Nancy Weeks’ Widow Pension Application
Nancy Mary Ann Davenport Pate Weeks is my 4th great-grandmother. Her first husband (who was my 4th great-grandfather), William H. Pate, died young after fighting for the CSA in the Civil War. Details regarding him were scarce. Additionally, their daughter, Lizzie Pate, seemed to fall away from the records after 1885.
It wasn’t until I requested the Invalid Pension Application for her second husband, Madison Weeks, along with Nancy’s subsequent Widow’s Pension Application due to Madison’s service, that some of these questions were finally answered.
Nancy Weeks’ widow’s pension can be found in the Gallery of her profile in my public tree entitled “Sunni’s Family Tree” on ancestry.com (username: sunnisearchangel). From there, you can either attach it to your own tree or download it to keep in your personal files (or both!). All images used in this post are from that application unless sourced otherwise.
Nancy's reported ages over time (again - all these sources are attached to her profile in my publicly available tree on ancestry.com):
· 1850 Census: Nancy was recorded as 17 years old, placing her birth around 1833.
· 1870 Census: She was reported as 37 years old, suggesting a birth year of approximately 1833.
· 1880 Census: Her age was listed as 50, indicating a birth year around 1830.
· 1885 Florida State Census: Nancy reported her age as 53, suggesting she was born around 1832.
· 1900 Census: Her birth month and year were explicitly listed as November 1833.
· 1900 Widow’s Pension: She reported her age as 67, aligning with the reported birth year of 1833.
· 1902 Widow’s Pension: Nancy claimed to be 69 years old, aligning her birth year to 1833.
Nancy’s reported ages across multiple records show a remarkable consistency, pointing to a birth year around 1833. The earliest record, the 1850 census, lists her as 17 years old, placing her birth year at approximately 1833. This early estimate is supported again in the 1870 census, where she was recorded as 37 years old, aligning with the same birth year.
By 1880, however, a slight discrepancy appears. Nancy’s age was listed as 50, which would indicate a birth year closer to 1830. Similarly, in the 1885 Florida State Census, her age was recorded as 53, suggesting a birth year around 1832. While these minor variations may seem significant at first glance, they fall within a narrow range and are quite typical for the time period. Such inconsistencies often arose due to memory lapses, rounding of ages, or errors in how information was reported or transcribed.
The most reliable data comes from the 1900 census combined with her July 1900 Widow’s Pension Application, which not only recorded Nancy’s age as 67 but also included her specific birth month and year—November 1833. This detail, combined with her age of 69 in 1902, strengthens the case for 1833 being her actual birth year or, at the latest, late 1832.
Taken together, Nancy’s reported ages across six records spanning over five decades present a general trend that converges on 1833 as the most likely year of her birth. While slight inconsistencies appear in the 1880 and 1885 records, they do not undermine the overall pattern. The 1900 census, with its inclusion of both age and specific birth details, provides the strongest and most definitive evidence of Nancy’s birth in November 1833.
Nancy’s first husband, William Pate, was noted to be a sergeant in an Alabama Company, and it was reported several times within the widow’s pension application that he was killed in battle at Dalton, Georgia, in 1864.
After reviewing William H. Pate’s Compiled Military Service Record, it can be determined that he entered service in Company K of the 2nd Regiment of the Alabama Cavalry as a Private. He ended his service at the rank of Sergeant. His CMSR does not note his date of death. However, it is noted that he was transferred to Ferguson’s Cavalry Brigade, and the latest date in his CMSR was May 17, 1864.
CMSR for William H Pate can be located on fold3.com or within the Gallery of his profile in my publically available tree on ancestry.com.
William H. Pate was clearly embroiled in the Atlanta Campaign, which was “a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864.” [Wikipedia]
The Confederate Cavalry had a significant role in the Atlanta Campaign. The Second Battle of Dalton took place on August 14–15, 1864. A battle summary on the National Parks Service page notes, “Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler and his cavalry raided into North Georgia to destroy railroad tracks and supplies. They approached Dalton in the late afternoon of August 14 and demanded the surrender of the garrison. The Union commander, Col. Bernard Laibolt, refused to surrender and fighting ensued. Greatly outnumbered, the Union garrison retired to fortifications on a hill outside the town where they successfully held out, although the attack continued until after midnight. Skirmishing continued throughout the night. Around 5:00 am, on the 15th, Wheeler retired and became engaged with relieving infantry and cavalry under Maj. Gen. James B. Steedman's command. Eventually, Wheeler withdrew. The contending forces' reports vary greatly in describing the fighting, the casualties, and the amount of track and supplies captured and destroyed. This engagement was inconclusive, but since the Confederates withdrew, it may be termed a Union victory.”
Thus, it can be concluded that William H Pate likely died on or around August 14-15, 1864.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat, September 19, 1864, Page 4. via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat-laibold-report/161061737/ : accessed December 17, 2024), clip page for Laibold Report re: Battle of Dalton by user sunnisearchangel
An affidavit was provided within the widow’s pension application for Nancy Weeks by John Weeks, aged 50 in 1902. He states that “Mary Weeks—wife of Madison Weeks was my mother. She died during the second year of the Civil War—on the Little Manatee River, about 30 miles south of Tampa, Fla.”
In Madison Weeks’ own pension application, he notes that his wife “died April 14th 1862.” Nancy reports that Madison’s first wife “died in Hillsborough Co. Fla about 1860.” Clearly, Madison’s recollection of his wife’s death should be given more weight than Nancy’s reporting of his previous wife’s death.
James H. Stephens also gives an affidavit. He served in Co. B, 2nd Cavalry alongside Nancy’s husband Madison Weeks. James H Stephens notes that he is Nancy’s half-brother as they have the same mother. James H Stephens lived in Jacksonville in 1906.
An interesting affidavit within this record is given by E.V. Stephens who also happens to be a Notary Public. He states: “While not personally acquainted with the parties at the time, I have been connected with the family by marriage— my first wife having been a daughter of the said Nancy Weeks by her first husband.”
While Edwin V. Stephens does not explicitly state which of Nancy’s daughters by her husband William H Pate that he was married to, they only had two daughters: Martha Darcus Elizabeth "Lizzie" Pate and Delarah A "Laura" Pate. Laura Pate married a man named Andrew Anderson. Thus, it can reasonably be inferred that Edwin V. Stephens married Lizzie Pate. No marriage record has been located for the couple nor has a death record for Lizzie been obtained as of the time of this writing.
Lizzie was living with her stepbrother, John Weeks, in Manatee County in 1885.
"Florida, State Census, 1885", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNJH-X35 : Sun Jul 14 00:47:36 UTC 2024), Entry for John Weeks and Mary Weeks, 1885.
Additionally, she is named in a deed alongside her husband in April of 1897:
"Deeds, v. 7-8 1892-1902", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37R-19R9?i=516), Florida > Lee County > Land and Property > Deeds > Deeds, v. 7-8 1892-1902 > DGS 008588168 > Image 517 of 670, Entry for E. V. Stephens and his wife Elizabeth Stephens, 1897.
By February 18, 1898, Edwin V Stephens had married Arnola L Gardner (nee Brown).
"Florida, Marriages, 1830-1993," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-G18K-FR?cc=1803936&wc=4JHR-WF7%3A1590072682%2C1590072704 : 12 July 2019), Lee County > Marriage records, 1887-1924, vol 1-3 > image 194 of 614; citing multiple County Clerks of Court, Florida.
Edwin and Arnola were living just a few houses away from Nancy Weeks and her son Andrew and his family in 1900:
"United States, Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M36W-C24 : Fri Jul 19 23:15:08 UTC 2024), Entry for Edwin Stephens and Arnola L Stephens, 1900.
And, in fact, Arnola was listed as a witness on Nancy’s widow pension application in 1902:
It is noted many times within Nancy’s Widow’s Pension Application that Madison Weeks passed away on February 3, 1900, at John’s Pass. In one spot, the date of death is listed as February 2nd, but overwhelmingly, it is reported as February 3rd.
It is noted within the application that Madison Weeks owned Lot 1, Sec 3 Tp 51 R 25 54<?> valued at $100. More research into this property is needed.
Finally, it is often noted that Madison Weeks’ name is "Matthew Madison Weeks." After viewing every document found so far regarding Mr. Weeks, the only document that supposedly lists his name as "Matthew" is his marriage license to Nancy Pate:
"Florida Marriages, 1830-1993," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L94X-YL8Z?cc=1803936&wc=4JHR-WPY%3A1590072981%2C1590072980 : 12 July 2019), Manatee County > Marriage licenses, 1856-1885 > image 148 of 1205; citing multiple County Clerks of Court, Florida.
Based on the available evidence, there is no substantial proof that Madison Weeks was ever intended to be named "Matthew" Weeks. The only document suggesting the name "Matthew" is his marriage license to Nancy Pate, which appears to be an isolated instance. In contrast, other records consistently refer to him as "Madison" Weeks. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that his correct name was "Madison" Weeks, and the marriage license likely contains a clerical error or misinterpretation.
1836 road petition in Beaufort, South Carolina. Full record and analysis contained with in Gallery in my publically available tree on ancestry.com.
I think that it is more likely that the marriage license is a phonetic spelling of Madison rather than his first name being Matthew as there are no other legal documents listing his name as such.
In conclusion, Nancy’s birth year is consistently reported across various documents as 1833, with her birth month identified as November in the 1900 census. Her first husband, William H. Pate, served as a Private and later a Sergeant in Company K of the 2nd Regiment of the Alabama Cavalry, part of Ferguson’s Cavalry Brigade during the Atlanta Campaign of the Civil War. His last confirmed military record is dated May 17, 1864, and based on his involvement in the campaign and the timeline of the Second Battle of Dalton, it is likely that he died on or around August 14–15, 1864.
Nancy later married Madison Weeks, whose first wife, Mary Weeks, passed away on April 14, 1862, according to Madison’s pension application. Madison and Nancy’s marriage followed this date, on November 18, 1866. Madison’s death is consistently recorded as February 3, 1900, at John’s Pass.
Nancy and her first husband, William Pate, had two daughters: Martha Darcus Elizabeth "Lizzie" Pate and Delarah A "Laura" Pate. E.V. Stephens, who married one of Nancy’s daughters, likely Lizzie, provided an affidavit in Nancy’s pension case. Edwin and Lizzie were likely married after 1885 and she likely died prior to Edwin remarrying in February of 1898.
James H Stephens confirms that he is Nancy’s half-brother and that they shared the same mother.
