Third Generation
14.
Beneta BISHOP was born on Jan 6, 1839 in Mississippi.33,34
She appeared in the census on Jun 30, 1880 in Webster Parish, LA, enumeraed
as a widow.35 She appeared
in the census on Jun 25, 1900 in Bossier Parish, LA, enumerated in the household
with her widowed daughter, Martha Blunt Johnson. She applied for
pension on Jun 23, 1902 in Miller Co., AR.36
State of Arkansas
County of Miller
Widow's Application for Pension
I, Beaneater Blunt do solemnly swear that I am the widow of Hugh R. Blunt who
served as a soldier in the army (or sailor in the navy) of the Confederate States,
being a member of William A. Craffard <sic> Regiment of Cavalry from the
State of Arkansas or a member of the crew of the ship called ___; that he was
honorably discharged (paroled or released) from such service on or about the
___ day of May 1865 and did not desert the same; that I am now, and for the past
twelve months have been, a bona fide resident of this State; that I do not own
property, real or personal, or both, or money or choses* in action, in excess
of the value of $400.00 (exclusive of household goods and wearing apparel), nor
have I conveyed title to any property to enable me to draw a pension, and that
I am not in receipt of any income, annuity, pension or wages for any services,
the emoluments of an office, in excess of $150.00 per year; that my said husband
died January 30th, 1877, after the close of war, and that I have not since remarried,
so help me God.
Her
Signature Beanetar X Bishop
Mark
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 23rd day of June, 1902
Jas. A. Smith
Notary Public
*Chose, a French word signifying "thing". In law, it is applied to
personal property; as "choses in possession" are such personal things
of which one has possession; "choses in action" are such as the owner
has not the possession, but merely a right of action for their possession.
Proof of Service for Widow (By Comrades of Husband if Possible)
State of Arkansas
County of Miller
On this day personally came before the undersigned, a Notary Public within and
for the County of Miller and State of Arkansas Jas. D. Bloutan and C. T. Field,
citizens of __ whom I certify to be creditable persons and worthy of confidence,
who being duly sworn, state: That they were each, personally, well acquainted
with applicant's husband Hugh R. Blunt and kews him five and six years respectively.
That he was a Confederate soldier. Belonging to Company C Regiment of William
A. Crawford. That as such soldier he sereved from Fall of 1862 to May 1865.
That he waas honorably discharged (paroled or released) from such service and
did not desert the same. that he is now dead and that his widow has been for
the past twelve months a bona fide resident of Arkansas. That to the best of
our knowledge, all property now owned by his widow is not worth excedding $400
(exclusive of household goods and wearing apparel). That his widow is not in
receipt of any income, annuity, pension or wages for any services, or the emoluments
of an office, in excess of $150 per year, and that she has not since remarried.
That we have no interest in this claim.
James D. Blanton
C. T. Field
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 23rd day of June 1902
Jas. A. Smith
Notary Public
State of Arkansas
County of ______
We, the undersigned, sitting as a Pension Board for Lafayette County, do certify
that we have examined the application of the within named Beanetar <sic>
Blunt for pension, under Act of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas,
as approved March 11, 1901, and the proof in support of same, and find that said
applicant is the widow of a Confederate soldier, is in indigent corcumstances
that that her claim is just, and that she hsould be allowed $50.00 pension.
E. A. Randle
N. T. Lester
B. R. Harrel
She appeared in the census on Feb 26, 1920 in Webster Parish, LA, enumerated
with widowed daughter, Amanda Braley. She died on Mar 8, 1926 in
Lafayette Co., AR.37,38,39 According
to Arkansas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, certificate of
death file number 945, Beneta was born Jan. 21, 1839 and died in Lafayette County,
Roane Township, Arkansas about 4 p.m. on March 13, 1926. Cause of death was attributed
to Influenza.
Her tombstone indicates that she was born Jan. 5, 1839 and died Mar. 8, 1926.
At the 1870 census she reported her place of birth as Mississippi. She reported
at the 1880 census that she was a 44-year old widow, born in Alabama. Both of
her parents were born in Louisiana. In the house with her in 1880 are children,
Martha, age 22; A.M. (Amanda), age 20; and son, Nelson, age 17. All children
were born in Louisiana. She was buried on Mar 14, 1926 in Spring Branch Cemetery,
Columbia Co., AR.40
Benita, in an undated letter to Mr. Steven White, Beauregard, Copiah Co., MS,
provides all of the birth dates of her father's siblings. Jack VanderWeerd, husband
of Donna Blunt, in a Blunt family newsletter dated January 1991, speculates without
evidence that Sophia Garrett Johnson, granddaughter of Benita, penned the letter
for Benita c1898-1899 when Benita was about 60 years old.
What follows is a verbatim copy of that letter:
Mr. Steven White
Beauregard
Copiah Co.
Miss.
Mr. Jhim Ellington he married Betsy Walker, or do you know anything of Katy
Walker. if you will please make enquire and write and inform me of thier whereabouts
as I would be verry glad to hear if they are still living and you will confer
a favor to one that wil be verry thankfull to you so address your letter to Mrs.
Bennetter Blunt as I am Jhim Bishop daughter and married a Mr. Blunt. direct
your letter to Read Lands, La.
[Betsy and Katy Walker were sisters to Peninah Walker, Beneta's mother. Read
Lands, La. = Redland, La.]
An attachment to the letter reads as follows:
Sarah Bishop was born Febr the 9, 1730 [Sarah Runnels Bishop. The letter reads
1730, likely a transcription error by Beneta, or whoever wrote the letter for
her. The William Bucner Bishop Bible records the year as 1780]
William Bishop and Sarah Ronalds was marrie in 1795 [Beneta's paternal grandparents.
Ronalds = Runnels]
James R. Bishop was born January the 28, 1798 [Beneta's father]
Marry Bishop was born the 22, of Febr 1797 [James R. Bishop's sister]
Fanny Bishop was born January the 25, 1802 [Also a sister to James R.; m William
White]
Hezakiah W. Bishop was born January the 28, 1808 [Brother of James R.; m Martha
Millican, Jane H. Dees and Octavia Cato]
William R. Bishop was born the 2 day of Sept., 1813 [Brother of James; m Octavia
Cato]
Elizabeth Bishop was born April the 28, 1811 [Sister of James; m James A. Millican]
Mesorian M. Bishop was Born Febry the 29, 1815 [Sister of James; m Isham Bailey]
Asenath E. Bishop was born June the 9, 1818 [Sister of James; m William Temple]
Sarah R. Bishop was born June the 23, 1821 [Sister of James; m William Carlisle]
(signed) Mrs. B. Blunt
-----
The first recorded business meeting of the Spring Branch Baptist Church, Columbia
Co., Arkansas was held in Jan, 1872. The pastor was J. T. Griffin. The Baptist
Church of Christ met at Spring Branch in Feb., 1872. Members listed in the minutes
included H. R. Blunt, Ben Blunt, A. A. Blunt, Hugh Blunt, Francis Blunt and Benita
Blunt. [O'Bier]
Beneta BISHOP and Hugh R. BLUNT were married on Jan 25, 1857 in Lafayette
Co., AR. They appeared in the census on Aug 8, 1860 in Cherokee Co.,
TX.41 They appeared in the
census on Jul 8, 1870 in Bossier Parish, LA.42
Webster Parish created in 1871 from Bossier, and others.
Hugh R. BLUNT (son of Nelson BLUNT and Elizabeth
__________) was born on Sep 11, 1822.20
He died on Jan 30, 1877 in Arkansas.21
He was buried in Jan 1877 in Spring Branch Cemetery, Columbia Co., AR.
The first recorded business meeting of the Spring Branch Baptist Church, Columbia
Co., Arkansas was held in Jan, 1872. The pastor was J. T. Griffin. The Baptist
Church of Christ met at Spring Branch in Feb., 1872. Members listed in the minutes
included H. R. Blunt, Ben Blunt, A. A. Blunt, Hugh Blunt, Francis Blunt and Benita
Blunt. [O'Bier]
There was a Hugh Blunt in 1810 Iberville Parish, LA, p103 with following family:
100020-00100-00 9 (This is the Hugh Blunt-Jamey Powers family)
In 1870 there was a Hugh Blunt in Bossier Parish, LA, p272, 6W Cotton Valley
A Hugh R. Blunt appears on the Civil War Muster Rolls for Co. C., 1st (Crawford's)
Arkansas Cavalry. He is shown with rank of private; box 000376, extraction 0003,
record no. 00000794.
Beneta BISHOP and Hugh R. BLUNT had the following children:
+39 | i. | Martha Ann (Mattie) BLUNT. |
+40 | ii. | Amanda M. (Mandy) BLUNT. |
+41 | iii. | Hughriah Nelson BLUNT. |