Garrett's Barn

[L Verge]

If I remember correctly, Mr. Rollins became somewhat wealthy after the war; and some of his neighbors accused him of having taken Yankee money for his wife's clue as to where Jett could be found. However, that was not the case.

As for Willie, he agreed to take them to Booth (as if he had much of a choice!), but requested that they bind him as a prisoner so that he would not appear to have turned another Confederate in.

[John Stanton]

Garrett would have collected for his loss but he could not and did not sign a statement that he was loyal to the US in the war and that he would pledge his allegience to the US. I found this info in the CIS (Congressional Information System - which is a list of all Bills that were ever presented to the Congress). I don't know where to find some place that has the System. I used it in the Pentagon Library, in one of the many basements under the Pentagon. Anybody know where there is one?





Garrett

Betty,

They weren't ever compensated, although they did file a claim with the government. Here is a copy of the congressional report about the claim, which was denied.

Best
/Rob

Thanks, Rob! That's what I thought -- but I could not find the report.

Thanks bunches!

---

If I am not mistaken, I believe that someone said that Edwin Booth eventually paid the Garretts for the loss of their property. I don't know if that included the items that they had stored for others, however.

I, too had heard that Edwin Booth paid the tab -- but was just wondering how much.....

[Jim Garrett]

I believe young Dave Taylor found in his exhaustive research, that William Rollins was the wealthiest man in King George County at the time of his death. I believe Rollins accumulated his wealth through his many enterprises. I believe reading in one of Mr. Hall's files that there was no evidence of the Rollins receiving any reward money.

[Laurie Verge]

Mr. Hall is the one who used to tell the participants on our early Booth Tours back in the 1970s about Rollins accumulating land and wealth after the war - with no help from any reward money. The one photo that we have of Mr. Rollins does make him seem like a crafty little man!

[Rob Wick]

I'm doing this from memory, so I admit freely that I could be mistaken, but I don't think there were any people outside of the government who received any of the reward money. They were either detectives like Conger and Byron Baker or Lafayette Baker or soldiers from the 16th New York.

Best
Rob

[Jim Garrett]

James Purdom received reward money. He was a semi-civilian. He was the farmer near Germantown who learned from Nathan Page that George Atzerodt was back in town, and acting kinda funny at Easter dinner at the house of Hezikiah Metz. Purdom forwarded the information on to a contact with the Delaware cavalry unit in the area. Purdom has been described as a informant, agent, scout, etc, but he was not in regular employment with the government. His house was standing until about 15-20 years ago. The land is slated for developement.

[Rob Wick]

Actually, Jim, I meant just for the capture of Booth. Sorry for the confusion.

Best
Rob

[LincolnMan]

John: are you any relation to Lincoln's "war-horse?"

[John Stanton]

John: are you any relation to Lincoln's "war-horse?"

I think that Edwin McM. was from Ohio and I am from NE Penna.. My Stanton's didn't arrive until after 1900. So, I never ran a genealogy tree on him. My mother was an O'Boyle - no use looking there. My only claim to fame was - My father was in the Cavalry in 1915 and chased Poncho Villa (Speling?) through Mexico. My foster father is in Baseball Hall of Fame. Hugh Jennings. He managed Detroit when Ty Cobb played there. I would rather tell you that, than to say I was related to Edwin.

[LincolnMan]

John: Nice! Love the Detroit connection- since that's where I'm from. The chase for PV- was that under General Pershing?

[Laurie Verge]

One of my Surratt House volunteers had a grandfather who rode with Poncho Villa, John. Your father may have chased him!

[BettyO]

Back about 30 -35 years ago, I worked with an elderly ex-state trooper who had been present at the killing of Bonnie and Clyde and used to regale us with the tale.

[LincolnMan]

And John-welcome to this Discussion Symposium!

[LincolnMan]

Betty: that couldn't have been pretty. In the movie that killing scene broke new ground for on-screen violence at that time. I'm sure the real scene was much worse.

[John Stanton]

John: Nice! Love the Detroit connection- since that's where I'm from. The chase for PV- was that under General Pershing?

Yes. His nickname was "Black Jack". No matter how bad Poncho was, U.S. Troops crossed the border without "Permission". That could have ruined Pershings career. But that's another war. Is there a symposium for that one?