Mary Donahue, wife of Thomas, had to provide several such affidavits to the War Department following the death of her husband in 1898. Mary was required to establish her eligibility to obtain a veteran's widows pension allowed her as a continuation of her husbands Mexican War Pension. It must have been a frustrating experience to go through when dealing with a department in Washington D.C. using affidavits. The lady was unable to read and write which I am sure only complicated matters although she did have the aid of her children and friends.
One such affidavit included here is the only proof that Thomas Donahue had siblings in Manitowoc County. Namely a sister, also named Mary, three years younger, and a brother, Patrick, thirteen years younger than he. Based on other facts as well as a tradition of the Irish during these times it is reasonable to conclude that Thomas provided the ways and means for his siblings to emigrate from their homeland and to join him in Wisconsin.
It appears that somehow the powers in Washington determined that Mary Donahue was not the first wife of Thomas, which was well known in the family however, but regardless an affidavit was required to establish that the first wife was no longer alive and thus not also eligible for the pension.
This was all prior to common typewriter usage resulting in some very difficult reading and translation.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006 FILE: DONAHUE PACKET PGS 54-55
Transcription/interpretation of pages 54-55 of the Donahue Pension Packet from NARA.
An affidavit of Patrick Donahue, brother of Thomas Donahue, and Mary Siehr, a sister , all for the purpose to vouch for Mary Donahue to either sustain or increase her pension benefit rightfully due her after the death of her husband Thomas Donahue.
State of Wisconsin
Manitowoc County
In the matter of Pension Claim No. 14924 Mary Donahue widow of Thomas Donahue claimant. On this 19th day of July AD 1899 personally came before me a Notary Public in and for the county and state aforesaid, Patrick Donahue aged 68 years, a resident of the town of Newton [Newtown ?], Manitowoc County, Wisconsin whose post-office address is Osman [ ? ], Manitowoc County, Wisconsin and Mary Siehr aged 72 years, a resident of the Town of Meeme, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, state of Wisconsin whose post-office address is Osman, Manitowoc County, State of Wisconsin, who being personally duly sworn according to law under oath personally and each declare in relation to the above cited claim, I give as follows:
Both of us lived in the same house in County of Gallway, Ireland, where Mrs. Donahue first wife of Thomas Donahue died, saw her, both of us after she was dead and attended her funeral, her maiden name was [ ? ] White. She Mrs. Donahue, first wife of Thos. Died in the fall, being so long ago do not remember the year. Neither of us had any schooling, no chance given us to go to school- It was nothing but work in those days in Ireland. To the foregoing of each can testify from personal knowledge and know those to be [ ? ] as stated. Further that we have no interest in the claim nor concerned in it’s prosecution. That our post-office address is as stated and that we are brother and sister to Thos. Donahue the soldier.
In presence of his
Margaret Scherer Patrick x Donahue
Frank [ ? ] mark
John Wotsuba
her
Mary x Siehr
mark
Subscribed and sworn to before me at Manitowoc, Wis, this 19th day of July 1899 and I herby certify that the contents of the forgoing affidavit carefully read and explained to affiants before execution- word for word. That the affiants are persons of truth and veracity in every way, in good standing and they will only testify to that which they know to be absolutely true. Know that from a long acquaintance with them and that reside as stated. Further that I have no interest in this claim whatever. That the word known was inserted before execution. Fred Harris Notary Public _____________________________________________________________________________ Note:
All the affidavits and other correspondence contained in the Pension File of Thomas were on legal sized paper. Due to limited available resources each page was scanned in two images in order to cover the entire sheet.
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