52 Ancestors #3: Hezekiah Brock

Hezekiah "Hugh" Brock, a civilian, was taken prisoner by the Yankee's on 12 March 1865, during Sherman's March through the Carolina's.  After a force march to Fayetteville, NC, and then on to Wilmington, NC, he was transported to a Union Prison located at Point Lookout, Maryland.  Hugh, along with over 3,300 other prisoner's, died while interred at Point Lookout.  Originally, the Confederate prisoners were buried in two cemeteries and their grave marked with a wooden cross.  Fire and weather during the past 130 years have resulted in all Confederate prisoner's being relocated and interred in a common grave.  Over this grave is a granite monument approximately 85 feet high.  On the monument is twelve bronze tablets containing the names and units of 3,383 Confederate soldiers known to have died in this prison camp.¹

I wrote about Point Lookout here.

Hezekiah "Hugh" Brock, my g-g-grandfather, is not listed on these tablets.  The Baltimore National Cemetery, who has administrative oversight, has agreed to add those names which were left off the monument.  I have the proof necessary to add Hezekiah "Hugh" Brock's name to this monument.  I intend to see that Hugh is recognized for the sacrifice that he and his family endured during the war.

After further research, I have learned that several of my great uncle's were either taken captive and or killed by Sherman's troops that March of 1865.  Drew Rivers (b. 1844) was carried away by the Union Army in March 1865 and put in a POW camp at Pt. Lookout, Maryland, where he died.  John Rivers (b. 1842) was killed near his home by the Union Army.  He was a member of Co. D, 6th SC Reg't., Capt. Bob Evans Company.  Record of the two Rivers' death were taken from Minnie Sanders Rivers, 1929 book.  Badgegood Parker, father of Martha Parker, wife of William T. Brock,  was imprisoned at Point Lookout, Maryland.  Southern prisoners in this POW compound were not treated any better than the Northern prisoner held in Andersonville, Georgia.

After Hezekiah’s capture, his wife Sallie was left to raise 6 young boys ranging in age from 1 year to 14 years old. There is no evidence that Sallie ever knew what happen to her husband after he was taken prisoner nor is there any evidence that she remarried. 

1. Hezekiah BROCK was born 28 Feb. 1827 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.  Hezekiah died 12 June 1865 in Pt. Lookout Union Prison, St. Mary's County, Maryland, and was buried in Confederate Cemetery, Pt. Lookout, St. Mary's County, Maryland.  He married Sarah MORRIS.  She was born Jan 1829 in South Carolina.

Hezekiah Brock and Sarah Sally Morris had the following children:
i. Benjamin Franklin Brock, born 17 Jan 1851, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Louise Ellen Sellers, 1871; died 13 Jul 1924, Cheraw, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
ii. Michael Hezekiah "Mike" Brock, born 20 Jan 1853, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Timmie Smith, 1879, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died 2 Jan 1927, Pageland, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
iii. William T. "Bill" Brock, born 17 May 1854, McFarlan, Anson, North Carolina; married Martha J. Parker, abt 1882; died 22 Jul 1913, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
iv. Alsey Brock was born on 25 Jun 1855 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. Alsey died after 27 Apr 1910 at the age of 54. Alsey never married.
v. Charles Ellerbe Brock, born 5 Oct 1860, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Lucy Grace Davis, abt 1892, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 22 Nov 1915, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
vi. Pleasant Elmore "Pleas" Brock, born 16 Apr 1864, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Nancy Jane Davis, 1888; died 25 Oct 1926, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

Hezekiah Brock is my 2nd Great Grandfather. His son, Benjamin Franklin Brock is my great grandfather.
 
 
 
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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Lookout,_Maryland

Tombstone Tuesday - Andrew Washington Sellers

Andrew Washington Sellers

b. 24 Nov 1844

d. 12 Jan 1935

Tombstone Photo Courtesy of Julious Burr

Andrew Washington Sellers was born on 24 Nov 1844 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. ^{1 2} Andrew died on 12 Jan 1935 at the age of 90 in Florence County, South Carolina. He was buried on 13 Jan 1935 at Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. ³ He served in the Civil War and was held prisoner at Point Lookout, Maryland. ⁴

Andrew Washington Sellers and Catherine Pinkney Wallace were married about 1865 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. Catherine Pinkney Wallace, daughter of Jesse Wallace and Frances M. Sullivant, was born on 24 Apr 1842 in NC. She died on 30 Dec 1912 at the age of 70 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

Andrew Washington Sellers and Catherine Pinkney Wallace had 9 children:

              i. Charles Riley Sellers, born 4 Aug 1867, Chesterfield County, South Carolina

             ii. B. J. Sellers was born about 1868.

            iii. Aurilla Jane Sellers, born 2 Aug 1869, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

            iv. Mary Ellen Sellers was born on 5 May 1873 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

             v. William Jesse Congleton Sellers, born 21 Apr 1875, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

            vi. Alonzo Hale Sellers, born 25 Oct 1877, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

           vii. Andrew Jackson Sellers, born 27 Apr 1879, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina

          viii. Frances Ann Victoria Sellers, born 5 Dec 1882, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

            ix. Catherine Pinkney Sellers was born on 24 Jan 1885 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

 

Andrew Washington Sellers is my Great Grand Uncle. His sister Louise Ellen is my Great Grand Mother.

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1. 1850 U. S. Census, Madison County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 10, Madison County, Tennessee, Page 305B; Line 1, Dwelling 244, Family 244, Household of Wm. E. SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 889.

2. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 130B; Line 28, Dwelling 0522, Family 0521, Household of Elizabeth SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing  National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.

3. Mr. Andrew Washington Sellers obituary, The Chesterfield Advertiser,, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, 24 January 1935, page 1, col 5:.

4. Interview with a Confederate Veteran obituary, The Chesterfield Advertiser, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, 7 April 1932. Sellers, Confederate Veteran (conducted by Nellie Bristow, Florence Morning News, reprinted Chesterfield Advertiser, April 7, 1932).

Military Monday – David Richard Teal

David Richard Teal's Civil War Record[1] can be found on Fold3.com , a paid subscription website. His entire record consists of 6 pages /image one of which page one is an Index page.

He enlisted on January 1, 1864, very late into the War.  He enlisted as a Private into Co. E, 21^st South Carolina Volunteers Infantry. This was Capt. Benjamin T. Davis outfit and many of his friend's neighbors and cousins were members of this unit.  He enlisted for 3 years and the January –February Muster Roil showed him due a $50.00 bounty.

The next image is a Muster Roll for April 30 - August 31, 1864 - This image showed that he was furlough 1 Sept. 1964 and again indicated he was due a $50.00 bounty.

Image 5 is a Muster Roll for Sept-Oct 1864 – shows David absent without and still due a bounty of $50.00.

Only two additional images remains and they are displayed below

Image 5 – Shows David Richard Teal as a Prisoner of War (POW) at Point Lookout, Maryland.

He was captured on March 4, 1865 in Chesterfield, SC.   This is very important. March the 4^th 1865 was the day that Gen. Sherman Union forces entered the town of Chesterfield destroying everything and burning the Courthouse to the ground.  This is the second record that I have examined where Chesterfield men were captured at home on 4 March and imprisoned as POW's. The first was my second great grandfather Hezekiah Brock.

 

David Richard Teal made it back home from Point Lookout and Married Nancy J. Davis, daughter of John Calvin Davis and Charlotte Hurst.  David and Nancy had 6 children; 5 daughters and a son. Nancy J. Davis Teal died in 1895[2] (date on Tombstone) and David Richard Teal remarried in 1897 to Lucinda Caulder; they had 4 children, 2 sons and 2 daughters.

Finally, Image 6 is the Oath of allegiance that David Richard teal signed upon his release from Point Lookout, Maryland on 21 June 1865.

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[1] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/image/#20|83230560 : accessed 21 July 2012), entry for David R. Teal, Private; Co. E. 21st SC INF CSA; Confederate.

[2] James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey; Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995, page 1181. Tombstone of Nancy J. TEAL; 1837–1895, Teal Cemetery, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

Related articles

• http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/02/was-pt-lookout-maryland-comparable-to.html

Military Monday – William Blakney Davis

William Blakney Davis was born about 1823, a son of William Davis and Julie Thurman in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. He exact death date is unknown but was sometime after the 1880 Census. He is buried Peniel Cemetery, Chesterfield South Carolina

William Blakney Davis married Mary Jane Martin about 1855. Mary Jane Martin was born on 3 Feb 1835 in North Carolina. She died on 15 Sep 1885 at the age of 50 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. She was buried in Peniel Cemetery, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

William Blakney Davis and Mary Jane Martin had 10 children, 5 before the war and five after the war.

He enlisted on January 8, 1862, by Capt. B. T. Davis, into the Confederate Army for 3 years as a Private. His military record is available on Fold3.com

He was wounded in his left hip and captured on 24 June 1864, He stayed in the hospital at Fort Monroe, VA till February 1^st, 1865 at which time he was sent to Point Lookout, Maryland where he was paroled February 14, 1865.

He was admitted the day after his parole (Feb. 15th, 1865) to the hospital in Richmond, Virginia. On Feb 21, 1865, he was granted a 60 day furlough.

His military record also contained another parole that occurred in 24 July 1863. At that time he was also a prisoner of war. He was granted release in a prisoner exchange by pledging, on his honor, never to bear arms against the United States of America.

William B. Davis parole

William Blakney Davis, though captured and taken prisoner twice and wounded, survived the War and returned home to his family. He and Mary Martin Davis had five additional children after he was released.

They are enumerated in the Cole Hill Township of Chesterfield County in 1880[1], six of their 10 children are living at home; the oldest age 16, the youngest age 5.

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[1] 1880 U S Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED #004, Page: 303D; Line 20, Dwelling 79, Family 79, Household of William B. Davis

Related articles

• Was Pt. Lookout, Maryland Comparable to Andersonville, Georgia (carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com)
• Chesterfield County Civil War Pensions (carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com)

Frederick F. Rivers, Civil War Soldier

Frederick F. Rivers was born about 1828 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina to Frederick F. Rivers and Siddie Boatwright.

In the 1850 Census[1] for Chesterfield county, SC he is listed in the household of his Father & Mother along with his brother Calvin and sister Sarah Rivers.

His Father died on 31 May 1860 and was buried in the Rivers Cemetery[2] in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

Frederick and his brother Calvin both served in the Civil War. Calvin, his brother, enlisted on 2 June 1862[3]. Frederick did not join right away, probably staying home to care for his Mother. On 19 February 1863, Frederick enlisted as a private in Company D, Aiken's Regiment, South Carolina Calvary, later known as the Sixth (6^th) Cavalry at Chesterfield, South Carolina[4]. The 6^th Calvary was known as the DIXIE RANGERS.

By March of 1863, the 6^th Calvary and Frederick was at Adams Run[5]. Adams Run is located about 20-25 miles West of Charleston, SC. It's a rural area and basically a crossroads. The road through the community was once known as Old Kings Highway.

They participated in The Wilderness and Cold Harbor operations[6].

The muster roll for July-Aug. 1863 showed Frederick was furlough sick for 30 days from 8 August 1863[7]. He returned back to duty on 1 September 1863 and was present throughout the rest of 1863. Most of 1864 was uneventful except for unserviceable horses until December 1864. By December 1864 his unit was near Stoney Creek , Tennessee. The Stony Creek Raid took place on 7-12 December 1864. Frederick never participated in the raid. He was captured on 1 December 1864 near Stoney Creek and was interred at Point Lookout, Maryland until his released on 17 June 1865. Many of his fellow soldiers were also incarcerated at Point Lookout and many died there including Andrew Rivers, son John B. & Eliza Rivers of and my great great grandfather Hezekiah Brock. Fredrick F. Rivers died shortly after returning from the war. There has been much publicity about the conditions of the Andersonville Prison in Georgia and the treatment of Yankee soldier. I can assure you that conditions at Point Lookout in Maryland for Southern prisoner of war were just as horrendous. Fredrick died 11 Jan 1866[8], 1 year 5 months 24 days after being released from Point Lookout, Maryland. There is no evidence that he ever married. His grave is marked with a Confederate tombstone[9] in the Rivers Cemetery.

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[1] 1850 U S Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, page 177B, Dwelling #1213, Family/1213, Household of Frederick Rivers Sr.; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed May 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851

[2] Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for Frederick Rivers; (3 November 1779–31 May 1860); Memorial # # 47259651; Record of the Rivers Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA; Accessed on November 2008.

[3] http://www.fold3.com/image/#20|65078201

[4] http://www.fold3.com/image/#20|65078249

[5] http://www.fold3.com/image/#20|65078280

[6] http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.cfm

[7] http://www.fold3.com/image/#20|65078300

[8] Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Chesterfield County Estate Records, Folder #103 (29 January 1866), Frederick F. Rivers, Died 11 Jan 1866; South Carolina State Archives, Columbia, South Carolina | www.familysearch.com.

[9] Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for Pvt. Frederick F. Rivers; (1828–11 January 1866); Memorial # # 47259387; Record of the Rivers Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA; Accessed on November 2008.

Was Pt. Lookout, Maryland Comparable to Andersonville, Georgia

In Days of Terror and a March to Death we learned of the capture of my 2^nd great grandfather and his death at Point Lookout Confederate POW camp.  

Point Lookout [1][2]is located on the southern tip of Maryland in Saint Mary's County.  It's eastern, western and southern borders are bounded on the west by the Potomac River and on the east by the waters of Chesapeake Bay.   The POW Camp (Camp Hoffman) was established after the Battle of Gettysburg to incarcerate captured confederate soldiers.   

It operated from August 1863 until June 1865. It was the largest and one of the worst POW Camp established in the North[3].  Remember in the above article that it was still in use on 12 June 1865 when my great great grandfather died while still incarcerated two months after the War has ended. 

My great great grandfather was a civilian when he was captured. The Point Lookout POW Organization[4] on their website states that "In March 1865, it was reported that 301 civilians were in Point Lookout Prison!  There are also records that show the imprisonment of four (4) ladies and two (2) babies. One baby was a son of Jane A. Perkins who was captured and imprisoned at the camp. Records keeping for this prison were deplorable.  

Over 52,000 prisoners passed through the gates of Point Lookout. Unfortunately, for over 8000 of them it was a one way trip.  The confederate prisoners in this camp suffered immensely. They suffered from scurvy, chronic diarrhea and dysentery, from typhoid and typhus; conditions were filthy and infested with rats, blankets and clothing was scare. In the winter it was freezing cold and prisoners froze to death. The winter of 1864 was quite severe. During the summer months the burning hot sand blistered their shoeless feet. They were housed in rotten tents filled with holes. If that is not enough misery add to their fears and bewilderment the senseless shooting of prisoners' by guards.

Of the 8000 plus soldier and civilians that did not survive their ordeal while incarcerated at Point Lookout only 3389 names are contained  on 12 Bronze Plaques affixed to a Marble Obelisk erected to honor the men who gave their all. Less than half of the men who died here have been identified and memorialized on these plaques. All the deceased prisoners were initially buried in individual graves marked with a wooden cross. The locality of the camp, below sea level, combined with severe winter freezing and hurricanes have resulted in the movement of all graves twice and with the final entombment of all prisoners in a single mass grave.

Statistic shows that Northern prison such as Point Lookout, Maryland and Elmira, New York were more brutal and deadly to the prisoner within than Andersonville. The death rate at Point Lookout was 25% while Andersonville[5], in the south, had a 24% death rate. At Elmira, New York the death rate was as astounding 44%.

After the war, the House of Representative appointed a committee to look into treatment of Union prisoners in the South but repeated request to extend these inquiries into the treatment of Confederate prisoners in the North went unanswered.

The North was swift in their trial and conviction of Major Henry Wirz[6], Commander of Andersonville for the alleged murder of prisoner in the South. While the cries from the south about death, malnutrition and shooting of prisoner were pushed aside. Major Henry Wirz was tried and hung in Washington, DC on November 10, 1865.

No union commander was ever punished or berated for their treatment of Confederate prisoners.

"To the Victor goes the Spoils"

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Lookout,_Maryland

[2] Edwin W. Beitzell, Point Lookout Prison Camp for Confederates (Leonardtown, Maryland: Saint Mary's County Historical Society, 1983).

[3] http://www.civilwar.n2genealogy.com/pow/md-point-lookout.html

[4] http://www.plpow.com/

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersonville_National_Historic_Site

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Wirz