Charlotte E. Davis, being duly sworn according to law, declares that her age is 45 years, that she resides at 42 Dryades St., City of New Orleans and that she is a pensioner as the widow of Charles Davis, who was a soldier in the 15th Mass. Vols., and who died of sickness in hospital in Washington D. C., in March 1862, while still a soldier. That she was married to her said husband in Windsor Conn., in August 1853, and lived with him up to the time of his enlistment; that she had four children by said husband, none of whom, however, were living at the time of his death. That in the fall of 1864, she was residing in Washington, and through Mr. Helmick, the then chief clerk of the Pension OFfice, she formed the acquaintance of a Mr. Edwin D. Collier who was then a clerk in that office; and in the month of March following she rented a room at 9th St., opposite the Patent offices, where she received the visits of the said Collier, and subsequently she rented a room from a Jewess, a Mrs. Adler, on Pa. Ave., between 9th and 10th Streets, and there she and the said Collier lived rogether for something like a year and up to the time of his removal to this city in the month of November 1866. That while living at this place, the said Collier took his meals with her and lodged with her, though he still retained a room on "E" Street, which he had formerly occupied for some three or fopur years, and where he still kept part of his baggage; and while at this place, she gave birth to a son on the 1st day of August 1866, which she subssequently had christened in this city under the name of William Collier, the Mr. Collier herin referred to being its father. That she kept herself somewhat secluded while at this place, and had but few acquaintances or visitors. That Mrs. Dryer, the wife of the proprietor of the Dryer House, at the Corner of 2nd St. and ?? Ave., at which place she boarded before taking the room on 9th Street, occasionally visited her, as also did a Mr. Archy Cook visit Mr. Collier, but they both knew that she was not his wife. That the family of whom they rented the room no doubt supposed they were married, though neither herself nor Mr. Collier so far as she knows, ever made any statements of representations to them on the subject. That she has heard that after she left this place, Mrs. Adler learned that she and Mr. Collier were not married to each other. That when Mr. Collier left Washington and came to this city (New Orleans), he left her at 456 9th St., and made arrangements for her maintenance during his absence. That in the month following his departure from Washington, she came with her child to this city, and from that time until his death which occurred on 27 September 1867, she and the said Collier lived together at 188 Royal St., in a house partly occupied by a Mr. Fulton and his family whom Mr. Collier had known in Ohio. That Mr. Fulton was then living with a woman who was not his wife, and both he and this woman as she supposes, knew that she (affiant) and Mr. Collier were not married. That among the few persons who knew that she and Mr. Collier were living rogether, it was well known that they were not married, and that they did not claim that the relation of husband and wife subsisted between them That Mr. Fulton above mentioned, and also Mr. Norton, who was Mr. Colliers business partner, are both dead, and Mrs. Fulton has remarried and affiant does not know her whereabouts. That she was never married to the said Collier, nor has she ever remarried with anyone since the death of the husband on whose account she is pensioned. That there was never any agreement or understanding between her and the said Collier on the subject of marriage; That she simply lived with him as his paramour, and he supported her and after the birth of their child, which he acknowledged and recognized as his own, he took care of them to the day of his death. That neither she nor Mr. Collier ever by word or act assumed or avowed the relation of marriage with each other. That she had their son William christened in Christ's Episcopal Church, in the month of April following Mr. Collier's death, a Mr. Small wood, now the Commercial reporter of the N. O. Times, and the Mr. Fulton alread referred to, stand as his godfathers. That since coming to New Orleans she has to some extent taken and been known by the name of Collier; but to Dr. Knapp, the former Pension Agent, Mr. Smallwoods, Mr. Wallington and others, who are well acquainted with the relations between her and Mr. Collier, she is known as Mrs. Davis. That she is known tzo Mrs. Potter, at 182 S. Charles ST., whose acquaintance she formed about a year ago, as Mrs. Collier, though she never made any statements to Mrs. Potter concerning her relations with Mr. Collier, farther than that he was the father of her boy and that they came from Washington to this city and that Mr. Collier died here in 1867. That Mr. Collier assisted her in having her pension transferred to the Agency in this city, and fully explained to Dr. Knapp, the Pension Agent, the relations between her and himself, and the agent fully understooid the circumstances of her case. That after the death of Mr. Collier, though he died possessed of considerable property, personal and real, she never set up any claim to, nor did she ever receive any part of the same. That she has livwed in New Orleans, the greater part of the time since Mr. Collier's death, and has not lived in cohabitation with anyone since them. Mrs. Charlotte E. Davis |