Company A
Company D
Company E
Company F
Company K

34^th Regiment, Company A

34^th Regiment, Company B

34^th Regiment, Company C

34^th Regiment, Company D

34^th Regiment, Company E

34^th Regiment, Company F

34^th Regiment, Company K

BULMER, JOHN

Co. B, 34^th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry
Enlisted: February 11, 1863, at Key West, Florida.
Enslaved before the war, owner not named in the record.
Discharged: unknown.
Pension record number: not a pensioner.

BULMER, REBECCA, Widow of John Bulmer
Enslaved before the war, owned by (first) Robert Harrison, Fernandina, Florida, and (second) Colonel John Sanderson.
Pension record number 296,532.

GENERAL SUMMARY

After John Bulmer mustered out of the army following nearly four years of service to the United States, he acquired small real estate holdings in Jacksonville, Florida. He married and fathered four children, but was then widowed. He then married Rebecca Bulmer, a former slave of Robert Harrison on Amelia Island, and later became the property of Harrison’s son-in-law, John Sanderson. The special examiner went to great lengths to investigate the widow’s background, suspecting her of having been an immoral woman and to have operated an immoral rental establishment (a “bed house”) in small shanties standing on the property left by her husband at his death. Testimony was contradictory on this point, but in general the witnesses upheld her claim of moral behavior, although not to the satisfaction of the examiner. The shanties were destroyed by the “Great Fire of 1901” that destroyed most of Jacksonville, but the examiner deemed them to have been of sufficient value to reject her claim.

EXCERPT FROM THE PENSION RECORDBureau of Pensions, Board of Review

Widows Cert. No. 296532, Rebecca, widow of John Bulmer
Co. “B”, 34” Reg’t U.S.C.V. Inf.
Washington, D.C. June 20, 1895.To Mrs. Rebecca Bulmer
Jacksonville, Florida (Corner Orange & Clay Streets.)“I have to advise you that it appears from evidence obtained by means of a special examination now on file, that you are not without other means of support than your daily labor, as required to give title under the law by which you are pensioned, the further payment to you of pension would therefore be contrary to law and the same will be terminated.“Under the provisions of the act of Congress of December 21, 1893, you will be allowed a period of thirty days from receipt hereof in which to file testimony in rebuttal of the evidence referred to, and if the same is not satisfactory, and no sufficient reason appears why an extension of time should be made, your name will be dropped from the pension roll at the time indicated above. (See copy of Order 229 herewith.)“Such evidence must be submitted in the form of affidavits and the envelope inclosing the same should be addressed to the Commissioner of Pension, and marked in the lower left-hand corner, “Board of Review.” This letter should be returned therewith.”Very respectfully, D. P. Smith, Commissioner.Case of Rebecca Bulmer, No. 296.532. August 12, 1895. Jacksonville, Florida. Deponent: John [Burral?] alias John Wright: “I am 47 years old am a white washer I am a pensioner at $6 per month the [?] [?]. I live at 996 East [Morris?] St. Jacksonville, Duval, Fla. which is my post office address. I know the pensioner Rebecca Bulmer well. I have known her since before she was married. She always were [?] on him just her husband who was Sgt in our Rgt 34 U. S. Col. Vol. Inf lived with her awhile before he married her, and since he died she has the [reputation] of [?] for never come and go into her house often at night. [?] them are white men, I have heard often that [?] woman go there with men to rent a room and about [?] themselves great excitement around by the house by a report that a couple “got binded together” got [?] together and a doctor had to get them apart. Crowds of people about a hundred gathered around to see them come [?] there was a policeman there to keep the crowd out of the this was at Rebecca Bulmer’s house near Clay and Orange Streets in this city. Rebecca Bulmer [?] clear [?] offices up turn but that only takes in this house in the morning from [?] & Rebecca Bulmer is well off and I believe she owns those little cottages besides the two story house she lives in. “I don’t know anybody in [?] has except W. [?] a store keeper who lives [?] to his house and a colored man who keeps an ice cream and water melon stand [?] to her who could testify as to her character. I only get my [?] and [?] from [?] who give the house her she [?] what hears.”Deposition G. Case of Rebecca Bulmer, No. 296.532. February 3, 1896. Jacksonville, Florida. Deponent: Rosa Henderson. “I will be 32 this coming May. [I am a] washer woman, and my city address near Victoria and Clay Streets. I am personally acquainted with Rebecca Bulmer. I have known her for 14 or 15 years. I knew her before she married John Bulmer. I knew of John Bulmer’s death at the time it occurred, although I was not present. After John Bulmer’s death the pensioner in a year or two moved to where she now lives on corner of Clay and Orange Streets and has resided there ever since. I have lived within a stone’s throw of her for 12 years- 7 years of said time I rented one of her little houses- which faces on Orange St. I paid her $4 per month. She has six houses- the 2 smaller houses on Orange St. rent for $4 each- of the other 3 houses- she gets $5 for the 3 room houses, $2 for each of the one room houses- making in all $17 per month in rents, when the houses are rented. Sometimes the houses are rented & then again some of them remain vacant for sometime. She does not collect her rents in all instances. “She has not rented rooms- as a rule in the house which she lives. It is very seldom, if ever she rents rooms in that dwelling. I knew one white lady who rented a room from her- & pensioner has her trunk now for the board. Yes, the white lady was married, anyways they represented themselves as man & wife. She let a room for about one month to a Mrs. Morris- a dressmaker. Her relations from Fernandina have stopped with her know & then. “Rebecca Bulmer has always conducted herself properly since I have known her. She has not cohabitated with any man as his wife to my knowledge. No, Sir, I have never hear anything said against her character, for virtue. I was living in one of pensioners houses at the time the story was circulated that a man was tied to a woman- in one of the pensioners houses. That was unquestionably false to my knowledge. There have been 2 or 3 bad women in the pensioners houses- that is they had that name. Men would be coming & going from the houses of these women. [Nancy?] Jacob & Mandy Shepherd were two of the women I speak of- & I know Rebecca made both of these women leave her premises as soon as she found out they were bad. I have not seen couples of suspicious characters going in & out of Rebecca’s houses. I have not heard anyone say what the pensioner’s property is worth. She has no money in the bank.”Deposition H. Case of Rebecca Bulmer, No. 296.532. February 3, 1896. Jacksonville, Florida. Deponent: Nancy Gaskins. “I am between 55 & 56 years of age- and a washerwoman- and I reside at 442 Orange St. I am personally acquainted with Rebecca Bulmer and knew her before she was married to John Bulmer. I remember when they said Bulmer and Rebecca were married, and I also remember when Bulmer died. In a year or two after Bulmer’s death, the pensioner moved into the house where she now lives, which is just across the street from me. She has lived in said house ever since. Rebecca Bulmer rents 5 of her houses. She lives in the two story building herself. If she has rented rooms in her dwelling to people I do not know it. Since you mention it I do remember that a white man & woman, who was said to be his wife- rented a room from pensioner, also a colored woman, named Mrs. Morris- who was a dressmaker. I can not think of any other people who rented rooms from her. “I have not seen people passing in & out of Rebecca Bulmer’s house- that is suspicious characters. I never heard it said that Rebecca Bulmer was a lewd woman. I have heard it said that some bad women have rented her houses, but I have heard nothing against the character of Rebecca. I saw the crowd which gathered in front of her house- when the excitement rose of the man & woman that was said to be tied. The houses were searched at the time and showed the uproar was false.“I have not heard any estimate of the property she owns. I do not know that she has any means in bank.”Deposition B. Case of Rebecca Bulmer, No. 296.532. February 4, 1896. Jacksonville, Florida. Deponent: Simon Williams. “I am 53 years of age- work in a saw mill- city add 565 Orange St. I am personally acquainted with Rebecca Bulmer and have known her for 20 years. Knew her husband John Bulmer. I have lived near Rebecca Bulmer since the death of her husband. She has resided at the corner of Orange and Clay Streets. She lives in a two story building which consists of six rooms. I think she lives in the house alone. If she lets rooms in her dwelling I do not know. I have seen people in her dwelling- but do no know they rented rooms from her. I have seen people- woman and men going in out of her house, I have no seen women and men going or coming from the house- which led to believe that they had been there for immoral purposes. I never heard it said that Rebecca Bulmer was anything but a virtuous woman. Never heard that she kept a bad house. I hear something about a disturbance in front of her house- & the report was that a man and woman in are of the pensioner’s house and could not be separated. I simply remember the disturbance and the talk but saw nothing of my own knowledge.

”Deposition A. Case of Rebecca Bulmer, No. 296.532. February 5, 1896. Jacksonville, Florida.
Deponent: Rebecca Bulmer. “I am about 58 years of age. Do not know my exact age. I was born in Fernandina, Nassau Co. Fla. I was a slave woman before the war and was owned by Robt Harrison, Fernandina, Fla. & after that by Col. John Sanderson. I was a young woman when Col. Sanderson in [?] and brought me to Jacksonville, Fla. The war was “whispering” when I first came to Jacksonville. Col. Sanderson’s wife is still living in this city with her daughter Minnie Sanderson. I lived with Mrs. Marian Sanderson until peace was declared. After I left the Sanderson’s, I farmed two years with my Uncle Daniel Young- then I came into the city and nursed for Mrs. Falana- now Morrison- of this city. I next worked with Mrs. Minne Murphy- this city- and then I went to work for Mrs. Mary E. Tibbett. Mrs. Murphey and Mrs. Tibbett both reside in Springfield a suburb of this city. I then went to the hotel. St. James- & worked for Mr. Jerry Campbell. “I was married to John Bulmer, April 20, 1883 and left the hotel at once. We kept house in this city until my husband died Jan 26^th 1884. My husband had been married before I was married to him, but his wife was dead. I had not been previously married. I had no children by my husband. I had one child before I married John Bulmer. That child was born in Fernandina, Fla. about 1870. I guess the child lived about a year only. Well they said I had another child. I [?] positive I guess it was a miscarriage. The father of these illegitimate children was Morris Moore- now dead & gone. Now I tell you the truth. I had a girl child in the beginning of the war by Morris Moore and also a miscarriage by said Morris Moore about the time the war closed. The first child lived to be nearly 18 years old & was killed by a train. “I had nothing to do with any man, until about 4 years after this. I [?] man, white, by the name of James Bell, was boarding at Mrs. Murphy’s and when I went into the room he “flinged me across the bed twice” and ‘first thing I know I was knocked up’. Bell has gone from here. No- I had no more children- “not a” young one since “shore”. I holds up my right hand and swears to that. Yes- I can swear I had nothing to do with any man since my husband died. People may say I have lived one [another man] since- but it is not true. They can tell their tales, but they can’t prove anything against my character. I will [face] them in the courts and face them anywhere. I stay right in my house by myself and no man, has cohabitated and had sexual intercourse with me. I will not say that men have not tried to have intercourse with me. They tackle me and the [?] in my house, but I tell them to go the other way. “I say I don’t want you.’“No- I have never kept bed house. I own up to you that people has come to my house and asked for beds. Now-the other night a man came to my house and asked me to get him a girl. I said “no”. He say “don’t keep no girls- I though you kept girls” and I said “no- go to the fast houses- if you want girls[”]- yes- it was circulated that I kept a bed house and that there was disturbance in front of my house, over a report that a white man and a colored woman “was tied together” in sexual intercourse and could not be separated. The crowd was in front of my house when I came home from work, but I threw the door open and the police scattered the crowd. It was a lie circulated by the prejudiced “niggers” to injure me.“I have had no children since my husbands death have not had sexual intercourse with any man- nor have I sheltered lewd women.“I own two lots- that is- them [?] two lots in my name, on the largest lot there are three houses. The house I live in is a two story house- six rooms including the kitchen. The two small houses have each two rooms- a front room & a bedroom. The small lot has on it 2 shanties or rooms – (separate) and a cottage with 3 rooms. I furnish my own house (6 rooms) and two rooms on the small lot. I have four beds in my house I paid 3 or 4 dollars a piece for the bed stands- no carpets- got walling on the parlor- I might be able to get 175 dollars for all household and kitchen furniture, but I doubt it. I get two dollars for each of the small rooms, on the small lot and 5 dollars for the 3 room cottage on said lot. I get 4 dollars each for the two cottages on the big lot & live in the two story house myself. The small house is in my name but my daughter who was killed by the train helped me pay for it. She left an infant boy- who is 17 years old- and I am his guardian- I use the rents from that lot to clothe the child. I get no commissions as guardian. “I have no money in the bank. Have only 4 dollars at this minute- last week I did not have cent- I get a dollar a week for cleaning house- I sometimes take in washing- My rents when all the houses are rented amounts to 17 dollars per month. This constitutes all sources of income. I do not know what my property is worth. [?] ever that we have many dollars they would give me for it- I couldn’t how [?]

”Deposition E. Case of Rebecca Bulmer, No. 296.532. February 7, 1896. Jacksonville, Florida.
Deponent: Iziah Gunn. “I am 47 years of age- painter, by trade, and my city address is 1018 Jefferson St. I am personally acquainted with Rebecca Bulmer- and have known her for nearly 4 year. During the years 1893- 1894- 1895- I rented two house from Rebecca Bulmer- one room in each house- I paid her $4 per month- for the two rooms. I do not owe her any board.“During the time I lived in her houses I saw her every day. During the time I was a renter- she let rooms to a Mrs. Morris- who was a dressmaker. I also remember that a white man by the name of Thompson- rented a room for himself but that was in one of the cottages. I heard one time that the pensioner was keeping a bad house. I investigated the matter, & was going to move out if I found it to be true- but I saw nothing suspicious. I never saw suspicious couples going in & out of her house. I never heard the pensioner was a lewd woman- never saw her in a compromising position with men. I have heard nothing & seen nothing against her character. I do not know the value of her property.

”Deposition F. Case of Rebecca Bulmer, No. 296.532. February 7, 1896. Jacksonville, Florida.
Deponent: Daniel English. “I am about 33 years of age, a merchant. P.O. address is Corner of Clay & Orange Streets, Jacksonville. I am personally acquainted with Rebecca Bulmer. The widow of John Bulmer- and have known her since boyhood. I did not know John Bulmer so well. Remember distinctly when he died. Rebecca Bulmer has not remarried since Bulmer died to my knowledge, and my acquaintance with her has been such that if she had remarried I would have know it.“I am in business just across the street from the claimants residence. I am familiar with her plot & houses on the corner of Clay and Orange Sts. The lot faces on Clay St. 40 ft or over- and Orange St. 115 or 120 ft. [?] on it 6 houses and an old worthless shop- 3 of the houses face Orange St. These houses consist of a 2 story building – containing 6 rooms including a kitchen & of 2 smaller houses, 2 rooms each & the other 3 house are in the back of the lot. The [end?] of one of said houses (3 rooms, faces [?] Clay St. and the other two house (of one room) are further back on the lot. The pensioner resides in the 2 story building and rent the other five houses. She has scantily furnished the 2 story building with 3 beds, some rickety chairs- & a few dishes. She has [?] furnished one room in one of the smaller houses. She rents the two smaller houses facing on Orange St. for $4 per month each- and the other 3 houses – the large- for $5 and the 2 smaller for $2 each- per month- making in all $17 per month which the claimant receives in rents- when her property is rented. Some of the houses are rented all of the time & some of them scarcely any of the time. She had one of more of the houses empty all of the time. They are all rented now. She sometimes lets the rooms in her dwelling. I never knew that she kept anything like an [?] or bed house. She is a woman of good character. She has been [?] & straight for as long as 15 years- had no [?] then. She had not cohabitated with any man, if so I would have known it. If I was going to buy that property I would not give over 12 or 13 hundred dollars for it. That is the estimate I place on it.

”Supplemental Deposition A. Case of Rebecca Bulmer, No. 296.532. February 8, 1896, Jacksonville, Florida.
Deponent: Rebecca Bulmer. “I am the claimant in this case. In addition to my former statement- I will add this when I said I was guardian of Ernest Stewart I meant that I has simply “raised” him. Ernest Stewart is the son of my daughter who was killed by the train. I have no insurance on my house, I do not own anything on my house and lot. The property is [?] My taxes last year was $28 I do not know what it will be this year, but I have no money to pay the taxes with. I send money to my grandchild. The money I send to him is the money I realize on the back cottages- Sometimes they are rented sometimes they are not. I couldn’t estimate how much I realize from the house. “I desire to say that the fraction lot on back [?] near Hogan and Eagle Streets is not owned by me any [?] last year and signed a [?] J.C. [?], He have me $200 for it. I have not a cent of it now, “I spent it to live on.” The deed is on record.I am a chambermaid and a washer woman. I get a dollar and sometimes a dollar and a quarter for work. I guess I get 50 or 40 or 25 cts a week for washing. Sometimes none at all.

”Deposition C. Case of Rebecca Bulmer, No. 296.532. February 8, 1896. Jacksonville, Florida.
Deponent: Stephen Bolton. “I am 40 years of age, a carpenter by trade, and my city address is 908 Clay St. I am personally acquainted with Rebecca Bulmer- and am also familiar with her lot & house on corner of Clay and Orange Sts. My father at one time owned the property just opposite, and I have lived in the immediate neighborhood for 27 or 30 years. See Rebecca Bulmer’s property every day almost- I look right out of my house & see it.“I am also a dealer in real estate in the section of the city. I have also inspected the house and lot this morning. I find the lot is 115 or 120 feet long and about 62 feet wide near the center. Basing my judgment on my knowledge of house-building as a carpenter, I would estimate the six houses on Rebecca Bulmer’s lot including the household and kitchen furniture at 250. Basing my knowledge on my judgment as a real estate dealer, I would estimate the same ground at $450- making a total estimate of $700- I am aware that the assessment on said property is $900, but in my opinion that is an overestimate. I do not know anything about her income from said property in the way of rents. The estimates which I make are according to the times. Year before last that property would have sold for $1000

.”Deposition D. Case of Rebecca Bulmer, No. 296.532. February 8, 1896. Jacksonville, Florida.
Deponent: Alfred H. Henderson. “I am 45 years of age, a carpenter by trade, and my city address is 627 Orange Street. I am personally acquainted with Rebecca Bulmer and I am also familiar with her property and the probable value thereof. Her lot & house in number are situated on the corner of Orange and Clay streets this city. I have lived almost within a “stones throw” of Rebecca Bulmer’s property for 18 years. I have added to my previous knowledge of the property- by a personal inspection of the lot and house this morning. By reason of my trade, I think I have reliable knowledge of the cost of houses and by reason of my residence in this section I think I have a pretty good idea as to the worth of her lot, independent of the improvements on it. “I would estimate the six house-household furniture and the ground all together-at about $950. That would be a good price at the present state of business and the condition that the lot is in. The lot has brook (small stream) running across the center of it –the brook is covered over with plank- but it should be walled over with stone or brick, as that the low ground of the lot could be filled in where the lower end of the lot overflows. This of course detracts from its value.“I do not know anything about the rents she gets, nor any other source of income which she may have.

”Deposition I. Case of Rebecca Bulmer, No. 296.532. October 19, 1901. Jacksonville, Florida.
Deponent: Edward Thompson. “I am 57 years of age. A painter by trade and post office address is No. 425 Orange St. Jacksonville, Fla. I have know Rebecca Bulmer for few years. I lived in one of her houses. Corner of Orange and Clay Streets, Jacksonville Fla. was since I have been in Jacksonville few years. I paid two dollars a month rent. She had six shanties in the yard, some had two rooms and some only one. There was two other houses besides mine in the yard that rented for two dollars a piece. I think all of the houses made two dollars a piece. The houses, or shanties, that is what they were, was all destroyed back in May by the great fire that swept Jacksonville. She has no house at all now. I really don’t know what the lot is worth. I know she has no source of income. She works as a laundress and washing and ironing and general work of a laboring woman. I never knew her husband. All I knew is that she was the widow Bulmer. She has not lived with any man as his wife since I have known her. Her reputation has been good one since I have know her. I have known her, a plain, straight, upright woman. Her place and surroundings has been kept in a quiet and proper manner. Her house, or houses have never been used immoral purposes. I been staying there for few years and if I told you that I had seen anything wrong I would be telling a story.”Orlando Fla., June 9^th, 1896Hon. D. I. Murphy, Commissioner of PensionsWashington, D.C.Sir,“I have the have the honor to transmit herewith all the papers in the above designated clam for pension, together with my report of special examination. This claim was referred for special investigation, to determine the fact as to whether pensioner has forfeited her right to further payment under Act Aug. 7^th 1882, and whether as a matter of fact she is dependent within the meaning of the Act June 27/90. The investigation was ordered as an expert report of Special Examiner Lavin, which [?] title on the grounds above mentioned.“My duties in the investigation of this [?][?][?][?]. The case literally keeps with one [?] and [?]. I had to deal with a low element of people, in relation to the most indecent questions. As is well know, it is almost impossible to get the facts in such cases from such people. The colored people [screen?] each other to the last extremity, and in any instance the investigation of reputation and character as to its immoral phases is a delicate & difficult matter. The claimant’s own admissions constitute the best evidence on both questions involved.“On the question of open adulterous cohabitation, by her own admission she is shown to have been a lewd woman to a date approximating her marriage to the soldier. She acknowledged under cross-examination to have given birth to a number of illegitimate children. However covering the period from Aug. 7^th 1882, to the present, she alleges a strictly virtuous life. I have been unable to develop any proof of acts of adulterous cohabitation since Aug, 7^th 1882, either by direct or circumstantial evidence. I believe there is a rule of practice, to the effect that if a widow applicant as pensioner is shown to be keeper of a house of ill-fame, the presumption is so strong that she too sustains illicit relations with men, & that in the absence of proof sufficient to overcome said presumption, open, notorious adulterous cohabitation will be considered as established, and the claim rejected as pensioners name dropped from the rolls. There is no proof that pensioner is keeping a bawdy house, and this case is, therefore, not brought within the rule above laid down.“I dismiss the indecent & [repulsive?] story relating to the woman & man becoming tied in the act of copulation on the claimant’s premises. Thorough investigation at the time of the occurrence or rather disturbance, show no such [?] between a man & woman has been pronounced by physicians to me to be a physical impossibility. I am told that but one species of the lower animals are capable of such connection. The most that can be said, is, that the pensioners conduct in the past has been such as to cast suspicion on her character as to chastity, since Aug, 7/82, but there is no proof and I confess my inability to develop any sufficient to warrant dropping.“As to question of dependence, it is a [?] one, and as on the point of adulterous cohabitation, the claimant’s own admissions constitute the best obtainable evidence. The facts are that she owns in fee simple and free of encumbrance, a lot or rather 2 lots which have been merged into one, on the corner of Clay and Orange Sts., Jacksonville, Fla. and on said lots are six houses. The houses are old plank houses, indeed most of them might be called shanties. They are located in Hansontown, which is simply another name for the colored district of Jacksonville, Fla. The rear end of the lot is low, and by means of a ditch which runs through it, overflows during a freshet. The evidence described the property minutely. The total units of the property amounts to $17 per month when all the houses are rented, but the evidence is meager on that point. It is reasonable to suppose that the houses are vacant quite frequently and the rents are not always collected. Of course income in that respect is more or less dependent on the business tact of the claimant, and if she rents to irresponsible persons, the government should not be held responsible. A conservative estimate of the proper land & shanties, is about $1300- although the assessed evaluation is $900- and some of the witnesses place the estimate much lower. Attention is invited to Mr. Greeley’s letter, who is one of the oldest & most reliable real estate men, who deals in that section of Jacksonville. I did not take his deposition in that he was persistent in his opinion that his [missing line] answer every purpose. It is due the claimant to say that she does not own the lot on the corner of Hogan & Eagle Sts, and has not for more that a year. The deed is on record, and Mr. Greeley told me that he had bought the property, the assessment rolls to the contrary not withstanding. I declare it useless to attempt to show how much of the time the houses have been rented as I cannot find all the persons who from time to time have been tenants. They are transients. The evidence of such persons as I could find, will be [formed?] a part of this report. The evidence of claimant is best on this point, and it is not explicit.“The witnesses are reported good, I rate them as they impressed me on the stand. I think, by means of cross examination, the claimant has first and last told the truth, or approximately so, especially on the point of dependence. She is not a guardian of her stepson, and is not legally bound to support him. I do not think she is without means of support than her daily labor, but probably she is dependent within the meaning of the law as [constructed?] and should be retained on the rolls.

”General Affidavit, January 8, 1900. Rebecca Bulmer testified: “The only real estate I own is a strip of land twenty one feet wide and one hundred and twenty six feet long having an outlet on a narrow ally in the outskirts of the city. On this strip of land are three cabins built over twenty years ago and they are now very much dilapidated. This pro