Affidavit to Origin of Disability
By Archibald B. Snow,
for Widow's Pension of Anna C. Kenna
on Service of James Kenna
Co. I, 97th N.Y. Volunteers
Contributed by Wayne Kenna
AFFIDAVIT TO ORIGIN OF DISABILITY.
To be executed by an officer or enlisted man of the soldier's company and regiment having personal
knowledge of the circumstances under which the disability was incurred on account of which pension is claimed.
Before Filling in this Affidavit the Witness should read carefully the Marginal Instructions, and conform
thereto in every particular as far as his knowledge of the facts will allow. Enlisted Men's evidence will not
be accepted if an Officer's can be had.
State of New York }
County of Oneida } SS:
In the matter of the Pension claim of Anna C. Kenna wid. Jas. Kenna, Co. I, 97 Reg't N.Y. Inft. Vols., personally
came before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for the aforesaid County and State, A. B. Snow, of Boonville,
Oneida, State of New York, who being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim that his age
is 45 years; that he is the identical person who served as Priv., Corporal Sargeant & 1st Lieut. in Co. I,
97th Reg't New York Vols., and knows the above soldier, who was a member of Co. I, 97th Reg't N.Y. Vols;
that on or about ____ day of in the Winter of, 1862 & 3, while in the line of duty, and without fault or
improper conduct on his part, at or near White Oak Church, State of Verginia (sic), said soldier incurred a
derangement of the Stomach from which cause he was frequently excused from duty by the Regimental Surgeon.
Previous to the time above mentioned, the said James Kenna was to the best of my knowledge a sound hearty able-bodied
man, and always ready and able to perform the most arduous duty; but from this time he seemed to be broken down and
debilitated from the above mentioned cause, and from the opening of the Spring campaign in 1863 till the conclusion
of his term of Service, the greater portion of the time absent from his Company either in field or general hospital.
Up to the time of my muster as 1st Lieutenant, while he was present for duty with his company, he was one of my
tent-mates, and my recollection of him is, that although we got along fairly on camp rations, the marching rations of
coffee pork and "hard tack" soon used him up, and reduced him unfit for duty.
Affiant further declares that he has no interest, direct or indirect, in this claim, and that he has made the above
statement from personal knowledge.
Affiant's Post-Office address is as follows: Boonville, Oneida Co., N.Y.
Archibald B. Snow
Late 1st Lieut. Co I 97 N.Y.S. Vols.
SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED before me this 19 day of June 1886; and I hereby certify that the contents of the foregoing
affidavit were fully made known and explained by me to the affiant before swearing thereto, including the words ___.
that the affiant is to me well known and entitled to credit; and I further certify that I have no interest,
direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.
Albert L. Hayes
Justice of the Peace
[Note: the area below wasn't filled in or signed.]
I certify that ___ before whom the above affidavit was made, is a ____ duly authorized to administer oaths,
and that the above is his signature.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this ___ day of ___, 188 .
(Name of the Clerk or Deputy Clerk.)
Back Side of Document:
East Division.
Affidavit of Commissioned Officer or Comrade.
Additional Evidence.
No. 279786
Widow
James Kenna
Late Sgt., Co. I
97 Regt., N.Y. Vols.
AFFIDAVIT OF
Archibald B. Snow
Late 1st Lieutenant, Co. I
97th Regt., N.Y. Vols.
FILED BY
GEORGE E. LEMON,
ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR AT LAW,
Office, 615 Fifteenth Street N.W.
P.O. Drawer 325 Washington, D.C.
I've attached scans of the affidavit that Archibald B. Snow (1st Lieutenant) provided on 19 June 1886 (of
Boonville, Oneida County, NY) for James Kenna regarding his disability. The originals are two pages in length
on legal size paper, but I had to scan it into four parts.
As for James Kenna, he was living in Little Falls, but he's already listed on the site.
You may also be interested in seeing what I have compiled thus far about him:
James Kenna, Jr. 1840 - 1880
Also in the pension file for James Kenna are some documents that state that Henry B. Chamberlain was promoted to
1st Lieutenant and then to Captain of Company I of the 97th regiment of the NY volunteers.
Wayne Kenna
January 2006
The four .jpg scans of the original affidavit.
1st Page, upper half
1st Page, lower half
2nd Page
Outer Page
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