Return to Dare County
Naval Application of Widow
for Arrears of Pay of
MARY D. MIDGETT
Widow of
EDWARD D. MIDGETT
State of North Carolina } SS:
County of Dare }
On this 6th day of September, 1892, personally appeared before me, a Clerk of the Superior Court in and for the county and State aforesaid, Mary D. Midgett of Stumpy Point in the County of Dare and State of North Carolina, aged 69 years who, being duly sworn, declares that she is the widow of Edward D. Midgett deceased who was a late pilot on board USS Philadelphia and that he died while out of the service, on or about the 15th day of May 1877.
This declaration is made to recover all arrears of pay and other allowances due said deceased from the United States. That he was pilot for about four (4) weeks on board the USS Philadelphia commanded by Commodore Goldsboro and in Burnsides fleet, about the month of March 1862 at the time of and after the fall of Roanoke Island, NC. She hereby appoints A.W. Jones of East Lake, Dare Co., NC her true and lawful attorney, with power of substitution, to prosecute said claim before the proper office, and to receive the Certificate of Draft when issued, and receipt for the same, hereby confirming all her said attorney may lawfully do in the premises by virtue hereof as fully as if done by herself. Her P.O. address is Stumpy Point County of Dare State of North Carolina
Witness: W.H. Basnight /s/ Mary D. [her x mark] Migett
Sanderson PayneAlso personally appeared before me William H. Basnight and Sanderson Payne of Manteo, Dare County and State of North Carolina, to me well known as credible persons, who, being duly sworn, declare that they have been for 45 & 31 years acquainted with the above-named applicant and with the said deceased Edward D. Midgett, and that they have no interest whatever in this application. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 6th day of September 1892.
/s/ J. W. Evans, Clerk Superior CourtNOTE: This paragraph, found in The Atlantic Coast; Vol. 2; pg. 178 by Daniel Ammen may account for the fact that Edward's name never showed up on the list of men on board the USS Philadelphia and the reason Mary D. Midgett's pension was turned down. Although Edward's name is not mentioned in any of these accounts, we can surmise that his expertise of piloting in familiar waters was needed by the Navy and he was sent for under the cover of darkness. His name, having never appeared as being on the USS Philadelphia, Mary's request for Edward's pension was denied.
At sundown the vessels arrived and anchored in line off Stumpy Point, within ten miles of the marshes. "A certain individual" was sent for, who lived near by, whose services were deemed important, and he was brought on board of the flag-ship Philadelphia.
Another article corroborating the above statement appears on a blog entitled Civil War Days & Those Surnames by Dennis Segelquist.which states:
The following detailed report concerning the part taken by some of the vessels belonging to the North Atlantic blockading squadron in the engagement of the 7th and 8th instant, I have now the honor to submit: On the 28th ultimo, all the vessels composing the naval branch of our combined expedition intended by my arrangements to participate in the reduction of Roanoke island, and operate elsewhere in its vicinities, were over the bulkhead at Hatteras inlet and in readiness for service; but, owing to circumstances already communicated to the department, it was not until the 5th instant that those composing the army branch of it were similarly situated.
During our detention at the inlet we resorted to every means in our power to get accurate information of the enemy’s position and preparation, and we obtained enough to enable us to arrange our programme of attack, which, in substance, was as follows: The naval division was to lead from the time of starting up to that of encountering the enemy. The marshes, in case of being defended by a battery and the enemy’s vessels, were to be passed by noticing the former only in a transitory way, and by dashing, without delay, directly at the latter. On approaching Roanoke island sufficiently near, the batteries at Pork and Sandy Points (if any at the latter) and the vessels of the enemy, if drawn up to meet us, were to be the first objects assailed by the naval division, aided by such fighting vessels, under the general command of Commander Samuel F. Hazard, as the army division could afford.
While this work was going on the army, under cover of its own vessels and six of our armed launches, was to land at Ashby’s harbor, or, if preferable, a portion of it at Sandy Point, half a mile above. In advancing from the inlet the vessels of both branches of the expedition were to observe my signals.
Early on the morning of the 5th, the necessary general signals for a move were thrown out from the Philadelphia, and, as soon afterward as could be expected for so large a number of vessels, all were under way, with the naval division as prescribed arranged in three columns, commanded, respectively, by Lieutenants Commanding Werden, Murray, and Davenport. Although the weather favored us, our progress was unavoidably slow.
Apprehending that the buoy on the eastern extremity of Long Point shoal, distant some twenty miles from the inlet, might have been removed, a steamer, with the Granite in tow, was sent ahead to ascertain the fact, and, if necessary-, to place another already prepared in its stead. Fortunately, it had not been removed. A flag, however, was placed upon it, a signal of caution was made, and thus the shoal, the worst obstruction in the way, was safely avoided by- each and all.
At sundown, having arrived off Stumpy Point and within ten miles of the marshes, the whole force anchored by signal, each vessel occupying as nearly as practicable, the same relative position toward the rest as she had done in steaming. Here it was judged expedient to detail a small party to visit a certain house on the mainland for the purpose of securing, even forcibly, the services of a certain individual, whose name had been given to us at the inlet. An officer took it in charge, and before midnight he brought the man to me on board the Philadelphia.
Widow's Declaration
State of North Carolina}
County of Dare }
On this 6th day April 1879 personally appeared before me, John W. Evans Clerk Supr. Court, Mary D. Midgett of Stumpy Point who say that she is the widow of Edward D. Midgett deceased who was a Pilot on the USS Philadelphia commanded by Commodore Goldsboro in war of 1861; that her maiden name was Mary D. Basnight; that she was married to Ed. D. Midgett on or about the __ day of ____ 1842 at Stumpy Point in Dare County [actually in Tyrrell County at that time] by Rev. William Starr and that there is record evidence of marriage (see record of marriage bond). She further says that Edward D. Midgett died out of service at Stumpy Point on or about the 15 day of May 1877 of Dropsy brought about from cold contracted while in the service, and that the following are her children:
Sam W. Midgett Born Dec. 13, 1845 [died Aug. 18, 1881] John D. Midgett Born Sept. 28, 1847 & living in Mann's Harbor Mary C. Midgett Born Nov. 14, 1843 & living In Stumpy Point Elizabeth J. Midgett Born Nov. 14, 1849 & living in Stumpy Point Susan Midgett Born Apr. 13, 1852 & living in Mann's Harbor Martha M. Midgett Born Aug. 30, 1856 & living in Mann's Harbor Daniel B. Midgett Born Dec. 3, 1858 & living in Stumpy Point Thos. L. Midgett Born June 9, 1863 & living in Stumpy Point Ed'w. D. Midgett Born Feb. 7, 1866 & living in Stumpy Point Leah Midgett Born May 20, 1854 & living in Stumpy Point Her Post Office address is Stumpy Point and she appoints A.W. Jones.
Wit: W.H. Basnight Mary D. [x] Midgett
San. Payne
Treasury Department - Office of the Fourth Auditor
Washington, DC, Oct. 27th, 1892
A.W. Jones, Esq.
East Lake, North CarolinaSir:
Referring to the claim of Mrs. Mary D. Midgett, as widow of Edward D. Midgett, deceased, late Pilot of the Philadelphia, you are informed that his name does not appear on the rolls of that vessel embracing that period of his alleged service. If you will mention the name of some other vessel upon which he may have served, the matter will be further considered.
Very respectfully,
A.J. Whitaker, Acting Auditor
© 2009 Kay Midgett Sheppard & Marla Beasley
