General Notes

[coosa1.ged]
On 10 Nov 1914, while living in Marshall Co., AL, Rebecca applies for a
pension from the State of Alabama for her husband's service in the
Confederate States Army.  She is refused. The Board states that Wiley
Anderton enlisted in Wards' Battery, Alabama Light Artillery, Confederate
States Army on Oct. 10, 1862 at Huntsville, AL. The Board furthers states
that he deserted Jan. 30, 1865 and took an oath of allegiance to the
United States on March 14, 1865. It appears that Rebecca believed one of
the following: Wiley died while serving the CSA or Wiley died in a
prison, which could have been true and the Board had inaccurate records.
She may have heard that he deserted, and since she had not heard from
him, decided to see if the Board would give her pension.  If Wiley had
deserted, the Board might not know. Times were hard and poor for woman
who did not have a spouse to support her. At this time I have not
researched the 1900 Federal Census to see if Wiley was living in Alabama.
(He is not found in the 1880 Census with his wife). He may have kept his
desertion a secret from the family even into his grave. Thus, Rebecca may
not have known about her husband's desertion.  Wiley may have wanted to
take an oath of allegiance while fighting in TN. Tennessee was a divided
state during the War Between the States and north Alabama was divided
also. There may have been relatives of his in TN and AL who served or
were committed to the Union. His brother John served in Wiley's same unit
and his wife received a pension from AL. And lastly, though there maybe
other accounts, the Union could have captured Wiley and falsely had him
listed as a person who took an oath to the Union. This was done to create
suspension among the Confederate ranks and to please high-ranking Union
officers.  Further research is needed to find the truth in an exciting
genealogy mystery. Researched by Ron Bridges on 5 Sep 2002.