Affiant states that he is personally acquainted with the claimant James Odgers and has known him for the last past 50 years and testifies that claimant has been during all the time he has know him a sober peaceable man of good habits, he further testifies that he has seen him on an average of once a week for years back and he knows his habits and that he is not addicted to vicious habits.
Affiant states that from his acquaintance with the claimant and his personal knowledge of the claimant he is positive that the left inguinal hernia from which claimant is suffering was not caused by an vicious habits on his own or on the part of any other person.Both my third great-grandfather and Willet Walton lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the time of this Affidavit, Willet Walton was 62 and my third great-grandfather was 68 years old, which means that the two men had known each other since they were 12 and 18 years old respectively. I wonder how they knew each other. Were they related or just friends? Maybe with a little more digging, I will find out.
Affiant states that he is personally acquainted with the claimant James Odgers and have known him for the last past 50 years and testifies that he has always been since he knew him a sober, peaceable man of good habits and in no way addicted to any vicious habits.
Affiant states that that from his acquaintance with the claimant and his knowledge of the cliamants character, he testifies that the left inguinal hernia from which he is suffering was not caused by any vicious habits on his own or on the part of any other person.At the time this Affidavit was taken, William White was 72 years old and my third great-grandfather was 68. I wonder how these two men knew each other. They lived less than a five minute walk away from each other in the city of Philadelphia, so maybe they knew each other as neighbors.
That he is a practicing physician, and has been acquainted with the above-named soldier for about eleven years, and that for four years he lived next door to him, and for eleven years has been a near neighbor and on friendly terms with him and his family.
That after a careful examination as to his present condition, I certify as follows
He suffers from Right-Hernia, necessitating that wearing of a Tress constantly.
Total loss of sight of left eye and sight of right eye very imperfect, with continually increasing dimness of vision.
Varicose veins affecting entire inner portion of right leg from hip to ankle, and is compelled to wear a canvass jacket over same to enable him to walk. A portion of left leg also affected with the same.
For over ten years past he has been a sufferer from swollen limbs and severe cramps caused by Rheumatism.
He was compelled to give up his business over four years ago on account of imperfect sight and being unable to walk caused by the said Varicose Veins and Rheumatism. Has been unable to perform any labor since.
Affiant states that he is the identical person who is applying for an increase pension by ctf #700375 James Odgers and in answer to the Commissioner of Pensions letter hereto attached wherein he is required to state under oath as to why he sometimes signs his name and at other times makes his mark.
Affiant states that at times he is able to write his name and at other times through extreme nervousness and affection of the eyes he is unable to write his name and so has to make his mark.My third great-grandfather's response to this inquiry was that at times his eyesight was bad and his hands shook too much for him to be able to write his signature. At 70 years old, he was elderly and these could have just been symptoms of his age.
...That he is unable to comply with the requirements of the Pension office as to furnishing affidavit of persons who knew when and how and where he received left inguinal hernia for reason that when he was hurt he did not say anything about it to anyone as he did not know he had received a hernia until some time after he was hurt.
He respectfully requests that the testimony of William White and Willet Walton will be accepted in lieu of other testimony which he cannot furnish for reasons as above set forth.According to this Affidavit, my third-great grandfather had no one to support his claim that his injury, an inguinal hernia, actually occurred while he was serving in the Union Army.
Affiant states that he is the identical person who is applying for increase pension by ctf * 700375 and in answer to the Commissioner of Pensions letter wherein he is required to state under oath as to when, where and under what circumstances he incurred left inguinal hernia
Affiant states that he received the left inguinal hernia in the spring of 1865.
Affiant states that he incurred left inguinal hernia at Fort Delaware
Affiant states that he incurred the left inguinal hernia under the following circumstances, while hauling powder at Fort Delaware, the cart was upset, and the shaft struck him in the groin causing left inguinal hernia
Affiant states that the above is a true statement of when where and how he incurred left inguinal hernia and that it was in no way due to vicious habits on his own part or on the part of any other person.At the time of this filing, my third great-grandfather was 72 years old and living at 1415 South 15th Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
This cover sheet is found in the Civil War Pension File of my paternal third great-grandfather. The bills were submitted by a pension atto...
