Military Monday: Widow Martha Pigott Stogner Seeks Claim to Bounty Land

Martha Pigott Stogner, the widow of Ezell Stogner was attempting to locate military service records of her late husband as indicated in the letters of correspondence below.  If she could prove that her husband had been engaged in military service, then she would be entitled to bounty lands, provided under Act 3, March 1855.  The allotment of bounty land under that act was 160 acres.

Dated Jan 28, 1859

Hon. Geo. C. Whiting

Com. of Pensions,  Sir

I leave the honor to enclose herewith the application of Martha Stogner widow of Ezell Stogner for bounty land under Act 3, Mar 1855.  Will you please examine the rolls of Capt Thomas Geo. Mil. War of 1812 in the Regt. commanded by Col. Newman.  

Signed by J.T. Stevens

As shown in the letter above, Mrs. Stogner received a reply from the auditor's office of the Commissions of Pensions:

Dated April 26, 1859

The name of "Ezell Stogner" is not found on the roll of Captain's xxxx, xxxx (unable to decipher writing) or John Thomas's Company's of Georgia Militia on file in this office.  In order to make a further search, additional information is neccessary.  

Again, J.T. Stevens corresponded with the Commissioner of Pensions office on behalf of Mrs. Stogner as shown in the letter below:

Additional evidence

Martha Stogner widow of Ezell

No 297364

Act 3, Mar 1855

Washington City

June 20, 1859

Hon. Geo. C. Whiting,

Com. of Pensions

Sir, I leave the honor to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 1st reist. (?) respecting the claim of Mrs. Martha Stogner widow of Ezell Stogner No 297,364 for Bounty Land under the Act of Mar 3, 1855 and to request an examination of the rolls of Captain John Cunningham and Captain Joseph Cunninghams' Companies of Geo. Militia War of 1812, in Col. Newman's regiment.

Signed J.T. Stevens

Mrs. Stogner was informed by the Commissioner of Pensions office that a search through their records had been successful:

Aug 5, 1859

Ezell Stogner, a Private, served in Captain John Cunningham's Company Georgia Militia from the 23 Aug 1813 for 6 mos until the 5 March 1814, when company was discharged.

The last correspondence leaves me to question- did Martha Stogner actually receive the bounty lands?  A search through the land records database may provide an answer.  

Thank you, Bill Reagan, for providing copies of these historical documents!

Ezell Stogner, c.1785-1848, GA>MS

Ezell Stogner, my paternal 4th great grandfather, was born c. 1785, son of Capt. John Stogner and Martha Blount. Ezell married Martha Pigott (source: Owen, Clint. Liberty County, Georgia Marriages, 1785-1895), the daughter of John Pigott II and Martha Warren, on 24 November 1815 in Liberty County, Georgia.  Martha was born c. 1785 in Liberty County, Georgia.

During the War of 1812, Ezell served under Captain John Cunningham's Company, Georgia Militia from the 23 August 1813 until 05 March 1814 (see bounty land claim filed by his widow).   Between 1814 and 1819, Ezell and his family moved to Marion County, Mississippi.  Family legend states that Ezell and Martha's first child was born in Liberty County and traveled with them, some of the Pigotts and Warrens when they left Georgia.  Ezell Stogner is listed on the 1820 census for Marion County, Mississippi with two males under age 10 (sons John Pigott and Seaborn W.), one male age 16-25 (unknown), one male age 26-44 (Ezell) and one female age 26-44 (Martha).  On the 1830 census of Marion County, Ezell's family had grown to include three more sons and a daughter- Simeon Nathaniel, Thomas Ezell, William Rankin and Martha Rebecca.  By 1840 when the next census was taken, Ezell and Martha were still residents of Marion County and had another daughter, Mary Elizabeth.  Their eldest son, John Pigott Stogner, had married and moved out of their household.  

Ezell died on 26 August 1848 in Marion County, Mississippi.  His wife, Martha, was still living in 1870 as she is listed on the census that year.  The date of her death is presently unknown.

A summary of their children:
i.   John Pigott Stogner, married Amanda Conerly
ii.  Seaborn W. Stogner, married Mary "Polly" Hines
iii. Simeon Nathaniel Stogner, married Margaret O. "Peggy" Jemeson
iv. Thomas Ezell Stogner, married Sophronia Bethany Faulk
v. William Rankin Stogner, married Nancy Melinda Bounds
vi. Martha Rebecca Stogner, married John Brandon Ryals
vii. Mary Elizabeth Stogner, married Rev. Thomas Eugene Pigott


See also:
Military Monday:  Widow Martha Pigott Stogner Seeks Claim to Bounty Land