Archive:Civil War Pension File, Edward M. Berry
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Civil War Pension File of Edward M. Berry
Widow: Lucy A. (Whitney) Berry
Invalid Applic. # 803264 Cert. # 563271
Widow Applic. # 867377 Cert. # 630531
National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
He married Lucy A.8 Whitney (Zachariah Leach7, Isaac L.6, Isaac5, Isaac4, Nathaniel3, Benjamin2, John1)
Private, Company C, 27th Maine Infantry
Edward M. Berry signed a Declaration for Original Invalid Pension from Cumberland Co., Maine on 3 July 1890. He had enrolled on 10 September 1862 in Company C, 27th Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry commanded by Captain John Hill. He was honorably discharged at Portland, Maine on 17 July 1863. He is 53 years old, 5 feet 3 ½ inches tall, and has a dark complexion, black hair, and brown eyes. He believes he is entitled to a pension because he has disease of the kidneys and liver and bronchial catarrh, which he believes to be permanent. Since leaving the service he has resided in the Town of Bridgton, Maine, currently on Main Street. He was before the war and is now a photographer. Edward was awarded a pension of eight dollars per month.
On 26 November 1897 Edward answered an inquiry from the Bureau of Pensions. He is married, and his wife's maiden name is Lucy A. Whitney. They were married at Danville, Province of Quebec, Canada on or about 25 June 1865 by an Episcopal minister. A record of the marriage is found in the church records at Danville, Quebec Province. Edward had been previously married to Sarah Emery, who died in Buxton, York Co., Maine in September 1861. His only living child is Dora I. Berry, born 29 April 1866. Edward answered the same inquiry again on 4 June 1898. He now states that he was married 27 June 1865 in Danville, Quebec by G.J. Magill. The marriage is recorded in the Parrish records of the English Church at Danville, Quebec. The remaining information supplied is consistent.
Edward M. Berry applied for an increase in benefits on 28 February 1907 to fifteen dollars per month, as a person of his age is entitled. In the application he states that he was born 8 November 1836. Edward did not survive to collect his increase. The Bureau of Pensions was advised that Edward was last paid at twelve dollars per month to 4 March 1907, and his name was dropped from the pension roll because of his death on 2 April 1907.
On 8 April 1907 from Cumberland Co., Maine Lucy A. Berry signed a Declaration for Widow's Pension. She is 67 years old and a resident of Bridgton, Cumberland Co., Maine. Edward M. Berry had died at Bridgton, Maine on 2 April 1907. She was married to him under the name Lucy A. Whitney on 27 June 1865 by G.J. Magill at Danville, Canada. She has not remarried since Edward's death. The application is attested by Charles B. Gibbs and Curtis Gray.
In a General Affidavit accompanying her application, Lucy Berry relates that she was married to Edward M. Berry as previously described, and she had not been previously married. Edward M. Berry had been previously married to Sarah F. Emery on 13 April 1856. She died 24 September 1861. Edward had left to Lucy the homestead where he lived in Bridgton Center Village, consisting of two tenements. She lives in one and rents the other out for one dollar per week. Her income from rent is fifty-two dollars per year, and from interest on money in the savings bank at 3.5% is $66.15 per year. That makes her total income only $118.15 per year. She must pay taxes, insurance, and repairs from this sum. Edward left a life insurance policy with the Graded Mutual Relief Association of Maine. It had been paid to William M. Berry, with nothing to her. Edward had owned a wood lot of fourteen acres which in his will he gave to his daughter Dora I. Berry. Lucy's health is so poor that she is unable to perform any manual labor at all, and has no way of earning anything. There is no one legally bound to provide for her support.
In another General Affidavit accompanying Lucy's application, Albert Green, age 66, and William H. Foster, age 71, both residents of Bridgton, provide testimony about Lucy's finances. The homestead in which she lives in Bridgton Village Center is valued at fifteen hundred dollars. She has $1890.64 in the Bridgton Savings Bank. The disposition of the insurance policy is as previously stated.
Daniel M. Crockett, Clerk of the Town of Bridgton, Cumberland Co., Maine provided a certified copy of the death record of Edward M. Berry. He died 2 April 1907 in Bridgton of a cerebral embolism, age 70 years, 4 months, 24 days.
Thomas Blaylock, M.A., Clerk Incumbent of Danville provided a certified extract from the Parochial Register in his possession. It certifies the marriage of Edward M. Berry and Lucy A. Whitney. Edward M. Berry of the Village of Danville, widower, was married to Lucy A. Whitney of the Town of Raymond, Maine on 27 June 1865. The record was signed by G.J. Magill, B.A., Clk Incumbent. The witnesses were J.S(?). Snow and L.L (?). Whitney.
In another General Affidavit, Mary E. Sherman, age 65 and a resident of Buxton, York Co., Maine, states that the first wife of Edward M. Berry was Sarah F. Emery. They were married 12 April 1856, and she died 24 September 1861. She is buried in Buxton. She and Sarah were sisters.
It was reported to the Commissioner of Pensions that Lucy A. Berry was last paid at eight and twelve dollars per month to 4 June 1908, and has been dropped from the pension rolls because of her death on 12 August 1908.
Copyright © 2006, Kenneth L. Whitney and the Whitney Research Group
