Diggs Pridgen aka Richard Wilson

Greene County, NC Civil War Pension Files

Military Information

Regiment:14th HA UST Co F
Rank: Pvt
Enlistment: May 6, 1865
Discharge: Honorable Discharge Dec 11,1865
Physical Description: 5ft 10 in Black Complexion, Black Hair, Black Eyes

Pension File Information

Pension Status: Invalid Approved for Rheumatism Date
Residence after war: La Grange, Lenoir, NC
Widow pension filed
Depositions By: Isaac Britt, Mose Roderic, George Lee

Personal Information

Born: July 4, 1848 on Tom Wooten Plantation in Jason, Greene County, NC
Death: Aug 5,1920
Wife 1: Edith Hines married 1871 died 1909 or 1910 buried col Pridgen Cemetery
Wife 2: Rosa Bynum

Family Information

Parents: Chester Pridgen + Jennie Wooten
Siblings: Baker, Dinah, Bobby, Isaac, Dick, Amy, Isabella, William
Mother of Children Edith Hines
Children: Amy Pridgen(b. Jun 1873)
Patsey Pridgen (b. Mar 8, 1875)
Fannie Pridgen (b.May 4, 1877)
Mary Pridgen (b. June 1st 1879)
Walter Pridgen (b. Mar 4, 1881)

Enslavement Information

Slave Owner: Jennie Wooten owned by Tom Wooten
Diggs Pridgen owned by Tom Wooten and as a child given to his daughter and husband Joshua + Winafred Mewborn (dowry)
Isaac Pridgen Britt owned by Tom Wooten and as a child given to his daughter and husband James P Britt and Nancy Wooten (dowry)

Their Story Information

“How did they get Richard Wilson from Diggs Pridgen”

Diggs ran away from Joshua Mewborn plantation and subsequently joined the union army. Tom Wilson and him enlisted together. The enlisting agent enrolled Tom first and asked him his name. He stated Diggs but the agent thought he said Dick and assumed his official name was Richard. The agent also thought Tom and Diggs were brothers and gave him the surname of Wilson. Diggs became aware of the incident at roll call and informed his sergeant, but he wouldn’t fix it. So Diggs Pridgen had to remain as Richard Wilson while in service