Benjamin F. M. Jones

Benjamin F. M. Jones

    Benjamin Jones is my 3rd great grandfather. The lineage looks like this:

Benjamin Jones m. Mary Adeline Brown
They had 12 children, one of which was William Wesley Jones.
William Wesley Jones m. Mattie Presley.
They had 11 children, one of which was Effie Jones.
Effie Jones m. John Lowery
Effie and John had 6 children, one of which was Donald Clarence Lowery.
Donald Lowery m. Wilene Clemons.
Don and Lee had 5 children- one of which is my mother, Karen Yvonne Lowery.



   I have spent a lot of time sitting at microfilm machines over the last few years, digging out every shred of possible information about my family tree. I have several ancestors that were civil war soldiers- 3 Confederates, and one Yankee:) When looking at those records, there is typically very little information. If you are lucky enough to find a Confederate Pension Application, you can find significantly more. I could not believe my eyes when I found this file on Benjamin Jones. There were probably 30 pages of documentation stemming from his request for pension. The most unique part of this file was all of the handwritten letters from Mr. Jones himself. I haven't been lucky enough to find anything like that in the others.
    Benjamin applied for pension August 25, 1899. As you will be able to tell, he was rather frustrated by the time he wrote this letter to the pension examiner's board. The handwriting is quite good, and on the 1900 census he states that he can read and write, which is unusual in lower income families of this time. You can tell by the letter that he was passionate and well spoken, although he seemed to have a little trouble putting it into words on paper. I typed this out just as he wrote it, so it is difficult to read at certain points. I added an occasional punctuation mark or interpretation in order to make it easier to understand. Hope you enjoy reading it.

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Pleasant Hill, TN     July 10, 1905

Frank A. Moses Special Examiner of Pension Board of Nashville Tennessee

Deare Friends..

  On the 21 of November 1904 you sent out some papers for me to fill out whitch I did an sent them about the first of December 1904 Whitch I have not heard anything from……What rong? Did the papers never reach you or are their anything ronge with the affidavids or is any more proof wanted? It seams to me that I have made all the nessary proof as to my honesty as a citason and a shalger (soldier) and I no that I have went as strate as a bee line with my papers and told the facts in all things and I no if any man deserves a pension I do. And as I am a strait fored democrat an all wayes vote that tickit and never had the least thought of joining the

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Outher side an that same southern princapel is resting in my bosom yet an I work an so all I can to live in fact I work and go when I cant hardly drag one foot before the other an my wife is down on my hand an has been for 25 years an no one to wait on her but myself  an I can’t leave her a lone an just as some one comes in. I could do a little better is I was able to hier some good girl to waite on her I could get out an provide a little beter an Just about half of my time not able to work I have sevier heart truble at times I apt to sit up vary neare all night. Now I don’t wont you to think that I am a beger not so I could work as I once did you would never heare of me asking for a pension but as our govner of our Proud state make a call for volunteers I went at the

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Call and mad as a good sodier as any man faught for southern rights an lost my helth an now I ask my proud state for a pension and it seames a hard struggle to get it. It seames that I have mad all the prrof nessary I no that I have fieled all papers proper an started to the board if any have not reached the board I wold love to no it an I will tend to it at once…or if there is any more proof wonted will you please let me no at once as I have enclosed stamps heretofore. If any man needs help it is me. Ever body in thy section is wondering why I hant got it or hear something from the board . The last papers you sent me to file was to corobrate LP Brown oath as he was comrade an was in the army or should have been proved by his brother GW Brown. That LP Brown was home when I came sick you also

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Certificate from under the trustee hand given a acraged (accredited?) an cessment (assesmet?) or valuation whitch I sent and I also give the board an entre one by T H Stanley as good a citison as Cumberland County that saw me when I came home sick an has been an invalid ever since and I was examed by as good a Dr as this country affords am has dun everything that I have been asked to do so I can give you 100 signers on the petition that I am honest an a good worker when able an as to my condishion an my needs and that I am worthy of a pension. Now I do beleave that the Honarable Board will do me justice and alow me a pension when they see in to it writely. I no that I am asking nothing but what is rite an just . I do no if there ever was a man upon this green earthe that needs it it is me. Whether I get it or not I am going honest with it. I have got no place to take my wife that she will be taken care off but if I had keep I could hier some girl to waite on her if I was going to be hanged . I can’t do a days work- Now I have been under treatment ever sence I sent in my application if I had not a wold be dead so I give the true in all things an will it to the honorable board to decide I remain you true frien and democrat if I never get a pension. So hoping to heare fable (favorable) news from the board . remember B.F.M. Jones when talking over this letter. PS I though I wold one leter to your pleas ecuse bad spelling and writing.

B.F.M.Jones