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An Old Veteran's Pension

During the early days of the war Martin Van Buren Hurd, for the past two years a resident of Branciforte, enlisted in a Maine regiment, and fought valiantly until sickness overcame him, when he was discharged and was granted a pension. After partially recovering his health the war spirit again seized him and he re-enlisted, thereby forfeiting his pension. He fought for the first time after his re enlistment at the battle of the Wilderness, and during the forced march his illness increased, and he was assigned to other duty. Subsequently he was sent to Washington DC where he did hospital duty. With him on the trip to Washington were five wounded soldiers. He applied in 1881 for a renewal of his pension, but the proofs of his illness during the war were not forthcoming, as he did not know where the soldiers who accompanied him to Washington were located. After considerable red tape proper proof satisfactory to the Washington officials in charge of the pension office was obtained. It was reckoned by parties in Santa Cruz familiar with pension laws that Hurd was entitled to $2,750, but the amount he received from Washington on Thursday was less, but how much Justice Davenport who attended to the matter refused to state. It is thought that the veteran received about $2,000. He is in bad health and resides with his sister, Mrs. Smith in Branciforte and came there from Hollister.

Date of Birth: 1837?

Date of Death: 1914-13-02

County: Los Angeles

Cemetery/City of Burial: Los Angeles National

Plot: 24/E/12

Occupation: Farmer

Local Address: Branciforte

Last City: Santa Cruz 87

Native of: ME

Enlisted: 1861/12/14

Discharged: 1865/07/15

Military Unit: ME_ 6 Inf_ Co K

Rank: Pvt

Military Notes: R-Sngrvle_also Co E

GAR#: N/R

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: SEN 1887/02/13