(There is nothing that says definitely that the mother got the pension, or how much; however, with all the proof, hard to think she did not get it. Joyce Escue Culver)

I certify, my honor, that William Escue a Private late Captain Wm Rooks Company F of the 120 Regiment of Ills Infantry volunteers, of the State of Illinois, born in Johnson County, State of Illinois, aged 19 years; 5 feet 9 inches high; fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair, and by occupation a farmer, having joined the company on its original organization at Harrisburg Ills, and enrolled in it at the muster into the service of the United States at camp Butler Ills, on the 29th day of October, 1862, to serve in the Regiment for the term of three years and have served honestly and faithfully with his Company in the 120th Ills Vols he died at Lake Providence, LA, on the 12th day of July 1863 cause of death fever with chronic dirrhea.
The said William Escue was last paid by Paymenter Mas Massett to include the 30th day of June, 1863, and has pay due him from that time to the present date; he is entitled to pay and subsistence for traveling to place of enrollment and whatever other allowances are authorized to volunteer soldiers, or militia, so discharged. He has received forty three 83/100 dollars, advanced by the United States on account of clothing.
Bounty received $25.00 Bounty due $75.00 received premium $25.00. Given in Duplicate, at Corinthallias?, this 12th day of Nov 1863.

William Rook, Caps

Commanding Company

Inventory of the effects of William Escue late a Private of Captain William Rooks Company F of the 120th Regiment of Illinois Intry Volunteers, who was enrolled as a Private at Harrisburg in the State of Illinois on the 21 day of August 1862, and mustered into the service of the United States as a Private on the 29th day of October 1862 at Camp Butler Ills in Company F 120 Regiment of Illinois Infty volunteers, to serve 3 years or during the war; he was born in Johnson County in the State of Illinois; he was 19 years of age, 5 feet 9 inches high, fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair, and by occupation, when enrolled a farmer; he died in Regimental Hospital at Lake Providence LA on the 12 day of July 1863 by reason of fever with chonic diarhea

inventory-- one gold pen with silver staff
I certify, on honor, that the above inventory comprises all the effects of William Escue, deceased, and that the effects are in the hands of Elizabeth Henderson his mother in Johnson County Illinois (He was burried with what clothes he had)

William rook Capt

Commanding the Company
Station: Corinth Miss

Rec'd August 26 1863 of William Rook Capt Commanding Company F 120th Regt Ills Intry Vol the following personal affects of my son William Escue member of said company who died at Lake Providence LA July 12th 1863 (to wit)
Eight dollars U S currency
one gold pen with silver staff
The above being the entire personal affects of said deceased.

Elisabeth Henderson

Mother of said William Escue deceased



Date: November 12 1863

Declaration for an Original Pension of a Mother--
State of IL, County of Johnson, as:

On this 6th day of March, A D, one thousand eight hundred and seventy nine personally appeared before me F W Jones clerk of the county court the same being a court of record within and for the county and State aforesaid, Elizabeth Henderson a resident of ---, county of Johnson, in the State of IL, age 68 years, who, being duly sworn according to law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain the pension provided by Acts of Congress granting pensions to dependent mothers: That she is the widow of Robert Henderson, and mother of William S Escue who enlisted under the name of William S Escue at Saline Co, ILls, on the 12th day of August, A D 1862, in company F 120th Illinois Inftry Vols on the 12th day of August, A D 1863, that said son William S Escue left neither widow nor child under sixteen years of age surviving; that she was in past dependent upon said son for support; that her husband, the aforesaid Robert Henderson, aged about 64 years, and that he died July 1st 1862, and that I have not intermarried since that there were surviving at date of said son's death, his brothers and sisters, who were under sixteen years of age, as follows:
James W Henderson, half brother, born Mch 30, 1851
Miarden? A Henderson, half sister, born August 7th, 1852.
That she has not heretofore received or applied for a pension, that she has not aided or abetted the rebellion; that she hereby appoints W J Hubbard of Goreville, Ills, her attorney to prosecute the above claim; that her residence in the county of Johnson, State of Illinois and that her post office address is Goreville PO\\\\
(attest)
daniell Ewins? Elizabeth x Henderson
W W Stout her mark

(Claimant's signature)

Also personally appeared Thos F Ragsdale, residing in Johnson Co, Ills, and Daniel H Burris, residing in Johnson Co, Ills, persons whom I certify to be respable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, say that they were present and saw Elizabeth Henderson, the claimant,(make her mark) into the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of said claimant 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.
Attest (W J unreadable-- ) Signed: Thos H x Ragsdale

W W Stout his mark

Daniel H Burris

(signatures of witnesses)
Sworn and subscribed before me this 6th day of March, A D 1879, and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration, and c, were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing, including the words Mary, erased, and the word Mianden?, added, and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.

G E Jones-- signature

Clerk County Court --- official character

Department of the Interior, Pension Office
May 21, 1879
You are respectfully requested to furnish official evidence of the enrollment, service, duty, and discharge or death of William S Escue, who was Pvt in Company F, 120 Regiment of Ill Inf, Vols, reported died Aug 12, 1863,
If the above name is not found on the rolls of said Compainy, will you so state, and report as to enrollment, j c, in the case of any man bearing a similar name, whom you have good reason for believing to be the soldier inquired for.
Please, also, to furnish any evidence on file that may enable this office to decide whether the soldier's death resulted from injuries received or disease contracte in the service and line of duty.
Please return this circular with your report.
Claim No. 242544
Very respectfully
J A Bentley, Commissioner
Adjutant General, U S A

Letter--

September 25th 1880
State of Ills
Johnson Co

George W Black being duly sworn according to law upon his oath depose and says that he has been in intimately and personally acquainted with Claimant in Claim No 242544 also her son William S Escue late of Co F 120th Ills Vol and that the said William S Escue neither left a widow or minor child nor was not married. He further deposes and says that the Said William S Escue contributed to the support of his mother the claimant above mentioned by labor on the farm and for other pursuits?? which he said he contributed to her support my memory of knowledge was her frequent association with the party, herein mentioned. He further deposes and says that he is not nor haven't been interested in the prosecution of said claim

George W x Black

his mark

Subscribed and sworn to be me this 25th day of Sept AD 1882

Hiram J Huggins
Justice of the peace in and for the county of Johnson and the State of Illinois.



letter--

September 25 AD 1880
State of Ills
Johnson Co

Mr Robert G Newton being duly sworn according to law deposes and says that he was and is personally acquainted with Mrs Elisabeath Henderson claimant in Claim No 242544 as Mother of William S Escue late of Co F 120th Ills Vol and the said Claimant in 1863 owned one hundred dollars of personal property and a dowrys right on 79 acres of land about 50 cleared in a poor state of cultivation the income derived fifteen dollars per year off the said Claimants homestead and the incom derivable decreased each year until the said Claimant sold her dowry right.
He further deposes and says that the Said William S Escue left no widow or minor child nor was not married. My means of knowledge was by living on adjoining farm and assisting with the party he further deposes and says he is not nor haven't been interested in the prosecution of said Claim.

Robert G Newton



(Letter) September 25th A D 1880
State of Ills
Johnson Co
Mr George G Dempsey being duly sworn according to law upon his oath deposes and says that he was personally acquainted with William S Escue late of Co H 120 Ills Vol and the said William S Escue was not married nor left no minor. My means of knowledge is by living in the same neighborhood and frequently visiting the said claimants place of residence. He further deposis and says that he is not nor haven't been interested in the prosecution of said Claim

George x L Demsey

his mark
Subscribed and Sworn to this twentyfifty day of September AD 1880.
Hiram J Huggins, Justice of the peace in and for said County of Johnson and the State of Illiois.

State of Illinois
Saline County

I John J Capel being duly sworn upon his oath deposes and says that he was a fellow soldier with William S Escue in Company F, 120 Regiment Ills Volunteers. He further deposes and says that the said William S Escue did not marry after the date of his enlistment.

John J Capel
The foregoing afidavet being duly sworn to & subscribed to before me the undersigned Justice of the peace in and for the County of Saline and State of Illinois on this the 25?th day of Nov 1880.

James D Williams JP

??filed 6/24/1880

M F



New Burnside Johnson Co, Ills

December 6th, 1880
To Commissioner of Pensions

Washington City
Your letter enclosed asking information to be used in Claim No 242,544 of Elizabeth Henderson Mother of William S Escue late Private Co F 120th Ills Reg Invty Vol carefully examined. I was well acquainted the Elizath Henderson and her family and know the above spring or summer of 1862 that her son William S Escue had started a crop on his Mothers small farm and quit it an volunteered and as there was no other help in the family and she was not able to hire the crop never was cultivated and made but verry little if anything and then she had two small children unable at the time to assist her or help support themselves. About one or two months before his death he having been notified of the necessities of his mother he wrote a letter to me and also to his mother that he would draw $52 in a few days and then he would send her some money. Her means of subsistance since that time has been bad. She was not able to work hardly any and was supported mainly by contributions. The small farm of 40 acres that she was living on when her son died (which by will belonged to other parties) she only having a dower interest in had run down and become in the course of several years to be so out of repair as not to contribute anything to her support, and was finally in some way transfered. And she has not since had any home or means of support only as given to her.

Yours Respectfully

James Grisham



State of Ills
Johnson Co May 22 AD 1880
The Harvey C Craig being duly sworn according to law upon his oath deposing and says that he Harvey C Craig was personally acquainted with Mrs Elisabeath Henderson and know her as the mother of Wm S Escue.
The respondant further says that he was acquainted with Robert Henderson husband of Elisabeath Henderson and the said Robert Henderson died about July the 1 A D 1862. The de???nant further says that the said Claimant pecuniary circumstance were poor and the amount of property posessed by the Claimant was insufficient to support her any considerable time and the said Claimant has been wholy dependant upon her married children for support for several years.

H C Craig
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 22 day of May A D 1880

H J Huggins
Justice of the peace in and for said county of Johnson and the State of Illinois.



State of Illinois
Johnson County This June 5 A D 1880
Mr George G Demsey being duly sworn according to law upon his oath deposing and says he is personally acquainted with Mrs Elisabeath Henderson and know her to be the mother of Wm S Escue.
The deponant further states that the said Wm S Escue desceased soldier contributted to his mothers support by laboring for her eaven at the date of his enlistment. The deponant further states that he was present at the death and helped to berry Robert Henderson the last husband of the Elisabeath Henderson and the said Robert Henderson died about July the 1 A D 1862.
The deponant further states that the said Claimants pecuniary condition was poor in 1862 and her incom derivat? were very limited and insufficient to support her and have been entirely supported by her married children for several years.

George L Demsey





Goreville, Ills Nov 17,1880
Commisioner of Pensions
Washington D C
Sir in answer to you inquirey of Oct 21 1880 I will state in regard to G W Black, George Demsey, R G Newton & H C Craig, I am the personaly acquainted with each of the parties. Craig and Newton are men that can read for themselves and could not be misled or imposed upon the other two are unlearned and could be misled or imposed up if a person was wilful enough to try as to the dependance of claimant I know nothing my self but would refer you to James Grisham of New Burnsides and W B Walker and James P Walker of Goreville, who were neighbors of hers and who are respectable men and will give a cleare statement the walkers are of Goreville. Hopeing this will be satisfactorly an confidential I am respectfully yours.

(signed) J M Jones P M

I would love to find out whether Elizabeth Henderson, with a son named Escue, is also the widow of Johnathan (Jack) Escue. I recognize W J Hubbard as the husband of Rhoda Ann Escue (W J stands for William Joe or William Jerome), and Thomas Ragsdale also married into the Hubbard clan. Elizabeth (Polly) Smith is Rhoda's mom.

P S I have pics of several Escue headstones from my trip to Goreville last fall. Email me at texasaggie_aunt at yahoo dot com.