From: Patti Smith [psmith11@columbus.rr.com]
To: ky-footsteps-l@rootsweb.com
Subject: {not a subscriber} Civil War Pension File, Robert Burns,

Surnames mentioned Crown, Bowlin, Dickson, Hoskins, Sizemore

Deposition A

Case of Harriett Burns, No. 656465

On this 26 ~ day of Aug, 1902, at Green Mount, County of Laurel, State of Ky, before me 
Percy S. Crown, a special examiner of the Bureau of Pensions personally appeared SILAS 
HOSKINS, who being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogations propounded 
to him during this special examination of aforesaid claim for pension, deposes and says:  
I am 62 years of age; my post-office address is Green Mount, KY, Occupation farmer.

Harriett Burns, who had filed claim for pension as widow of ROBERT BURNS of the 14th Ky 
Cav., died last week, on or about August 19th 1902.

She had been sick for some little time.  She left no child by Burns at all. No sir, she 
had no child born after the death of Burns - I think Harriet had not been married except 
to ROBERT BURNS.  I had known her for a good while. I first knew ROBERT BURNS soon after 
the war.  I never knew NANCY, the first wife of burns, but it strikes me I saw her 
before the war.  I knew her father & family and I think perhaps NANCY died about beginning 
or during the war.  I got to know BURNS soon after the war when he was waiting on ALMIRA 
BOWLIN, a widow, and it was generally understood then that BURNS first wife was dead.  
He told me that too.  I understood BURNS married ALMIRA BOWLIN. I may have been present, 
it took place in Clay Co., Ky, about 9 miles east of Manchester.  There is no doubt of 
this marriage.

Page 4 Deposition A


Page 5              I know by report that ALMIRA BURNS had fits, but I don't
know I ever saw her have fits, but think I saw here have one.  I left that locality and 
I did not recall she was at asylum.  I heard she fell in fire and died from the burns.  
That was generally understood in the County.  I can't fix the date or even the year 
that she died.  I understood she was separated from ROBT. BURNS, her husband and was 
living with her son, BUCK BOWLIN at time of her death.  BUCK BOWLIN is a U.S. Prisoner 
at Nashville as I understand, forgery in pension  claim - HARRIETT's maiden name was 
HARRIETT DICKSON.  I feel pretty sure she took up with - BURNS before his wife ALMIRA 
died, but I don't think he was married to her till after ALMIRA died.  He lived so 
near town, near Manchester, and these people were so well known that I don't think 
BURNS would have tried to get License or married till after ALMIRA died.  He could 
live with her without trouble, but it was too well known his wife's condition for 
him to do such a thing as marry again.  I don't positively know of 1st wife's death, 
but I learned from BURNS that he left her before she died, and I never heard any one 
ever say she was living after BURNS had ALMIRA.  I am satisfied in my own mind that 
NANCY died before the marriage to ALMIRA & that ALMIRA died before marriage to HARRIETT, 
though I do not know actual facts or the date.  BURNS got $50.00 per month pension, 
in eyes and I know he complained of eyes soon after I got to know him.  Most people 
believed he was not as blind as he claimed.  He could discover blemishes in a hors or 
cow after he claimed to be blind & I have seen him do things that he must have seen 
to do.

I had two children by HARRIETT DICKSON before she had BOB BURNS, a son ROBERT HOSKINS, 
born May 1st 1873 and LEANDER HOSKINS born June 24 - 1876. I raised both of these boys 
& they never lived with their mother after babyhood.  I had a wife & family & took the 
children into my home & raised them.  As near as I can now tell HARRIETT & BURNS began 
to live together about 1878 or 1879.

She had no child by BURNS, so it can make no difference whether she was the legal wife 
of BURNS.  The other wives are dead so there can be no one to claim pension.  BURNS had 
two children, a son & daughter by ALMIRA, son is dead and the daughter, MARTHA SIZEMORE 
was grown & married a good while before BURNS died.

HARRIETT BURNS is buried in adjoining farm, The Bowlin Farm Graveyard. HARRIETT owned a 
little piece of land, enough to bury her, but nothing to speak of.  All together owned 
less than $300.00.  She gave our boys the property & they paid the debts & expenses of 
burial.  Have heard this, read, fully understand your questions am correctly recorded.

Silas Hoskins [signature] , Deponent.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 26 - day of Aug 1902 and I certify that the contents 
were fully made known to deponent before signing.

Percy S. Crown, [signature], Special Examiner

Page 6  Deposition A


Submitted by:  Patti Smith, psmith11@columbus.rr.com