31 October 1879
Sworn Statement by John Pettit
County of Venango, State of Pennsylvania
In the matter of the claim for pension No. 256.151 of Sarah M. Johnson and Nancy A. Robbins, who are the children of Chester Shiner who was a private in the Company 64 Regiment, Pennsylvania.
Personally come before me, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for aforesaid County and the State, John Pettit, a citizen of the County of Venango, State of Pennsylvania, reputable and entitled to credit, and who being duly affirmed, declare in relation to aforesaid claim, as follows:
viz. – That in the county of Venango; and on the 22nd day of August 1867, I joined in marriage Monroe Fury and Eleanor Shiner who was the widow of Chester Shiner. I being at that time a Justice of the Peace in and for said county. And I do also state that I knew Chester Shiner and Eleanor Henderson since about 1849, when they were youths, that they were raised here on adjoining farms, and I think born also. I remember their marriage, knew both from the time mentioned as long as they lived. Remember hearing of the birth of their daughters, Melissa and Nancy Ann. Often heard the children spoken of whilst they were small, they were raised one or 1 ½ miles away. Saw them also at their home with their parents, I remember well of Nancy Ann being sick at their home with dysentery. I attended her as a physician. Saw her ten times from the 7th to the 18th inclusive of August 1863. From what I remember of her, think she must have been 3 or 4 years old at that time. Her father, Chester, was then lingering along with his chronic diarrhea. Saw him at his father’s house (Andrew Shiner’s) after that, near winter when it was thought he would not live more than a few days. He was known as Chester Shiner, did not know of a W. in his name. There was but one “Chester”. And I further declare that I have no interest in said claim, and that I am not concerned in its prosecution.
I, John Pettit state that my P.O. Address is Pearl, Venango Co., Penn’a,.
The word “sworn” erased and the “affirmed” interlined before execution – I further certify that said John Pettit was on the 22 August 1867 a justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid.