Summary: Hannah M. Hanger filed this claim in 1879 for $760, claiming the Union army took horses, corn and bacon in June 1864 by General Hunter's Union troops. The property belonged to John Brown Hanger, her deceased husband who died in 1866. Hannah was a 42 year old farmer who resided in Arbor Hill. The claim was disallowed.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| Amount of Claim | $760.00 | $0.00 | $760.00 |
Claims Summary:
Claimant is a widow whose husband died in 1866. The property was his when taken. Her only evidence of her loyalty of claimant and her husband to the same statement of Claimant and one witness that they were loyal. There are no facts or indications tending to support claim statements. She had a brother in the Confederate Army.
We are not satisfied with the sufficiency of the evidence in support of loyalty. We there therere refuse this claim.
AO Aldis, JB Howell, O. Ferriss
Com. of Claims
Testimony: Hannah M. Hanger
My name is Hannah M. Hanger, my age 42 years, my residence Arbor Hill Augusta Co., in the State of Virginia, and my occupation a farmer; I am related to the claimant, and have beneficial interest in the claim.
Ques. 2. Ans. I reside where I now do. There are 169 acres in the tract 100 cleared to the balance timber. I did not change my residence or business.
Ques. 3. Ans. I never passed the lines.
Ques. 4. Ans. I took no oath at all.
Ques. 5. Ans. I never too an amnesty oath nor asked for a pardon.
Ques. 6. Ans. I never was connected with the civil service of the Confederate Government.
Ques. 7. Ans. I held no office or place of any kind.
Ques. 8. Ans. I never was a clerk or had any agency or employment for or under the Confederate Government.
Ques. 9. Ans. I belonged to no militia.
Ques. 10. Ans. Was never a soldier.
Ques. 11. Ans. I never was in the militia.
Ques. 12. Ans. I had nothing to do with home guards, or committees of any kind.
Ques. 13. Ans. Of course no conscript.
Ques. 14. Ans. I furnished no substitute.
Ques. 15. Ans. Never in no way connected or employed in any branch of the service.
Ques. 16. Ans. I had nothing to do with railroads or in transporting soldiers or anything else.
Ques. 17. Ans. I never had charge of stores or supplies or anything else for the Confederacy.
Ques. 18. Ans. I never was in service of any kind nor furnished nothing of any kind.
Ques. 19. Ans. I never engaged or was employed in the manufacture of goods or articles of any kind.
Ques. 20. Ans. I had nothing to do with the Confederate Government in any way.
Ques. 21. Ans. I ran no blockade nor had interest in goods of any kind.
Ques. 22. Ans. I remained at my house all the time.
Ques. 23. Ans. I never owned any vessel or boat.
Ques. 24. Ans. I never was arrested by either Government.
Ques. 25. Ans. I had no property taken by the Confederate Government.
Ques. 26. Ans. I never was threatened.
Ques. 27. Ans. I was not molested.
Ques. 28. Ans. I made no contribution had no chance.
Ques. 29. Ans. I did all I could for Union men.
Ques. 30. Ans. My brother George F. Smith. he resides near Churchville, Augusta Co. I give him nothing.
Ques. 31. Ans. I owned no Confederate bonds. I did nothing to support the credit of the Confederacy.
Ques. 32. Ans. I give no aid and comfort to the rebellion.
Ques. 33. Ans. I never engaged in making raids.
Ques. 34. Ans. I held no one in custody for any cause.
Ques. 35. Ans. I belonged to no society or association of any kind or for any purpose.
Ques. 36. Ans. I never was a paroled prisoner.
Ques. 37. Ans. I never held any office.
Ques. 38. Ans. I never had a pass.
Ques. 39. Ans. I was under no disabilities.
Ques. 40. Ans. My sympathies were with the Union being a lady I could not vote.
Ques. 41. Ans. I do solemnly declare that from beginning of hostilities against the United States to the end thereof: my sympathies were constantly with the Union and that I never by word or deed did anything or sought, offered, or attempted to do anything to injure said cause or retard its success and I was at all times ready and willing to aid and assist the cause of the Union or its supporters so far as my means and power permitted.
Ques. 42. Ans. I was married to John Brown Hanger in 1850. My husband was a loyal man to the cause of the United States. He is dead, died Feb. 1866. I have nine children Mary C. is 21 years. Jacob F. is 20 years. George G. is 18 years. John H 16. Theodore R. 15. Charles 14 years. William Y. is 13. James B is 12 years. Edwin is 10 years. After the death of my husband all property fell into my hands as his widow and representative of my children. My husband was not in the Confederate Army and was never in the civil service.
Ques. 1. Ans. I was not present and did not see all the property taken.
Ques. 3. Ans. I was not at home at the time being out on business.
Ques. 4. Ans. The property was taken in June 1864 by soldiers belonging to the Command of General Crook & Averall.
Ques. 5. Ans. David Dull jr. was present with my children.
Ques. 6. Ans. I do not know whether there was an officer present or not.
Ques. 7. Ans. I do not know.
Ques. 8. Ans. I did not see, not being at home.
Ques. 9. Ans. I do not know.
Ques. 10. Ans. I cannot say.
Ques. 11. Ans. I made no complaint.
Ques. 12. Ans. I got no receipt.
Ques. 13. Ans. There was no camp near than Staunton about 6 miles distant. There had been a battle at Piedmont a few days before. Genls. Hunter Crook & Averall united with Genl. Hunter at Staunton.
Ques. 15. Ans. The horses were all in good condition all well broken to ride and work. I believe there were 6 bushl. corn and 3 or 4 pieces of Bacon. I think my property worth all its charged.
Hannah M. Hanger
Testimony: David Dull Jr.
Deposition of David Dull jr.
Answer to 1stgenl. question. My name is David Dull jr. My age is 47 years. My occupation a Cooper. My residence near Arbor Hill in Augusta County. I am not related to the Claimant and have no interest in the claim. I was present and saw the property taken.
Ques. 3. Ans. The Stallion was in the stable and the others in a field adjoining the barn. The Corn was in the granary and the Bacon in the Smoke house and also the flour.
Ques. 4. Ans. It was about the 9th of June 1846. I have no idea of the number of Soldiers. I suppose two companies of Cavalry. There was an officer present whom the soldiers called Captain. I did not hear any name.
Ques. 5. Ans. Mrs. Hanger's (the claimant) children were present.
Ques. 6. Ans. The soldiers called one man Captain. I heard no name. He the Captain told me that they needed the property.
Ques. 7. Ans. The Stallion was taken out of the stable and the other horses out of a field the Bacon & flour from the Smoke house & the Corn out of the granary.
Ques. 8. Ans. The horses were led except the Stallion he was rode a soldier getting off his horse and mounted him. The Corn was shelled and carried away in three bags by Soldiers on horse back. The Flour was carried in Sacks, and the Bacon (3 pieces) carried in hand.
Ques. 9. Ans. The Command was then en route towards Staunton. I did not follow after.
Ques. 10. Ans. I never saw the property after they left claimants house.
Ques. 11. Ans. I made complaint to the Captain stating that the owner of the property was a Union man and he replied that they needed the property but for me to keep a list of the articles and that they would be paid for after awhile.
Ques. 12. There was no receipt given nor asked for.
Ques. 13. Ans. The property was taken in the day time about 10 A.M. and 3 P.M.
Ques. 14. Ans. There was no camp nearer than Staunton. Genl. Hunter had a battle at Piedmont on the Sunday before the property was taken. Genls. Crook and Averall were on their way to Staunton where they united with Genl. Hunter. Then camped at that place and remained in Camp until the Friday after the Piedmont battle. I knew no Quarter Master.
Ques. 15. Ans. The Stallion was in fine order 4 years old of good size near 16 hands high, well broken. The large bay mare was 6 years old, large and in fine order. The next 4 years old was a good animal. The horse (bay) 9 years old, was a noble good horse. All the horses were sound and I think worth all that is charged. There 3 sacks filled with Corn. 3 pieces of Bacon, which I judged would weigh 40 pounds and two barrels of flour emptied into bags. I do not think any of the charges are too much.
Deposition of Same witness as to the loyalty of Claimant.
I have known the claimant for 20 years and her deceased husband from his boyhood. I lived about 200 yards from them during the War. I was very intimate with both. I saw one or the other every day. I never heard either of them express themselves but the bitterest terms against the rebellion. I have heard them converse frequently in the presence of others and were always and invariably in favor of the Union. And whenever the rebels gained a victory the claimant and her husband were depressed and sorry. I often heard them wish the Union Army would come. I think his Union neighbors believed him to be a sincere friend of the Union. I was a Union man and I had full confidence in the claimant and her husband. I heard the claimant advise her brother to go through the lines to the Union Army. I never knew them to do anything for the United States. The only thing that claimants husband did was to burn Charcoal a short time. The claimant did nothing he did not vote for the Ordinance of Secession, nor put in a substitute. I am satisfied that if the South had gained its independence, they could not have staid in it.
David Dull Jr.
Testimony: David Thornton
Deposition of David Thornton
Answer to first general question. My name is David Thornton, my age is 64 years. My occupation is a farmer. I am not related to the claimant and have no benefit in the claim. I have known the claimant for 10 years or more and her husband 15 years. After the first year of the War I lived about 1/4 mile from claimant. We were intimate during the War. I saw him very often and talked about the War and his sympathies were constantly with the Union and I think the claimant was always loyal to the United States. I think the Union men of the neighborhood regarded them both as good and loyal to the United States. I never knew them to do anything to aid the rebellion. The claimant and her husband both knew me to be a Union man. If the South had been successful I do not believe they could have staid in the South at all.
David Thornton
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of Hannah M. Hanger, 1879, Claim No. 19933, Source copy consulted: National Archives, Washington, D.C. RG 123, Congressional Jurisdiction #8943 .
