Confederate Indigent Families of Kerr County

On November 24, 1863, the Texas Legislature passed a Joint Resolution stating that the government pledged “support and maintenance of [the soldiers’] families during their absence from home.” In accordance with this Resolution, an “Act to Support the Families and Dependents of Texas Soldiers” passed on December 15, 1863. The Act set aside $1,000,000 annually to be paid the “families, widows, and dependents of soldiers currently serving in State or Confederate forces, or of soldiers killed or disabled in service.” Chief Justices of the counties, on or before March 1 in 1864 and 1865, submitted lists of servicemen and the number of their dependents eligible for relief. The County Clerk administered the money distributed to the county for this purpose.

The information varies somewhat from county to county. While the number of dependents is always provided, additional information may include some of the following elements: name of the soldier; currently in service; disabled or killed in service; unit; acting head of household.

Please be aware that only an index of names appears at this site.  Linda Mearse has transcribed the records on file in the State Archives in her book, Confederate Indigent Families Lists of Texas 1863-1865.  In order to help preserve the original records, please request the Mearse transcription through interlibrary loan. Please contact your local library for further details. 

Last Name	First Name	Number in Family
Benson	W. T.	4
Burney	W. D.	1
Click	Marcellus	2
Colwell	Neal	5
Crawford	R. F.	4
Crawford	W.	4
Croke	James	4
Hampton	J. E.	1
Hampton	J. H.	2
Jackson	A. W.	1
Kelly	C. C.	2
McMinn	Valentine	2
Metzar		2
Moore	Frank	1
Moore	Travis	1
Myres	F.	3
North	W. G.	1
Ochse	John E.	3
Pafford	Thos.	1
Paul	Jack	5
Rosenthall	A.	4
Skinner	Mitchel	3
Slater	Charles M.	9
Tedford	Frank	4
Tilly	Elijah	3
Walker	John	3
Walker	William	4
Western	M.	4
Wiley	Isaac	2
Wiley	William	4
Williamson	A. L.	2