Letter from Sereno E. Payne about Harriet Tubman
2/5/1898
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In this letter supporting Harriet Tubman's claim for a pension, Sereno E. Payne, Chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries in the House of Representatives, vouched to George Ray, Chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions, that Tubman had been employed as a nurse, cook, and a spy during the Civil War.
After the war Tubman received a pension as the widow of Union veteran Nelson Davis who had served as a private in the Eight United States Colored Infantry. Tubman petitioned Congress for additional benefits for her own service. Congress received numerous documents and letters supporting Tubman’s claim. In 1899 Congress passed, and the President signed, an increase of Tubman’s pension to 25 dollars per month for her service as a nurse.
After the war Tubman received a pension as the widow of Union veteran Nelson Davis who had served as a private in the Eight United States Colored Infantry. Tubman petitioned Congress for additional benefits for her own service. Congress received numerous documents and letters supporting Tubman’s claim. In 1899 Congress passed, and the President signed, an increase of Tubman’s pension to 25 dollars per month for her service as a nurse.
Transcript
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.SERENO E. PAYNE, Chairman.
George D. Perkins. William S. Boone.
Albert J. Hopkins. John F. Fitzgerald.
John Simpkins. W. Jasper Talbert.
Phillip R. Lew. Henry D. Clayton.
James R. Young. Samuel T. Baird.
Archibald Lybrand. Levin Inwing Handy.
Committee on The Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives U. S. Washington, D. C., Feb. 5, 1898.
Dict. by S. E. P. to B. Hon. George W. Ray, Chairman Com. on Invalid Pensions, City.
Dear Sir: -
I hand you herewith papers in the claim of Harriet Tubman Davis, a Bill for the relief of whom is before your Committee. Mrs. Davis is now receiving a pension at $8. per month as widow of her husband. Claim for increase is because of her own personal services in the war. She was employed as nurse, cook in the Hospital, and spy during nearly the whole period of the war. I know her personally, and she is a most interesting old colored woman, I should judge nearly eighty years of age; having been born a slave, she does not know her age. And about the year 1876, as well as prior thereto, a bill for her relief went to the Committee on War Claims, and all her papers, copies of which are presented herewith, were referred to that Committee by Gen. McDougall, who then represented our District in Congress. The history of her case was written up by Charles P. Wood, now deceased, of Auburn, N. Y., and is presented herewith. Her affidavit is also presented as to the truth of the history written out by Mr. Wood. For all her services she only received about $200. during the entire war. She rendered very valuable aid as the letters, copies of which are herewith presented, will show. I am told by Gen. McDougall that he filed the orginals of these papers and he believes the account of her services is correct. It seems to be a very deserving case. I thought it much better to introduce a bill for the in-
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crease of her pension, that she might have the enjoymeny of it during the remainder of her life, which certainly, in the course of nature, cannot last long, instead of asking a lump sum and trying to get it in as a claim on account of money equitably due her from the Government for services. I think her case is exactly parallel to one passed in the House yesterday for a war nurse increasing her pension although the case of Mrs. Davis seems to me much stronger. If this case can have the early attention of the Committee, I shall be very much gratified.
Yours very truly,
S. E. Payne
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. House of Representatives.
National Archives Identifier: 306574
Full Citation: Letter from Sereno E. Payne, Chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, to George Ray, Chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions, on Behalf of the Claim of Harriet Tubman that She was Employed as a Nurse, Cook, and a Spy; 2/5/1898; Accompanying Papers of the 55th Congress; Accompanying Papers, 1865 - 1903; Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, Record Group 233; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/sereno-payne-letter-tubman, March 28, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.