The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-02-24
Pension Decision.

The decision of the secretary of the
interior in the case of Mahala Dexter
of Sheffield has been sent to T. j.
Deavitt, Esq, of Montpelier by Gen.
eral John G. Black, commissioner of
pensions, and is as follows: " Depart
ment of the Interior, Pension Office,
Washington, d. c., February 16, 1886:
Sir-By direction of the honorable sec
rotary of the interior have the honor
to inform you that the decision upon
your appeal from the action of this
office in rejecting the claim for pension
No. 257 ,102 of Mahala Dexter of
Sheffield, VT, is as follows: Appellant
filed a claim for pension December
9th, 1879, alleging dependence upon
her son, Henry II. Dexter, at the time
of his death. The claim was rejected
June Sth, 1888, on the ground that
claimant was not dependent on, or sup
ported wholly or in part by, said son at
the time of his death. From this action
an appeal is taken. After the rejec-
ton, and pending the appeal, additional
evidence was filed, which was consid-
cred in connection with that previously
furnished and the adverse action adj
hered to. The records of the war de-
partment show that the soldier was en-
rolled at San Francisco, California,
March 7, 1868, in Company M, Sec
ond Massachusetts, Cavalry, and was
killed in action February %, 1864, near
Drainsville, Virginia. Appellant testi-
fies that in 1864 her family consisted of
her husband, aged sixty-one; herself,
aged fifty-two; her son, William, aged
twenty-six; Henry H., aged twenty
two; and Lacy, aged twenty. She also
testifies that Lacy died September Goth j.,
1866, and that no person has been le-
gally bound to support her since the
death of the soldier, except her hus-
band, and that she has earned her liv-
ing by her own eXertions and industry.
The appellant and her husband jointly
testify that the soldier went to Califor-
MIA in December, 1860, for the purpose
of lettering his condition; that the SOL
der promised to send home as much of
his pay while in the service as he could
spare, but, dying soon after his enlist
ment, was not able to send them any
money; that they received about 5000
from the government on his account,
supposed to be for back pay and bounty.
William G. Brown and appellants son,
William Dexter, testify, November 25th,
1883, that the soldier was home on a
short furlough about May, 1868, and
that while at home he worked for and
assisted his father diligently, and fully
acknowledged himself as bound to aid
them all in his power to do. The evi.
dence shows that this soldier was over
twenty-one years of age at the time OF
his death and had not been living with
his mother for over two years prior to
his enlistment, being in California dur
ing that time. 1t is not claimed OF
shown by any evidence that the soldier
did in any way contribute to the sup.
port of the mother for two years imme'
diately preceding his enlistment, and in
his letters written during this period
Furnished as evidence) it is not shown
that he acknowledged his obligation tC
do so. The mere fact that the soldier
while at home on a short furlough il
May, 1868, assisted his parents and
took an interest.in their welfare at that
time, cannot be accepted to show that
the soldier did wholly or in part assist
his mother, or acknowledged his obi
cation to support her, in face of the
fact that for two years previous to his
enlistment, and during his term Of
service-almost a year-he did not con
tribute to his mothers support. Nor is
it shown that he ever in any manner
acknowledged his obligation to do so
No good grounds for disturbing YOU
action appearing, the rejection of the
claim is concurred in by this depart
ment.''