Colored Confederate Pensions List
Contributed by: Darlene Anderson

In 1891 Tennessee began granting pensions to indigent Confederate veterans; and, in 1905 began granting pensions to their widows. There are three lists associated with the Confederate Pensions; and, they are soldiers' roll, widows' roll, and African-American soldiers' roll. This list of Colored Confederate Pension Application represents the men who served during the Civil War and resided in Williamson County at the time of eligibility even if the applicant served for another state.

Applicants were required to prove they had served until the end of the War; and, the following requirements also had to be stated in the pension application:

  • Year of birth
  • State and county of birth
  • Gender of children
  • Value of personal and real property
  • Date and place the applicant entered the service
  • Commanding Officer's name
  • Unit and period of service
  • Battles participated in
  • If he was wounded or captured
  • Former owner's name
  • Regiment

As proof of the applicant's service, letters of testimony were required. Those letters were written by people who knew the applicant; and in some cases letters of testimony came from the former owner or family member.

William BUFORD
9th Tenn Inf
Pension No. 18		 Henry CHURCH
9th Tenn Inf
Pension No. 19 		Jack CRUTCHER
20th Tenn Cav
Pension No. 26		 Osborne CUNNINGHAM
1st Tenn Inf
Pension No. 87		 Booker HUNTER
Capt. Smith's Staff
Pension No. 92
Tom JOHNSON
50th Tenn Inf
Pension No. 75		 Williamson JOHNSON
Capt. White's Battery
Pension No. 27		 Ephriam OTEY
1st Tenn Quartermaster's Dept
Pension No. 20		 John PARISH
2nd Tenn Cav
Pension No. 166		 Frank RUSSELL
Forrest's Escort
Pension No. 17