Leah Hart Thornhill

The Civil War pension file of Thomas W. Thornhill included the widow's pension application for Leah Hart Thornhill. Leah was 24 years younger than Thomas, born on 19 July 1853 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. The couple were married on 15 November 1893 in Hamblen County. A copy of the marriage certificate was in the pension file.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Copy found at US National Archives. 29 Jun 2015.

They appear together in the 1900 US Census in Jefferson County.

Thomas died on 10 June 1909, and Leah began to receive a widow's pension after her application was approved.

The file contained a handwritten note from Leah to the Bureau of Pensions, asking that the monthly payments be increased in line with a Widow's Pension bill approved by Congress. This increased her monthly payment from $30 to $40.

The monthly widow's pension was later increased to $50.

Leah and Thomas never had children. After his death, Leah worked in the homes of her nieces and nephews, assisting them with raising their children. Leah Hart Thornhill passed away on 21 February 1932 in Jefferson County.