James S. Beattie, Company "L" 210 N. Y. Infantry, War With Spain; James Beattie, Guardian (minor's certificate #508,095) On July 28, 1899 James Beattie a resident of No. 114 North 8th Street, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York filed a claim for Pension of Children under sixteen years of age. James Beattie is the guardian of the minor heirs of James Beattie who served in Company "L" 201st Regt. N. Y. in the War with Spain and who died of typhoid fever at Greenville, South Carolina on Dec. 30, 1898. He left no surviving widow. His children by his deceased wife, Margaret Silk Beattie were Nellie Beattie born Jan. 16, 1882; John Beattie born April 19(?) 1884 and Mamie Beattie born Aug. 1, 1886. James Beattie, aged 75, states in a separate affidavit that the soldier's full name was James Sylvester Beattie and was born at Brooklyn New York. He was 36 years old when he enlisted and his residence was #73 No 4th St., Brooklyn, New York. He was 5 feet 7 inches and had light brown hair and blue eyes. A copy of the death certificate of Margaret Beattie shows that she died on September 4, 1892 at the age of 29 and was buried at Calvary on Sept. 6, 1892. Her parent's birthplace is given as Ireland; they are not named. A certificate of Baptism from St. Peter & Pauls Church of Brooklyn New York shows that Helen Beatty was born January 16, 1882 and baptized January 29, 1882; Helen & Joseph Beatty were her sponsors. A certificate of Baptism from St. Vincent de Pauls Church, 167 North 6th St. shows that John, son of James Beattie and Margaret Silk, was born April 5th 1884 and baptized April 20, 1884; William Finn and Margaret Dowd were his sponsors. A copy of the marriage record for James Beattie and Margaret Sullivan, married Nov. 28, 1880 at St. Brigid's Church, New York City is in the file; William Joseph Finn and Elizabeth Fitzpatrick were witnesses to the marriage. Because the marriage certificate has a different maiden name for Margaret a Special Examination is ordered. In deposition taken Jan. 24, 1901 James Beattie states his age is about 75 and his residence is 98 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, New York. He is the father of the late soldier James Beattie. He states "his body was sent home and buried at in Calvary." He also states "My son married Margaret Silk, about 20 years ago, can not give date. I was not home at the time, but very soon after, he was never married before. I knew his wife from childhood, knew her parents John and Margaret Silk, both dead, she had no brothers and sisters. I am positive that she was never married before, and she never went by the name of Sullivan, always knew her as Silk, she died the day before Labor day in Sept. of 1892, after her death my son did not remarry again, were never divorced, they had three children, Ellen "Nellie" she was 19 Jan. 16, 1901 you can figure the date of birth "Jan. 16, 1882" John he will be 17 in April 1901 can not give date. Mary Agnus "Mamie" she will be 15 next birth day, Aug. 1901, can not give date. All children are living. My son's middle name was Sylvester that was his confirmation name but he always went by the name of James..I am the guardian of the children and John and Mary Agnus have always been under my care, they both live with me at 98 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, New York. John Beattie, aged 40 residing at 194 N. 9th St., Brooklyn, New York states "James Beatie was my brother." Harriet Beattie, aged 38 states "I am the wife of John Beattie, my husband is the brother of James Beattie." Joseph A. Beattie, aged 39 residing at 98 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn New York states "I am the brother of the late James Beattie." Hannah Beattie, aged 40 states "I am the wife of Joseph A. Beattie" Mary McGuire, aged 37 residing at 179 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, New York states "I am the wife of Dennis McGuire, the soldier James Beattie was my brother, he served in Co. L 210 NY Inf.. I am positive he was never married before until his marriage to Margaret Silk, Nov. 20, 1880. I knew her about 9 years before her marriage, her parents were John and Margaret Silk. I never knew the wife of the soldier by any other name than Silk." Pension was granted and paid until Jan. 9, 1904 until the youngest child Mary A. reached the age of 16. The following correspondence from Mrs. Mary A. Hogan is in the file: Nov. 22, 1932 Brooklyn, New York Dear Sir, I have written a few lines to the War Dept. concerning studies my children are taking up in school on all the wars in America and when it came to the Spanish war the children needed help so I sat down and wrote to the War Dept. in Washington and asked for information concerning my father. They sent me a paper to fill out and I am sending it through for you to look over. I went to his regiment where he drilled and they filled it out for me as my people never spoke of his death, the news I got of his death was from strangers that knew him. Looking over the Cyclopedia from the Literary Digest 1932 I see the Congress passed a bill of a vast sum of money for the Spanish War Veterans that died and their Dependents would be taken care of. Would you please furnish me with the information if I am entitled to any of that money. I was taken out of the home after his death. My guardians did not bother much with me. They put me to work in the ??mill when I hit the age of 15. They told me to shift for myself. Life was one struggle-now married 20 years. I am 44 -old enough to understand more. If there is more information you want me to gather for you I will be glad to do so. I thank you. Yours Respectfully Mrs. Hogan 952 Lorimer St. Brooklyn, New York P. S. Please excuse me for holding out so long as I am getting out of a sick bed and is still nerves. The following reply was sent Dec. 20, 1932 Dear Madam: This is to reply to your letter of recent date. The records show that two minor children of the above named soldier, John and Mary, were granted pension under the Act of the War with Spain, which was paid them until April 4, 1900 and July 31, 1902 when they each attained the age of sixteen years and their names were dropped from the rolls. It appears that the Mary A. was presumably yourself. There is nothing pending in the office at this time and there is no further payment due. Respectfully, E. W. Morgan Director of Pensions [This is the only Census I feel very sure of] 1900 14th Ward New York, Kings County, New York page 42 North Eighth Street Beatty, Joseph Mar 1862 38 15 NY IRE IRE Hannah wife Sept. 1860 39 15 7 children, 4 living IRE, IRE, IRE (came to US in 1882) James son June 1886 13 Harry son Sept. 1895 4 Sylvester son Aug. 1898 1 Joseph son Oct. 1888 11 Helen niece Aug. 1881 18 Mary niece May 1886 13 Possibility for 1880 14th Ward Brooklyn, Kings County, New York p 336A (ED 120) James Beatty 50 IRE, IRE, IRE John Beatty 26 son NY Mary Beatty 23 wife NY Ellen Beatty 50 wife IRE Mary 24 dau NY Joseph 23 son NY James 21 son NY Robert 18 son NY Ellen 16 dau NY 1870 Kings Co., 13 WD Brooklyn p622A (same family) Beaty, James 45 IRE Ellen 40 IRE Mary A. 16 NY John 14 NY James 12 NY Joseph 10 NY Robert 8 NY Ellen 5 NY Laurel Baty, L252