East Tennessee Claim Books
This collection consists of four ledger books that contain property and pension claims made by East Tennesseans following the Civil War. Types of claim vary. There are many applications for removal of suspension of pension by ex-confederates and Southern veterans of American wars dating back to the War of 1812. There are also claims against the Union army for hog stealing and other contraband appropriated without compensation by the federal Army.
The ledger in Box 2 is missing much of the initial index. Besides the handwritten records of claims, it includes letters from various attorneys and from the Treasury Department. Many pages have writing crosswise over previous writing.
The ledger in Box 3 includes a letter from the Treasury Department with a handwritten addition saying that the above published act had been overruled so that heirs can now collect. It is labeled with the number eight and inscribed W. H. Hoskins of Chattanooga. It has a complete index and clear handwriting with very few pages overwritten.
The ledger in Box 4 is labeled with the number nine and inscribed A. J. Johnson and Jno W. Russell. It has a complete index. Pages 12 to 23 have large tables with names, residences, and service information for several of the claims that have been filed. It has very few pages with crosswise writing.
Dates
- circa 1860-1890
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
3 Linear Feet (4 flat boxes)
Abstract
This collection consists of four ledger books that contain property and pension claims made by East Tennesseans following the Civil War.
Biographical/Historical Note
Spencer Munson, E. P. Bailey, and A. J. Johnson were all agents of the Southern Claims Commission. Congress established this organization on March 3, 1871 to review requests for compensation submitted by Southerners whose property had been seized by Union Army and Navy forces during the Civil War. By the time the Commission was disbanded in 1880, it had reviewed 22,298 claims. It allowed approximately a third, which totaled $4,636,920.69.
Arrangement
This collection consists of four boxes.
Acquisition Note
Special Collections purchased these ledgers in 1971.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository