Summary: Henry Demasters filed this claim August 18, 1871, for $270.00, claiming that Union troops confiscated 1 bay mare, 2 heifers, and 2 guns. The claim was disallowed (date of disallowment not given; claim was still active in 1872).
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| 1 Bay Mare | $180.00 | 0 | $180.00 |
| 2 young heifers | $55.00 | 0 | $55.00 |
| 2 guns - 1 rifle $25, 1 matchlock $10 | $35.00 | 0 | $35.00 |
Claims Summary:
This claim is wholly rejected. -
Report -
The claimant resided in Augusta County Virginia during the war.
He says in his testimony that he voted for the Ordinance of Secession to prevent War - We reject the claim.
Loyalty not proved. -
A.O. Aldis
Commrs of Claims
Testimony: Henry Demasters
United States of America
State of Virginia
I W.G. Riley, a commissioner selected and designated by the Commissioners of Claims appointed under the act of Congress of March 3rd 1871 to take and record testimony Do hereby certify that the reason for taking the following depositions is and the fact is the matter of claim of Henry Demasters vs the United States of America and the witness herein named being first duly sworn answereth as follows.
Quest 1 Witness says - I lived in the County of Augusta six months prior to the 1st of April 1861
2 Witness says - I resided at the same place between the 1st of April 1861 and the 1st of June 1865.
3 Witness says I never passed beyond the military or Naval lines of the United States and entered the Rebel lines.
4 Witness says - I never took any oath of allegiance to the Confederate States
5 Witness says - I have taken the amnesty oath I have never been pardoned by the President.
6 Witness says - I never was in any way connected with the Confederacy I never held any office under the Confederacy I never was directly or indirectly connected with any department of the Confederacy.
14 Witness says - I never was engaged in blockade running I never did any thing for the Confederacy in my life.
15 Witness says - I did not leave the Confederate States between the 19th of April 1861 and the 19th of April 1865
16 Witness says - I never was the owner or had any interest in any vessel in my life.
17 Witness says - I never was arrested by the Confederate Government I never was arrested by the United States Government.
18 Witness says - None of my property was ever taken by the Confederate Government.
19 Witness says - I don't think I was ever threatened on account of my union sentiments.
22 Witness says - I did nothing for the United States Government during the war
23 Witness says - I had two sons in the Confederate Army they got out of the same and went into the Union Army. I gave them a little money after they left the Confederacy to take them to the Union Army.
24 Witness says - I never owned any Confederate bonds I never did any thing to support the Confederacy or give aid to support the Confederacy or give aid and comfort to the Rebellion
26 Witness says - I never was engaged in making raids into the United States from Canada.
29 Witness says - I never was a parolled prisoner of the United States
30 Witness says - I have never held any office in the Army or Navy of the United States. I was not educated at West Point or at the Naval Academy.
31 Witness says - I never received any pass from any officer of the Confederate Government.
32 Witness says - I never was under any disabilities imposed by the 14th Article of the amendments to the Constitution of the United States I have never held any office under the United States Government since the war.
33 Witness says - My sympathies were with the Union cause and not with the Rebellion I voted for the ordinance of secession I was told if I did not vote that way it would up a war I adhered to the Union cause and did not go with the State after the Ordinance of Secession was adopted.
34 Witness says - From the beginning of hostilities against the United States to the end thereof my sympathies were constantly with the cause of the United States I was at all times ready and willing to aid the Union so far as my means and power and the circumstances of the case permitted.
Questions by the Commissioners
Quest 1 How old are you where do you reside and what is your occupation?
Answer I am sixty two years old I reside in Augusta County Virginia by occupation a farmer and further the deponent saith not August the 17th 1871
X (his mark
Testimony: William Gibson
William Gibson a witness introduced by the Claimant to prove the taking of the property being first duly sworn answereth as follows.
Quest Witness says - I saw all the articles specified in the claimant's petition taken
4 Witness says - The articles mentioned in the claimant's petition were taken from his farm about the 7th of June 1864 they were taken by soldiers under Genls Averill's and Crook's command
8 Witness says - I don't know whether the horse was rode or led the cattle were driven
11 Witness says - I heard no complaint to any officer on account of such taking
12 Witness says - I don't know that any receipt was asked for or any given
13 Witness says - It was taken in the daytime none of it was taken secretly
14 Witness says - The night before they were encamped near there the next day they came to Staunton Virginia. I knew none of the officers.
15 Witness says - the horse was a young horse and in good condition the cattle were in good condition - I think the horse was worth what the claimant has charged in the petition also the cattle. I think the rifle was worth twenty dollars I do not know much about the other gun.
22 Witness says - I suppose that the property was taken for some purpose so necessary that the Government ought to pay for it
23 Witness says - I suppose it was taken by some officers or soldiers who had authority to take it the soldiers said they had orders to take all property that could be used to break down the Confederacy.
Questions by the Commissioner
Quest 1 How long have you known the claimant
Answer I have known him ten years I saw him often after 1863 he seemed to be loyal to the United States during the war and was so regarded by his neighbors and to the best of my belief he was loyal to the United States during the war. I never knew him to do anything against the United States Government I never knew him to do anything for the Confederate Government - he was too loyal to the United States Government to have been considered a loyal man to the Confederacy if it had been maintained as a separate Goverment
Quest 2 How old are you where do you reside and what is your occupation
Answer I am forty two years old I reside in Augusta County Virginia by occupation a farmer
Further the witness saith not
August 17th 1871
William Gibson
Testimony: Alexander Gibson
Alexander Gibson a witness introduced by the Claimant to prove loyalty being first duly sworn answereth as follows -
Quest 1 How old are you where do you reside and what is your occupation?
Answer I am forty years old I reside in Augusta County Virginia by occupation a farmer
Quest 2 How long have you known the claimant
Answer I have known the claimant eight years - I saw him often during the war I talked to him about the war he was loyal to the United States during the war and was so regarded by his neighbors - I never knew him to do anything for the United States except to harbor a few deserters from the Confederate Government except what he was forced to do - I think he was too loyal to the United States to have been considered loyal to the Confederacy if it had been maintained as a separate Government further the deponent saith not August 17th 1871
Alexander Gibson
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 17th day of August 1871
W.G. Riley
(seal)
United States Commissioner and special Com for the State of Va.
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of Henry Demasters, August 18, 1871, Claim No. 11452, Source copy consulted: National Archives, Washington, D.C., fiche # 449.
