one Zilpha Dunn and lived with her until she died January 25, 1881.   His next marriage was to this claimant as before stated.  His first wife did not die until about the latter part of 1887 (Oct or Dec)–six years after his marriage to this claimant.  He lived with the claimant from the date of his marriage to her, in Dec 1881, up to the date of his death–May 17, 1905, a period of more than 23 years–and about 18 years after the death of Susan, his first wife.

The question is did a valid marriage between the claimant and the soldier arise after the death of his first wife, Susan, in Dec 1887? 

In the case of Mary F. Barker, the Dept. appears to have held that the soldier “on account of whose death the appellant claims pension, having had ample opportunity to know, or to ascertain upon slight inquiry that his first wife was living when he married appellant is presumed to have known such fact; and his said marriage to appellant was not valid under Sec 3293 of the code of Tennessee”.

In this case it appears that both the soldier and the claimant probably knew his first wife was living when there were married in Dec 1881.  It is a least shown to be reasonably certain that, if they did not have actual knowledge of the continuance of life of the 1st wife–they could have easily have ascertained the fact upon slight inquiry or investigation.   It does not appear that they, or eitherof them, made any investigation along that line, or that they ever heard of the first wife’s death.   In view of these facts and presumptions could a valid marriage between the claimant and the soldier have arisen after the 1st wife’s death?

Claimant has acted in bad faith from the beginning and has practially admitted that she knew the 1st wife was living when she married the soldier and that she studiously and purposely concealed that fact in presenting the claim.  

Memo:   It has developed in Special Examination that the soldier had a prior Confederated service, but as that fact was not disclosed during his lifetime, and his title to pension was never questioned, and as he did not die until after the passage of “the J….? Resolution”, the widow’s title to the accrued pension if she be the legal widow and to pension in her own right is not affected by the fact of said prior Confederate service.   Feby 27, 1906

The Law Division sent a further memo on March 3, 1906, repeating much of the same info as above with the addition:    The evidence tends strongly and circumstantially to show that claimant and soldier knew that his first wife was living at date of their intermarriage in December 1881.  Moreover, it would appear that fact of the whereabouts and existence of said first wife could readily have been ascertained by the soldier by the exercise of ordinary diligence.   He was guilty of desertion, and no presumption of innocence or good faith on his part can be indulged, it is believed, so as to bring the marriage at bar within the provisions …of the Code of Tennessee.

After due consideration of all the facts presented by the record, I am of the opinion that the marriage between the claimant and soldier in 1881 was, under the circumstances stated and under the laws of the State of Tennessee, illegal and void at date of its consummation for want of capacity on his part to marry, and was not subsequently validated after the legal impediment was removed in the death of Nancy, his first wife, in 1887.   It is accordingly held that claimant can not be considered the legal widow of the soldier.

Thus ends the widow’s application for Emma Lankford/Langford.     She was not granted a pension for Silas James Lankford/Langford’s service in the U.S. during the Civil War.    What happened to her?    Did she live to her death in Dickson Co?   How did she support herself?    All questions for another day’s research.

In my last post Emma Langford admitted in a deposition on 19 Jan 1906 that, “yes I had heard that Silas James Langford had had a wife before the one, Zilpha Dunn, who died here”.    Emma continued:   “When Zilpha died there was a young man, Marion Langford, here.  I have heard that he was Silas J. Langford’s child by a wife that he had had before he married Zilpha Dunn.  Marion told me that he was Silas J. Langford’s brother.   I spoke to Silas about having had another wife, the mother of Marion and he told me that he married a girl before the war and that they had but the one child; that she was so jealous of him that he left her and joined the army and never saw her after that.   I do not know the girl’s name, nor whether she was dead or living when Silas J Langford and I married.  I have never heard that they were ever divorced.   I suppose that they married in Smith Co. Tenn”.

The next depositionin the case of Emma Langford, also dated 19 Jan 1906, was by Beddie Hunter of Daniel, Dickson Co., TN.    Beddie Hunter said:   “I am 48 years of age.  My post office address is Daniel, Tenn.   I am the wife of Burrell Hunter.  Emma Langford is my sister-in-law.   I knew Silas James Langford’s first wife Zilpha.  She died in this neighborhood.  I was at her burial.  I came to this neighborhood twenty-six years ago and Silas J. Langford’s wife died about a year after I came here.   She died before Silas J. Langford married to Emma.    I have heard that Silas J. Langford had been married before he married to the woman Zilpha.   One of the former wife’s sons was here when Zilpha died.    I have heard Emma Langford speak several times of that son that Silas had by the woman he had before the war.   I do not know what ever became of the first wife.   I understood that Silas Langford had her before the Civil War and that he left her.   I have not heard whether or not they were ever divorced.  I do not remember positively the name of that son but think that it was Marion”.

Next to give deposition on 19 Jan 1906 was Wesley Speight, who said:  ”I am 68 years of age.   My post office address is Pardue, Tenn (Dickson Co).  I have lived in this vicinity all my life.   I have known Emma Langford all her life.   She was born here and has lived her all her life.  Her first husband was Thomas Brown.  I was personally acquainted with him.  The said Thomas Brown was drowned in the Harpeth River in the Spring of 1877.  He was lving on my farm that year.   There was a coroner’s inquest over the body and I was one of the coroner’s jury.   The next husband that the said Emma had was Jim Langford.   THe above named men are the only husbands that this claimant has ever had.   I never knw Langford as Silas.  I always called him Jim.   I saw Jim Langford’s first wife buried.   She died about 25 years ago.  Her death occurred before he marrie to the widow Emma Brown.  Those two wives are the only ones that Jim Langford ever hd that I had heard of. ”  Wesley Speight signed by X.

The next deposition in the file was given 7 Feb 1906 by Martha M. Hackett, who was my great-great-great grandmother.   She said:  “I am 43 years of age.  My post office and address is Monoville, TN (Smith Co).  I am the wife of Marshall Hackett, farmer.  My father was Jim Lankford; mother was Nancy Susan Lankford.  Her maiden name was McKinnis.  Father and mother married in this neighborhood before the Civil War.  I don’t know the year of their marriage.   I am the youngest child.  Amelia, the wife of Will Chambers now living in Franklin, KY, was two years older than I.   She is 44 this month.  Marion Jefferson is the next older than Amelia.  He is two years older than Amelia.  The oldest child Malissa died at the age of three months.   I do not know the difference in age of Malissa and Marion.  Father and mother had been married nearly two years before Malissa was born.  Mother died the first week in December, eighteen years ago, last December, at the house of my brother Marion.  He is somewhere in Texas now.   Mother and father were never divorced.  She had not been married before”.  Martha M. Hackett signed by X and Myrtle Hackett attested to her deposition.

Amelia F. Chambers gave the next deposition on 9 Feb 1906 and said:  I am 44 years of age.  My post office address is Franklin, KY.  I am the wife of Wm Chambers–a shoemaker.  My mother was Nancy Susan Lankford.  My father was Jim Lankford.   Mother died eighteen years ago last fall.   I am quite sure that she died in October.   If my sister says she died in December, she must be mistaken.   My child Jennie Sue, the wife of Geo. Link of Nashville, TN is twenty years old and mother was living when Jennie Sue was born.   Mother was married but once.  She was in her twentieth year when she married.   Mother and father were never divorced.  I was with mother nearly all the time from the time fathr left her till she died and I know taht is there ever had been any divorce I would have heard of it.  She lived in Simpson Co., KY and Smith Co., Tenn from the time father left her till she died”.   Amelia F. Chambers signed with an X and Clyde Chambers attested to her deposition.

Oby S. Lankford gave the next deposition on 8 Feb 1906.  He said:  “I am 58 years of age.  My post office address is Defeated, Tenn (Smith Co).  I am a farmer.   Silas James Langford was my brother.   Our father was Henry Lankford; our mother was Peggy.  Both are dead.   Both Jim and I stayed with our parents until we grew up. Silas James Lankford’s first wife was Susan McKinnis.  They married in Smith Co., Tenn.  I was not at the wedding.  I do not remember who performed the marriage ceremony.  They had four children born before the Civil War.  I reckon that they married about 1856.  I can’t state the date positively.  While Jim was in the army he came to see Susan occasionally but he never lived with her after he came out of the army.  I do not know why he deserted her.  He stayed about here only a few months, then disappeared and we heard nothing of him for many years.   Finally I overheard some men talking about him at a mill and learned that he had married a sister of one of the men, named Dunn, and were living in Dickson Co., Tenn.   Yes, I understood that he married the Dunn woman.  It was not in the county that they married.  I don’t know what county they married in, but I think that it was somewhere up Cumberland River.  I understood that she died in Dickson Co., Tenn.  After the Dunn woman’s death he married the woman Emma with whom he lived till his death.  I visited Jim and Emma in Dec. 1904.   They were then living together as husband and wife.   The three wives above named are the only wives that my said brother Silas James Lankford ever had, so far as I have heard.   I do not think that my said brother Jim ever got divorced from Susan, nor she from him.    If they were ever divorced I have never heard of  it.   Susan never married again.  Susan lived in this county and near Franklin, KY from the time brother Jim left her till she died.  She had not been married before.   From flying rumors that I heard it appears that brother Jim got entangled with the Dunn woman about the close of the Civil War and they left here together.  I can not state that as a fact but only as a rumon that I heard.  It seems that they met at Carthage and left together from there.   The only nick name that my said brother had was “Babe”.  The youngest of Susan’s children is named Martha.  She is the wife of Marshall Hackett.  It is supposed that Marion is in Texas.  The daughter Amelia, wife of Bill Chambers, lives near Franklin, KY.  I do not know whether or not the wife Emma knew of Jim’s first wife Susan.    She never talked with me about it”.   O.S. Lankford signed by X and Rome Hillard attested his deposition.

And so the depositions continue, now for the family of Silas James Lankford/Langford.    Even though the death dates vary of Silas James’ first wife, Susan, from 18 years ago (puttin it about 1888) to 20 years ago (1886), the fact remains that Silas James Langford and Emma Brown married in 1881 while Susan was still living.

In the continuation of the Widow’s Pension by Emma Langford for Civil War soldier Silas James Langford, the affadavits tell the story of first and second marriages and more….

11 Aug 1905, J.M. Mitchel age 52 of Daniel, Dickson Co., TN and 56 year old P.A. Michel of same appear before a notary public of Dickson and say that …”soliders former wife died to the best of my recollection in January 1881.    I ( J.M. Mitchel) went to the saw mill and got lumber to make her coffin.   I also helped to burry her.  I am very certain that she is dead.” P.A. Mitchel (“Puss”) stated the same and added:  “I was with her during her sickness and sat up with her corpse and helped to make the shroud was also at the burrying.”

25 Sept 1905 Emma Langford, said in an affidavit:  “In relation to the claimant Emma Langford former husband Thomas Brown, he was never in the US Army or the Confederate Army either; was only a boy when the war commenced”.

27 Oct 1905 Emma Langford, appeared before a notary of Dickson and said:  “I will say in regard to this case that I never had any other husband but Thos Brown and Silas J. Langford.   If he (Silas James) had any other marriage other than the two that has been reported  I have no knowledge of it.”

Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D.C. 20 Nov 1905:   Special examination is recommended in this case to determine question of claimant’s legal widowhood.  It is admitted that claimant and solider had each been once previously marrried and testimony has been filed to show the death of soldier’s first wife and claimant’s firt husband.   The testimony offered to show death of claimant’s first husband Thomas Brown consists of two joint affidavits in the same handwriting–signed by W.R. Jones and J.B. Hunter, and Wesley Spight and G.A. Scott respectively.   In both of those affidavits the date has been changed–there being four alterations in all.   In two instances the date appears to have been changed from 1887 to 1877. and as the claimant married the soldier in 1881 these changes become significant and important.  It is said that Brown was drowned in the Harpeth River that  an inquest was held on his body.  A certified copy of the verdict of the coroner’s jury is the best evidence of Brown’s death the claimant could have furnished, but, for some reason best known to herself and the advisors she has not furnished it.  Let it be ascertained, too….whether the soldier was ever married more than once before he married the claimant and whether she was ever married more than once (to Brown) before she married him (the soldier).

18 Jan 1906 began depositions in the case of Emma Langford:

Bellsburg, Dickson Co. TN, before W.L. Sullivan a Special Examiner of the Bureau of Pensions, appeared Geo A. Scott, who…was duly sworn to answer truly…says:  I am 50 years of age.   My address is Pardue, TN.   I am a farmer.  I have known Emma Langford all my life.   We were both born and raised in this neighborhood.   She is not kin to me.  Her maiden name was Hunter.  Her first husband was Thomas Brown.   He lived in this neighborhood.   The said Thomas Brown was drowned in Harpeth River in the spring of 1877.  I was first married in 1881 and he was drowned some few years before I married.   Of this, I am absolutely positive.  I saw his dead body.   I was present at the coroner’s inquest held on his dead body.   After Thomas Brown’s death his widow did not remarry till she married to Silas J. Lankford.   My father was the magistrate who married them.   The two husbands herein above named are the only husbands that she has ever had…She does not own any property either real or personal.  I got acquainted with Silas J. Langford directly after the close of the Civil War when he came to this neighborhood to live.  He claimed to be a single man when he came here.   He first married a girl whose maiden name was Dunn.  I do not know her Christian name.   The said first wife died about a mile from here.   Her death was caused by consumption.  She died about one year before Silas J. Lankford married to his second wife Emily Brown.   Those two wives are the only ones he had after he came to this neighborhood.  I have never heard that he had any other wife”.

19 Jan 1906 deposition of Emma Langford before W.L. Sullivan, Special Examiner of the Bureau of Pensions:   “I am 57 years of age; my address is Pardue TN.   I am the identical Emma Langford who claims pension as the widow of Silas J. Langford.   My full and correct name is Emma Taylor Langford.   My maiden name was Hunter.   My parents were James and Sally Hunter:   both are dead.  I have one living brother and one sister:  Burrell Hunter and Elizabeth Sheffield, wife of Nick Sheffield.  Both live at Danielsville, TN.   I was born in this neighborhood and have lived here all my life.  I was first married to Thomas Brown, 19 Nov 1874.  He was drowned in Harpeth River 20 April 1877.  His body was recovered and we buried him 22 April 1877.   G.A. Scott and Wesley Speight saw his dead body.  My next marriage was to Silas J. Langford.  We married 15 Dec 1881 Squire G.W. Scott performed the marriage ceremony.   We married in this county.  Silas J. Langford and I lived together as husband and wife from the date of his marriage to me till his death.   Were were never divorced nor otherwise legally separated.  He died 17 May 1905.  I have not remarried since his death.   Thomas Brown and Silas J. Langford are the only husbands I have ever had.   I got acquainted with Silas J. Langford after the Civil War.  He had a wife when I made his acquaintance.  Her maiden name was Dunn.   I do not know where they married.  This wife died in this neighborhood on 25 Jan 1881 of some lingering illness.   I visited her often in her last sicknes and I saw her dead body buried.   That is the only wife he had ever had before he married me, so far as I have ever heard.  The soldier left no child under sixteen years of age at his, the soliders, death.   I have never filed any claim for pension except that as widow of Silas J. Langford.   Silas J. Langford lived in Smith Co. TN before he came here.  He has the following brothers:

Obie Langford  Difficult, Smith Co. TN;Adkisson Langford  Difficult, Smith Co. TN; Miles Langford Difficult, Smith Co. TN; Larkins Langford  Difficult, Smith Co. TN; Jesse Langford  probably in Texas; Murphy Langford, probably in Texas.

Obie is the only one of my late husband’s folks that I have ever seen.  I did not question him as to whether Silas had been married before he married the Dunn woman.    I do not own any property.  I have no income except what I earn by my daily labor.   No person or persons are legally bound for my support.   Mary Smith, Puss Mitchell and Jesse Mitchell saw the dead body of the soldier’s first wife”.

Later that same day, 19 Jan. 1906, another deposition of Emma Langford began:  “Yes I had heard that Silas James Langford had had a wife before the one Zilpha Dunn, who died here….”  

The plot thickens.   In the same day Emma says she knew of no other wives for Silas other than the woman named “Dunn” and herself (Emma) and then she says, “yes, I had heard he had a wife before Zilpha Dunn….” Next up:   the rest of Emma Langford’s deposition of 19 Jan 1906, to be followed by the depsitions of those that knew Emma in Dickson Co. and those that knew Silas James in Smith Co. TN

Silas James Langford of Smith and Dickson Co., TN died in May 1905.    His widow, Emma Langford, then applied for a widow’s pension for Silas James’ service to the U.S. during the Civil War.     Following are the affidavits that were filed concerning her application.

W.R. Jones, of Daniel, Dickson Co. TN, age 45, declared 23 June 1905  that Emma Langford “has no means of support other than her daily labor since 16 June 1905 the date of filing this claim; also the claimant Emma Langford has not remarried since the soldiers death.   I also state that the claimant Emma Langford lived continuously with soldier from date of marriage to his death.”

J.B. Hunter, age 49, also of Daniel, Dickson Co., TN also signed that he agreed to the statment (made above) concerning Emma Langford.

W.R. Jones also stated the “both the claimant and solider had a former marriage; claimants… first husband died 20 April 1877; soldiers first wife (died) 25 Jan 1881.   I was at the burring (burying) of both.”   Again, J.B. Hunter also signed that he agree with this statement concerning Emma and Silas James Langford.

Next, W.R. Jones stated that the “knowledge I have of the marriage of Mrs. Emma Langford to soldier is personal.   I was present and witnessed the marriage ceremony and know that she is the identical person that married soldier.   Soldier and claimant was married on the 15th day of December 1881.”   Again J.B. Hunter signed his agreement.

On the 27th day of June 1905 Emma Langford, age 57 years, of Bellsburg, Dickson Co., TN, gave this affidavit:  ” I will say in regard to the character and value of all my property consist of my little household effects with about $75 and 5 head of hogs worth $15 and my fowls worth about $15.  I have had no income of any description since 16 June 1905 and there is no one legally bound for my support.   I will say further that soldier did not leave any will or life insurance either at this deah.   Soldier died sudden and did not have any Doctor.   The magistrate that performed the ceremony (I guess she means marriage ceremony?) is dead.

On 17 July 1905, J.A. Travis, age 48, resident of Daniel, Dickson Co. TN signed an affidavit saying: ” In the matter of claimant (Emma) marriage to soldier I will state that I have known the claimant for a number of years but do not remember the date of her marriage to soldier but I know that they lived together continuously from time of marriage untill the soliders death and was never divorced.”  

L.V. Smith, age 35, of Daniel, Dickson Co., TN, also signed an affidavit on 17 July 1905 saying he had known the claimant and soldier all his life and…”to best of my knowledge claimant was married in December 1881…and were never divorced or separated.”

28 July 1905 Wesly Speight, age 67, of Bellsburg, Dickson Co., TN signed an affidavit that:  “that her (Emma) former husband Thomas Brown is dead.   He was drowned in harpeth River in the spring of 1877 I think.  I am not positive but think that is the date of his death.   I was one of the jurors that helped hold the inquest over his boddy and I am positive that he is dead.”   G.A. Scott, age 50 years, of Bellsburg, Dickson Co., TN signed an affidavit agreeing to the above statment and also said…”I was present at the cororners inquest and at the burring (burying) of his boddy…”

1 Aug 1905 Emma Langford’s affidavit:   “I will say in regard to the death of soldier and why we did not have a physician…soldier died of heart trouble.  He went to bed, well as usual, and about 12 o’clock he woke me up.  He made one loud groan and died before I could get a physician or my nearest neighbor there. (who lived only about two hundred yards from me) and the Justice of Peace told me it was not necessary to hold an inquest over him…He had been under treatment from a physician about 5 years before he died and they told him they could do him no good and he only taken some little stimulant and no regular physician.”

And so continues the widow, Emma Langford’s, application, as she and her neighbors state their knowledge of soldier, Silas James Langford’s death, and the marriage and life together of Emma and Silas James.     The affidavits seem to show that Emma and Silas were both previously married, yet spouses of both had died before Silas and Emma married in Dec 1881, and Silas and Emma lived together as husband and wife till Silas’ death in May 1905.    Yet, there is more to come as both neighbors and family members come forward with their affidavits…

The next information on the Civil War Pension of Silas James Langford/Lankford of Smith and Dickson Co Tennessee was his medical records.     There were general and medical affidavits detailing his physical disabilities by neighbors and doctors.

First was a general affidavit by T.W. Harper, M.D., age 33 of Bellburg, Dickson Co, TN and W.L. Weakley, age 36, also of Bellburg in Feb 1902.

Dr. Harper stated that he had been the practicing physician of Silas James Langford for 11 years and knew of Silas James’ disabilites caused by enlargement of liver and lame arm by the fact of carbuncle.    Dr. Harper also stated that Silas was an honest, sober citizen.    Dr. Harper  said he saw Silas James on 15 May 1892 for his carbuncle and his physical condition was very bad at that time.   He was disabled from manual labor for 4 months.    He saw Silas James with enlargement of liver Nov 1899 and, again, his physical condition was very bad…and his conditon is not from vicious habits.

W.L. Weakley confirmed the same disabilities and claimed to have known Silas James for 14 years, stating that Silas James had lived part of the time of his affliction on Weakley’s farm.

There was also a detailed surgeon’s certificate that stated that Silas “has been not well since Oct 1899; with enlarged lived and spleen; also disease of heart; had carbuncle on right arm about 8 years; weakens arm after exertion.”

This form further stated that Silas James Langford was born in Smith Co. TN and was now age 64.   He was 6′ 1 1/2″ tall, weighed 143 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair.    

  A detailed description of Silas James’ disabilities was given with a final statment that said spleen was not enlarged, (but) the aggregate permanent disability for earning a support by manual labor is due to enlargement of liver, result of carbuncle and heart disease.”

This report also mentioned that Silas James’ hands showed that he worked some.   This prompted a  note from the Department of the Interior concerning what work Silas James was doing.     Further explanation said “should have said his hands were rough showing that he had worked but for past 6 months has not worked at anything harder than shelling corn for chickens.  Is an industrious man when able.    June 1902″.

Silas James Langford/Lankford did receive a pension for his service as a soldier for the United States during the Civil War.    And, thus Silas James and wife Emma received $10 a month, as Silas James’ Civil War Pension, until Silas James died in 1905.   

Family secrets and more came to light in 1905 when Emma Langford, widow of Silas James Langford, applied for a widow’s pension.

Continuing with the pension file of Silas James Langford/Lankford, the next form was a questionnaire dated 26 April 1902.

No.1  Are you a married man and if so please state your wife’s full name and her maiden name.

Answer:   Yes, Emily Langford, maiden Hunter.

No.2  When, where and by whom were you married?

Answer:  15 day of December 1881 at Bellsburg by G.W. Scott

No. 3 What record of marriage exists? 

Answer:  Have no marriage certificate

No. 4   Were you previously married?   If so please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce.

Answer:  Carthorine Dunn; Died the 24th day of Jan 1881 Bellsburg, Tenn

No. 5  Have you any children living?  If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.

Answer:  James H. Langford borned October the 24th 1882  William J. Langford borned November the 10th, 1884

The date of reply was May 2, 1902 and signed by Silas James Langford.

The next form was also dated May 2, 1902, signed by Silas James Langford and witnessed by W.D. Story and Ephie Story.     On this form Silas James answered that he was born 15 January 1838 in Smith County, Tennessee.    He also said that he enlisted Jan 1864 at Carthage, Tennessee.    He answered that before he enlisted his post office address was Mount Rose, Tennessee in Smith County, Tennessee.

Before his enlistment, Silas gave his occupation as farmer.    He also answered that he was discharged at Carthage, Tennessee in January 1865.

Next, Silas answered that since his discharge he had lived at Bellsburg, Dickson Co., TN, and that his present occupation was farming.

Finally, he gave his physical description as:  6 feet tall, weighed 140 pounds, blue eyes, black hair and dark complexion.   He listed his permanent scars as two on his right arm from carbuncle.

The next form was the Declaration for Widow’s Pension, where Emma Langford appeared before a notary public of Dickson County, TN on 3rd day of May June 1905 and being duly sworn according to the law declared she was:    Emma Langford, age 57 years, of Bellsburg, Dickson Co., TN, the widow of Silas J. Langford.   This same Silas J. Langford enlisted in Co A 1st Reg’t Tenn Vols, served at least 90 days and was honorably discharged, and died in Bellsburg, Tenn on 17 day of May 1905.   

Emma further declared she was married under the name Emma Brown to said Silas J. Langford 15 Dec 1881 by G.W. Scott, Esqr at Bellsburg, there being no legal barrier to said marriage.    She also stated that her maiden name was Emma Hunter; married a man by name of Brown.   She also declared that she had not married since the death of Silas J. Langford.

Emma Langford signed this declaration for widow’s pension; attest:  J.B. Hunter and J.M. Daniel, both of Daniel, Dickson Co., TN, 3 June 1905.

All of this “sets the stage” for the affidavits, which I will continue with next–medical affidavits of Silas James Langford’s poor health and then the affidavits of family and neighbors of both Smith and Dickson County as to Silas James and Emma’s marriage and its legality.

It could have taken up to six months for me to get it, but it didn’t!    Last week while I was away,  I received the full pension file–Civil War–of Silas James Lankford!    And, it is CHOCK FULL of information.

Over the next few days, I will detail the info given in this pension file.    It makes a great story, yet it’s all true…

The first page of the file lists pensioner Silas J. Lankford and gives his death date as May 17, 1905.    Widow Emma Lankford, was the claimant for a widow’s pension.   Her address was R.F.D. No 1 Pardue, Dickson Co., TN.   Emma submitted her claim 7 Nov 1905 and resubmitted her claim on 23 Nov 1905 and Feb 23, 1906.   

Although it looks like her claim was at first admitted and she was to receive pay (per reviewer T.S. Hursey? on 17 Nov 1905), comments left by T.S. Hursey, Reviewer, on 27 Feb 1906 and H.B. Curtis, Reviewer, on 7 Mar 1906 said her claim was “rejected”.    ”Rejection up the grounds that soldier left no legal widow or children under sixteen years of age surviving. One S.E. report (opinion of Chief of Law Div)”.

The next page is the “Widow’s Pension” application.   Under “approvals”  was written:  “Rejection upon the ground that claimant (Emma Lankford) is not the legal widow of the soldier (Silas J. Lankford), evidence adduced? upon special examination showing that at the date of his marriage to claimant soldier had a wife living from whom he had not been divorced”.(opinion of Chief of Law Div).

The widow’s application further stated that the solider was pensioned at $10 per month for heart injury and right hand…Soldier enlisted 21 Jan. 1864, and was honorably discharged 30 Jan 1865.   Soldier application was filed 17 Feb 1902.

Death of former husband 20 April 1877    Death of 2nd wife 25 Jan 1881; death of 1st wife Oct 1887

Marriage to soldier 15 Dec 1881 (by Emma).                                       

The “invalid pension” application of Silas J. Lankford of Bellsburg, Dickson Co., TN, Private, Company A of 1st TN Vols Mtd Inf, said Silas J. was pensioned for partial inability to earn a support by manual labor.   He was also “approved” for general debility, enlargement of the liver and lame (right) arm result of carbuncle and disease of heart.  His pension of $10 per month was to commence 17 Feb 1902.

Another form “declaration for invalid pension” filed 10 Feb 1902, Silas J. Langford, age 63, a resident of Bellsburg, Dickson Co., TN, appeared before Justice of the Peace W.D.Story to swear he was the identical Silas J. Langford who was enrolled as a Private on 21 Jan. 1864 in Co. A of the 1st Regiment of Tenn Vols and was honorably dischared at Carthage, Smith Co. Tenn on 30 Jan 1865.   This form was signed by Silas J. Langford and witnessed by R.A. Duke and Nobie Duke, both of Bellsburg, DicksonCo. TN.

This is just the beginning…    The plot thickens…neighbors and relatives come forth and give their depositions and decisions by Washington, D.C. officials are made….

My latest family sleuthing has been centered on Silas James Lankford/Langford and his wife Nancy Susan McKinnis Lankford/Langford and Silas James’ father, Henry Lankford.

In my last entry I was pondering whether Silas James was still married to my great-great-great grandmother when he married for the second and third time in Dickson County, Tennessee, in 1879 and 1881.

After searching the county court, circuit court and chancery court records of Smith Co. TN, from about 1865 through 1887 when Susan McKinnis Lankford died, I found NO record of a divorce between Susan and Silas James Lankford.  So, it appears that yes, Silas James married again without divorce while his first wife was still living.

I also decided to see if I could learn more about Silas James by researching Smith Co. TN probate records for Henry Lankford, Silas James’ father.  Henry died in 1891.

After searching the Smith Co. TN Chancery Court Records Index (loose records collection), I found two entries for both Henry and “S” Lankford and Henry and James Lankford.

In folder 2909 of the loose Chancery Records of Smith Co. TN I found a suit in 1896 involving O.S. Lankford et al vs James Lankford et al.    This suit was full of gems…. stating that all the Lankfords named were of Smith County, TN  “except James Lankford who resides in Dickson County, TN”…and including naming “their father” Henry Lankford and said father…died intestate in Smith Co. TN on the 1st day of Sept. 1891. 

Another page had Dickson Co. written at the top and was a subpoena for James Lankford to be summoned and  to answer in chancery court in Smith Co. TN .   

My last gem of the day was found in Smith Co. , TN Deed Books 6-11 1883-1899 by Partlow, 1996.   On page 167 James Lankford and wife E.T. of Dickson Co. TN sold to L.O. Lankford their interest in land of their father, Henry Lankford, 23 Oct 1896.

Although I have not been able to find too many records in Dickson Co. that name James Lankford, it’s been thrilling to find the Smith Co. TN records that place James and wife in Dickson Co. TN.

I love a mystery-especially when the possible answer is just waiting in the records for me to “dig it out”!

I ordered the Civil War pension application for Silas James Langford.   I had the application date, the application number and the certificate number AND I had the application date and application number of the pension application filed by his wife Emma Langford.    Hopefully this will make the search easier and faster at the National Archives.

Meanwhile I had yet another interesting comment/email from another distant Langford “cousin”.      His email directed me to a link on rootsweb that gave the following information on Silas James Langford/Lankford:     Silas James Lankford was born 15 Jan 1839, Smith Co. TN and died 17 May 1905, Bellsburg, Dickson Co., TN.   He married Nancy Susan McKinnis 1857 (This is my direct line.)    Nancy Susan  McKinnis was born 1834, Smith Co. TN, and died 1887 in Smith Co., TN.   Silas James married Zilpha Catherine Dunn about 1879.   He married Emma Brown Hunter 15 Dec 1881 in Dickson Co. TN.

One of my next moves is to find out if there was a divorce between Silas James Langford and Nancy Susan McKinnis Langford.      The family tradition that I was told was that Silas left his family in Smith Co after the Civil War and “may have started another family” in Dickson Co.       So, it looks like he did “start another family”, but did he do it legally?     Unless, Silas James and Susan were divorced, Silas married not once, but twice, before NancySusan died in 1887.

In addition to the information on Silas James Langford and his immediate family I also received a link to research on the Langford and associated lines that went back several generations.   Besides being very informative and adding many names to my family chart, I learned that both the great grandfather and the great-great grandparents (Parrish Lankford and Henry and Catherine Lankford) all died in Dickson County, TN.   Thus, Silas’ “escape” to Dickson Co. after the Civil War to begin his life anew was not a random choice.–he had family there!    In my previous study of Dickson Co. TN census records I had found several Lankford/Langford families and now I know these Langfords/Lankfords were related to “my” Silas James Lankford.

The plot thickens and the hunt continues….

I recently had an email that started…I may be able to help you in your quest of Silas James Langford.     He was my wife’s third great grandfather.  Silas was in the 24th Tennessee Infantry as you have stated.   When it is stated (on his soldier record) that he was absent…Silas was captured and taken prisoner by the Union.  He was a Union prisoner for almost 2 years.   If you explore the Civil War records even further, you will find that Silas J. Langford mustered into Company A 1st Reg’t Tennessee Mounted Infantry for the Union Army.

My wife’s father told me…Silas mustered into the Union Army in 1864.   Thus Silas fought for the South and the North…After the War, Silas returned to his family in Smith County ….and received…grief from his friends and neighbors.   He just disappeared, leaving (his wife, son and daughter) still with the Langfords in Smith Co.

Silas went to Dickson (County, TN) and according to (my father-in-law) no one knew where he was until one of his brothers found him in Dickson.   We think that perhaps Silas started another family in Dickson, but that is passed down word of mouth.    Silas died there (Dickson Co, TN) in 1905.

Wow, was I excited to read this!    I’ve been to the Tennessee State Library twice since this email, trying to “prove” this information with records.     Here’s what I’ve found so far:

I already had the Confederate service record of Silas J. Lankford who joined M Co of the 24th TN Infantry in 1861.   However, as stated in a previous blog, there were only two cards for Silas J. Lankford’s service in the 24th TN Inf and the second card said he was “left with baggage in Bowling Green, KY”. 

I looked and found the records for Silas J. Langford’s service as a Private in A Co of 1st Mounted Infantry.   This service record consisted of several cards showing Silas was present from Jan 1864 until Jan 31, 1865, when he “mustered out” of service.   Also a part of his service record was the Volunteer Enlistment card which gave great info:   Silas J. Lankford was born in Smith Co. TN and was age 26 years old and a farmer in Jan. 1864 when he enlisted.   This soldier had:  blue eyes, dark hair, dark complexion and six feet tall and was signed by Silas J. Lankford.

I also found on ancestry.com a record of Civil War Prisoner of War Records 1861-1865 that listed Silas J. Langford, stating he was captured Feb 22,1862 and released July 11, no year stated.   Finally, also found on ancestry.com Civil War Pension Index: Langford, Silas J. and Langford, Emma.    Silas filed for a pension in 1902 and was listed as an invalid and Emma Langford fliled in 1905 listed as widow.   Silas served in A Co of 1st TN Mtd Inf.  Unfortunately, this is not a pension that is posted on footnote.com, but will have to be ordered from the National Archives.

Back to the Tennessee records, I again found an entry for Silas James Lankford in the 1890 Civil War Veterans Census of Tennessee by Sistler and Sistler, 1978.   His entry read:  Lankford, Silas J. Di-36-1 (Dickson Co); Pvt H Company 24th TN Inf 6-24-61 to 1-14-65 Bellsburgh P.O.; CONF.   At the time Silas filled out this questionnaire he lived in Bellsburg, Dickson Co.    The “funny” part here is that he listed all of his service as a Confederate.     It’s funny because this is mainly a census of Union soldiers and he would have received the questionnaire because of his service to the Union.   I wonder, though, if because of all of the grief he’d received over his Union service that he decided to just claim his service to the Confederacy.

What I have still not learned is where Silas and “Emma” (who is not my direct line) were in 1900.    The 1900 census for Dickson Co. TN is printed and neither Silas nor Emma is there.   So, as always, some questions answered and some mysteries still to try to solve.   Next step?   Order the pension application for both Silas and Emma Lankford.

Till next time…..happy ancestor hunting!