These people are not ancestors of mine, but I would be interested in learning more -- for example, Joseph's parents and Miranda's maiden name -- if anyone out there is researching them. Laura Joseph C. W. Embrey On 17 April 1901, J. C. W. Embrey applied for a pension as a disabled veteran. Unfortunately, several answers are unreadable (at least in the online images at the Library of Virginia site). He stated that he was living in Toluca, Stafford County, Virginia. He was suffering from rheumatism and the "infirmities of age." The County Pensions Board approved his application, which was for a partial pension of $15 a year. In a form filled out in 1902, Joseph C. W. Embrey stated that he was 67 years old and disabled by "age and lumbago." He signed with his mark -- X -- and John C. Cox notarized his statement. Robert E. Gill and Hugh Adie signed as men who personally knew Embrey and believed his statements to be true. Wesley Knight, Commissioner of the Revenue, stated that Embrey had taxable real and personal property valued at $109. Dr. R. J. Payne stated that Embrey was not totally disabled "but nearly so" and was deprived of his ability to make a livelihood. C. A. Bryan, Clerk of the Court, signed to indicate approval of Embrey's application for a pension of $15 a year. On 10 September 1906, Embrey applied for re-rating as a fully disabled veteran. The application is signed -- "J. C. W. Embrey" -- and E. S. Moore, Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court, signed to show that Embrey had appeared in person and sworn to the statements in the application. Dr. R. J. Payne stated that Embrey was totally disabled by age and the infirmities of age. A. E. Bloxton signed his approval as head of the Stafford County Pensions Board. Judge of the Circuit Court J. E. Mason signed approval of the application. After Embrey died in 1909, his widow applied for a pension. Papers in that file show that J. C. W. Embrey enlisted in Company A, 9th Virginia Cavalry, in 1861. He served under Captain E. M. Henry. Miranda A. Embrey, widow of J. C. W. Embrey In March 1914, Miranda A. Embrey applied for a pension as the widow of a Confederate veteran. She stated that she was 72 years old. She was born in Stafford County and had lived there all her life. She was then living in her own house, near Garrisonville. She and her husband, J. C. W. Embrey, had been married on 20 December 1857 at Ebenezer Church. Her husband had died on 7 January 1914 of erysiplas. He had served in A Company, 9th Virginia Cavalry, under Colonel Thomas Waller and Captain E. M. King. R. D. Fritter and W. S. Towson signed as resident witnesses. They stated that they had known the applicant for 30 years and knew her to be a resident of Stafford County and "a woman of good reputation for truth and honesty." F. Moncure witnessed their signatures. Hugh Adie and Thomas B. Gallahan signed as "comrades" of Embrey's, saying that they had served with him in Company A and knew him to have been "faithful in the discharge of his duty" as a soldier. They knew Miranda to have been his wife and knew that he had died on or about 7 January 1914. V. E. Chewning witnessed Gallahan's signing with an X. R. W. Hill, M.D., stated that attacks of erysiplas had caused Embrey to die of "general exhaustion, and Cardiac exhaustion." Hugh Adie and J. A. [?] Evans signed as Confederate veterans who supported Miranda's application. H. M. Tolson, Commissioner of Revenue for Stafford County, stated that Miranda had real and personal property worth $308. A. E. Bloxton, Chairman of the Cou! nty Pensions Board, signified his approval. Finally, there is the signature of a judge whose name appears to be R. H. L. Chichester. In a display of bureaucratic tact at its finest, a Pension Office Clerk wrote to the 77-year-old widow that her pension application had been approved, and that $30 would be sent to her on September 1st "if you are living." The pension was for $30 a year. I am not sure how long Miranda received her pension; she does not appear to be listed in the 1920 census. Summary by Laura Keyes Perry keyesperry@msn.com Pension applications can be accessed from the Library of Virginia site http://eagle.vsla.edu/conpen/virtua-basic.html * * * * The past isn't dead. It isn't even past. -- William Faulkner