Monday, May 26, 2014

War Service Records for David Averett

Civil War service papers for David Averett were found on Fold3.com and are displayed below. Collectively, they demonstrate several facts about his service in the Confederate Army. David F. Averett (1837—1927) enlisted on 3 July 1861 and served through the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865. The records documented here begin in May 1863 and end in March 1865. There are gaps but they contain information that is new to me in my genealogy research.

According to the FamilySearch.org website,
"Service records were kept for each Confederate soldier. Those records, or their abstracts, were compiled into individual files. Each envelope/jacket contains information and cross references to original records relating to the soldier … The records are in individual files, which usually include the following: a jacket-envelope for each soldier; a card or cards with abstracts of entries from original muster rolls, returns, rosters, payrolls, [etc.]; the originals of any papers relating only to the particular soldier."
The first part of this blog post summarizes what was found in that jacket-envelope for D.F. Averett.

1. The first card records that D.F. Averett, 1st Sergeant, Company A, 15th Alabama Infantry Regiment enlisted July 3, 1861 at Ft. Mitchell, Alabama for the duration of the war by a Captain Lawther. This information was repeated on most of the cards found in this file.

(Click images to enlarge.)

2. The first card also indicates that Averett appeared on company muster roll for May — June, 1863. Prior to that time there is no information in this file. He was last paid through April 30, 1863 by a Captain Furrentine [surname difficult to read]. He was shown as "present" on that muster roll.

3. The second card indicates that he appeared on the company muster roll for July — August, 1863. He had been paid through June 30, 1863 by a Captain Dawson. Again, the muster roll shows him as "present".

4. The third card records that he appeared as "present" on the company muster roll for September — October, 1863. He had been paid through August 30, 1863 by a Captain Feagin.

5. There were no records in this file for November — December, 1863.

6. The fourth card records that he was "present" on the company muster roll for January — February, 1864. He had not been paid since August 31, 1863.

7. There were no records in this file for March — April, 1864.

8. Card 5 indicats that his name had been recorded as "absent" on the company muster roll for May — June, 1864 because he was wounded in action on 6 May 1864 and was recovering in the "general hospital". Unfortunately, the record does not show where this hospital was located. He had still not been paid since 31 August 1863.

9. Card 6 showed that his name had appeared on company muster roll as "absent" for July — August, 1864. He was apparently released from the hospital on or about 6 August 1864 and received a 20-day furlough from that date. He had still not been paid since 31 August 1863.

Two furloughs are documented in this material on cards six and seven (check this), covering a total of fifty days and it is likely that there were more. He apparently went home to Alabama during his furloughs, possibly starting the journey as early as 6 August 1864, and may have returned to duty as late as March 1865. 

10. His name appeared on company muster roll as "absent" on the seventh card for September — October, 1864. He had been given a 30-day furlough either starting or ending on 28 October 1864. He was at last paid, presumably including his back pay, through 31 August 1864 by a Captain Sanford. 

11. The eighth card documented that Averett had received a "severe" head wound on 6 May 1864 and that his name had appeared on a 5 March 1865 list from 6 May 1864 to 5 March 1865 documenting casualties sustained by the 15th Alabama Infantry Regiment.

This implies that his recovery took ten months and it seems obvious that he was lucky to have survived. From other sources of information, we know that he married Martha Ann Rebecca Timmerman (1845—1927) on 8 December 1864 while home on furlough.

In an earlier post on this blog, I discussed having found, I believe, the specific area at the site of the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia at which he received this wound. I also showed two pictures taken later in his life in which the wound to his forehead is clearly shown. The story that I heard growing up indicated that the skin healed and covered the hole in his forehead but that the bone did not. He is said to have allowed one of his very young grandsons sitting on his lap to probe the skin over the hole with his finger.


In the his wife's 1927 obituary, Martha Averett was quoted:
"Mrs. Averett in speaking of her marriage, the war, and her life, said to a friend a few months ago that she was proud of that scar in her husband's forehead for it showed that he was facing the enemy."
Her obituary will appear in a future post on this blog. If only there were some way to know what else she talked about during that conversation. Perhaps someone kept a diary and wrote down what he or she recollected from that day. Perhaps someone reading this blog some day will have old letters or family stories that might give more information about what she thought.

12. According to the ninth card, Averett was detailed, via S.O. [Standing Order?] #68/12, to the “Dept.” [?] and Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee. on 16 March 1865. 

According to Averett's obituary in 1927, which also appeared in my earlier post, he role was a sharp shooter until he received his wound, and was afterward attached to General Lee’s headquarters as a courier. Based on the ninth card, we now know that that assignment occurred on 16 March 1865. He would be so employed for not quite a month, because Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865.


Parenthetically, I have questions about some of the information in this newspaper article. First, he was born in Georgia, not in Coosa County, Alabama. Second, Averett was wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness, although battles were often called different names by the two sides (e.g., Manassas versus Bull Run). In fact, four different battles were fought in the area: Fredericksburg (December 1862, Confederate victory); Chancellorsville (May 1863, Confederate victory); The Wilderness (May 1864, inconclusive result); and Spotsylvania Court House (May 1864, also inconclusive). The first “Battle of the Wilderness” might have been referring to the 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville. I may be able to assess this with more certainty as my knowledge of Civil War history increases with reading and time. Third, Averett and his family moved to Louisiana from Alabama in 1877, instead of immediately after the end of the war. Still, he lived in Louisiana for fifty years, which is almost the same.

The documentation and transcription supporting the information in the summary above are displayed below. Some portions of the images downloaded from Fold3.com are overexposed and are difficult to read. I did the best I could by attempting to "enhance" the images with photo processing software. Although I am not an expert in doing this, I was eventually able to read most of the handwriting. 

According to Fold3.com, the information and the service record images shown below are from Publication No. M311, Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Alabama, National Archives Catalog ID 586957, Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Confederate Organizations, compiled 1903—1927, documenting the period 1861—1865, Record Group 109, State of Alabama, Roll No. 0240, Fifteenth Alabama Infantry Regiment.

Image 1 of 11: Envelope/jacket.


76
Averrett, D.F.
Co. A, 15 Alabama Infantry.
(Confederate.)
1st Sergeant 1st Sergeant
Card numbers.
1. 44582574
2. 2638
3. 2702
4. 2763
5. 2820
6. 2877
7. 2929

Image 2 of 11 (Card 1): May—June 1863.


Confederate A 15 Ala.
D.F. Averrett
1st Sgt., Co. A, 15th Reg’t Alabama Infantry.

Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for May & June, 1863.

Enlisted:
When: July 3, 1861
Where: Ft. Mitchell, Ala.
By whom. Capt. Lowther Period: War

Last paid:
By whom: Capt Furrentine[?]
To what time: Apl 30., 1863
Present or absent: Present

Image 3 of 11 (Card 2): July—August 1863.


Confederate
A 15 Ala.
D.F. Averrett
1st Sgt., Co. A, 15th Reg’t Alabama Infantry.

Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for July & Aug., 186.

Enlisted:
When: July 3, 1861
Where: Ft. Mitchell
By whom: Capt. Lowther
Period: War.

Last paid:
By whom: Capt. Dawson
To what time: June 30, 1863.
Present or absent: Present

Image 4 of 11 (Card 3): September—October 1863.


Confederate.
A 15 Ala.
D.F. Averrett
1st Sgt., Co. A, 15th Reg’t Alabama Infantry.
Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for Sept and Oct., 1863.

Enlisted:
When: July 3, 1861.
Where: Ft. Mitchell
By whom: Capt Lawther
Period: War

Last paid:
By whom: Capt Feagan
To what time: Aug 31, 1863

Present or absent: Present

Image 5 of 11 (Card 4): January—February 1864.


Confederate
A 15 Ala.
D.F. Averrett
1st Sgt., Co. A, 15th Reg’t Alabama Infantry.
Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for Jany & Feby, 1864.

Enlisted:
When: July 3, 1861.
Where: Ft. Mitchell
By whom: Capt Lawther
Period: War

Last paid:
By whom: Capt Feagin
To what time: Aug. 31, 1863

Present or absent: Present

Image 6 of 11 (Card 5): May—June 1864.


Confederate
A 15 Ala.
D.F. Averrett
1st Sgt., Co. A, 15th Reg’t Alabama Infantry.
Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for May & June, 1864.

Enlisted:
When: July 3, 1861.
Where: Ft. Mitchell
By whom: Capt. Lowther
Period: War

Last Paid:
By whom: Capt Feagin
To what time: Aug. 31, 1863.

Present or absent: Absent
Remarks: General Hospital. Wounded in action May 6, 64.

Image 7 of 11 (Card 6): July—August 1864.


Confederate
A 15 Ala.
D.F. Averrett
1st Sgt., Co. A, 15th Reg’t Alabama Infantry. Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for July & Aug., 1864.

Enlisted:
When: July 3, 1861
Where: Ft. Mitchell
By whom: Capt. Lawther
Period: War

Last paid:
By whom: Capt. Feagin
To what time: Aug. 31, 1863.
Present or absent: Absent.
Remarks: Furlough from Hospital for 20 days from Aug. 6, 64.

Image 8 of 11 (Card 7): September—October 1864.


Confederate.
A 15 Ala.
D.F. Averrett
1st Sgt., Co. A, 15th Reg’t Alabama Infantry. Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for Sept & Oct., 1864

Enlisted:
When: July 3, 1861.
Where: Ft. Mitchell, Ala.
By whom: Capt. Lawther
Period: War

Last paid:
By whom: Capt. Sanford
To what time: Aug. 31, 1864.
Present or absent: Absent
Remarks: On furlough for 30 days 28 Oct. 64.

Image 9 of 11 (Card 8): List of Casualties for May 1864 — March 1865.


Confederate
A 15 Ala.
D.F. Averrett
1st Sgt., Co. A, 15th Reg’t Alabama Infantry.
Appears on a List of casualties, of the 15th Ala. Reg’t., from May 6, 1864 to March 5, 1865.

List dated: Mar 5, 1865.
Date of reception of wound: May 6, 1864.

Place and character of wound: head, severe

Series 1, Vol. 36, part 1, page 1060 A.[?] Tillman, Copyist
1371

Image 10 of 11 (Card 9): Detailed to Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.


Annett, D.F.
Sgt. Co A,
15th Ala. Reg.

Detailed

S.O. #68/12
Dept. & Army No. Va. Lee
Mar. 16/65 

Image 11 of 11: Envelope/jacket.

77
Averitt, D.F.
Co. A, 15 Alabama Infantry.
(Confederate.)
1 Sergeant 1 Sergeant

Reference Envelope.
Cards file with
Averrett, D.F.

Friday, May 23, 2014

David and Martha Averett Family in the 1870 US Census

David Franklin Averett (1837-1927) and Martha Ann Rebecca Timmerman (1847-1927) married in December 1864 while David was at home recovering from wounds suffered in the Battle of the Wilderness in May 1864. He survived the war and returned to Martha after Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, of which he was a part, surrendered at Appomattox in April 1865.

David and Martha Averett appeared in the 1870 US Census in Elmore County, Alabama, along with their first two children, John Averett (1865-1956) and Mary Maude Averett (1867-1948).

(Click images to enlarge.)
Source citation:  Year:  1870; Census Place:  Township 19, Elmore, Alabama; Roll: M593_15; Page: 109A; Image: 410; Family History Library Film: 545514.

Information having to do with their family is transcribed as follows.

Page 135
Schedule 1. — Inhabitants in Township 19, in the County of Elmore, State of Alabama, enumerated by me on the 28th day of July, 1870.
Post Office: Chanahatchee
[signed] J.B. [Kerwin?], Ass’t Marshal.

  • Line 25: D.F. Averette; age: 32 years; sex: male; race: white; occupation: farmer; value of real estate: $500; value of personal estate: $480; place of birth: Georgia; parents not of foreign birth; could read and write; was a male citizen of the U.S. of 21 years of age and upwards; his right to vote was not denied on other grounds than rebellion or other crime. [Did he have the right to vote at this time? Confederate soldiers were presumably allowed to regain their U.S. citizenship after having sworn to uphold the Constitution and abide by the results of the war, to include recognition that the former slaves had been legally and permanently freed. Are there records that might list his name?]
  • Line 26: M.A.R. Averette; age: 24 years; sex: female; race: white; occupation: keeping house; place of birth: Alabama; parents not of foreign birth; could read and write
  • Line 27: John Averette; age: 4 years; sex: male; race: white; place of birth: Alabama
  • Line 28: Mary Averette; age 2 years; sex: female; race: white; place of birth: Alabama. [Mary Maude Averett (1867-1948) was my 2nd great grandmother.]
Names and occupations of their neighbors can be seen from nearby pages of the census. Almost all households appear to be farming families or people hired to work on those farms. And it turns out that David and Martha Averett lived near relatives and probable relatives.
  • Page 133:
    • Family 937: Benjamin Mason (farmer), Nancy Mason (keeping house), Rody Mason, Elizabeth Mason, Charles Mason (farm laborer), William Mason (farm laborer), Sarah Mason, Benjamin Mason, John Mason, Abraham Pullen, Leddie Pullen
    • Family 938: J.E. Anderson (farmer), Elezabeth Anderson (keeping house), J.P. Anderson (teaching school), Mary Anderson, Willie Anderson, Salina Anderson, James Anderson
    • Family 939: Isham Pollard (farm laborer), Rachel Pollard (keeping house), Louisa Pollard (farm laborer), Ellen Pollard, John Pollard, Eb Goss [This family was a black family. Were they former slaves? Were they the former “property” of some of the white people listed on these census sheets? Possibly of J.E. Anderson above or Burton Todd below?]
    • Family 940: Burton Todd, Elizabeth Todd, Thomas Todd, Hattie Todd, Charley Todd, Benjamin Todd, Budar Todd, Pinkney Todd
    • Family 941: James Averett (farmer, real estate $600 — equivalent to $10,700 dollars in 2014, personal estate $500 ($8900)), Mary Averett (keeping house), Nancy Averett, Webster Averett (farm laborer), Rebecca Averett, Romulus Averett (farm laborer), Charley Averett [I think Nancy Averett, Webster Averett, Rebecca Averett, Romulus Averett, and Charles or Charley Averett were siblings of David Averett. Mary Averett may have been the mother of David Averett. According to this census, she was 50 years of age in 1870, which means she was born about 1820. My data currently shows David’s mother, Mary Averett, as born around 1815. But I have also seen the birth year given as 1812. But who is James Averett?]


  • Pages 134—135:
    • Family 942: Jeremiah McCissick (farmer, real estate $1200 ($21,400), personal estate $1000 ($17,800)), Sarah McCissick (keeping house), Ida McCissick, Lula McCissick, Annah McCissick, Fletcher McCissick, Minnie McCissick, N.B. McCissick [McCissick or McKissick may have been related to Martha TIMMERMAN Averett, the wife of David Averett. The reason it might be true is tenuous: She had a brother named James McKissick Timmerman (1835-1863) who died of wounds suffered at the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, a Confederate victory.]
    • Family 943: Green Teal (farmer), Matilda Teal (keeping house), Julia Teal, Amanda Teal, Margaret Teal, Charley Teal, Mallery Teal
    • Family 944: F.W. Timmerman (farmer, real estate $800 ($14,300), personal estate $300 ($5400)), Timnah (keeping house) [F.W. and Timnah Timmerman are the parents of Martha TIMMERMAN Averett.]
    • Family 945: John Redin (farmer), Sarah Redin (keeping house), John Redin (farm laborer), Mary Redin, William Redin, Frances Redin, James Redin, Louilla Redin
    • Family 946: John Manning (farmer), Nancy Manning (keeping house), Mallissa Manning
    • Family 947: Ellis Harden (farmer), Eliza Hardin (keeping house), Theressa Harden, Hiram Harddn, Martha Harden, John Harden, Susan Harden, William Harden, George Harden
    • Family 948: T. Tinsley (farmer), Elizabeth Tinsley (keeping house), Alonza Tinsley (farm laborer), Narsissus Tinsley, Tarply Tinsley, Lougenia Tinsley, Gardner Tinsley, Ida Tinsley, Thomas Tinsley, Stella Tinsley




  • Pages 135—136:
    • Family 949: S. Canterburg (keeping house), Fitesque Canterburg (farm laborer), Marcus Canterburg, Elizabeth Canterburg, William Canterburg, James Harris (farm laborer), Caroline Harris, Quinn Richardson, Louis Mitcheal (farm laborer) [Richardson and Mithceal were also black. Again, were they former slaves? Were they formerly the “property” of the Canterburg’s?]
    • Family 950: Evans Chatman (farmer), Roma Chatman (keeping house), Henry Chatman (farm laborer), James Chatman (farm laborer), Ewan Chatman, Minnia Chatman, James Wallace (farm laborer), Martina Wallace (keeping house)
    • Family 951: D.F. Averette (farmer, real estate $500 ($8900), personal estate $480 ($8600)), M.A.R. Averette (keeping house), John Averette, Mary Averette
    • Family 952: M.J. Ray (keeping house), Emily Ray, Lourena Ray, Margaret Ray, Druward Ray, J.M. Burson, Sarah Burson
    • Family 953: C. Buckner (farmer), Sarah Buckner (keeping house), Elizabeth Buckner, William Ferren, Charles Ferren, M.E. Patterson


  • Pages 136—137:
    • Family 954: William Wood (farmer), Elvira Wood (keeping house)
    • Family 955: J.E. Patterson (farmer), Margaret Patterson (keeping house), Charles Patterson (farm laborer), William Patterson, Margaret Patterson, George Patterson, Lucy Patterson
    • Family 956: B. Martin (farm laborer), Mary Martin (keeping house), Elizabeth Martin, Benjamin Martin, Sarah Martin, John Martin
    • Family 957: Elija Taylor (farm laborer), Rachel Taylor (keeping house), Jefferson Taylor (farm laborer), Elija Taylor (farm laborer), Louisa Taylor, Lovic Gibson, Emiline Gibson [Also a black family and also possibly emancipated slaves. Were they hired by the Martin family or by the Brown family, which could be implied by their geographical proximity?]
    • Family 958: Miles Brown (farmer), Sarah Brown (keeping house), Jane Brown, Fannie Brown, Emma Brown, James Brown, Susan Brown, Almira Powers, Nancy Powers
    • Family 959: K.H. Scogin (farmer), Margaret Scogin (keeping house), Sarah Scogin, Mary Scogin, Catherine Scogin, Barton Rush
    • Family 960: F. Chrietzberg (farm laborer), Mary Chrietzberg (keeping house), Alonza [Alonzo?] Chrietzberg, Henry Chrietzberg
  • Pages 137—138:
    • Family 961: Louis Williams (black, farm laborer), Harriet Williams (black, keeping house), Williams Williams (black, farm laborer), James Williams (black, farm laborer)
    • Family 962: David James (farmer), Nancy James (keeping house), John James, Mary Ann James, Quinn James
    • Family 963: Miles Wallace (farmer), Annie Wallace (keeping house), D.A. Buchner, John Buchner (farm laborer)
    • Family 964: George Pullin (farmer), Mary Pullin (keeping house), Charlotte Pullin, Emily Pullin, James Pullin (farmer laborer), Thomas Pullin (farm laborer), Alex Pullin, Abram Pullin, Charley Pullin
    • Family 965: Richmond Ferrel (farmer), Fannie Ferrel (keeping house), Martha Ferrel, Joseph Ferrel, Stanly Ferrel
    • Family 966: M.A. Terrel (farm laborer), Agnes Terrel (keeping house), Hiram Terrel
    • Family 967: E.B. Ward (farmer), Rachel Ward (keeping house)
    • Family 968: John Tucker (farm laborer), Polly Ann Tucker (keeping house), Mary Ann Tucker
    • Family 969: Vina Mote (keeping house), Hiram Honey (farmer), Catherine Honey (keeping house), William Honey, Mary Honey, Wm Goodson (farm laborer), Texana Goodson, Baker Thomas (farm laborer), Ben Goodson (farm laborer)
  • Page 138
    • Familes 970—971...
    • Family 974: Nathan Ledbetter (miller, value of real estate not shown, value of personal estate not shown), Massouri Ledbetter (keeping house) [Possible relatives of Mary LEDBETTER Averett (~1815—unknown), the mother of David Averett (1837—1927).]


So, where is Chanahatchee, the location of the nearest post office? It is not easy to find on Google. A person named Vicky Schuller queried the message boards on Genealogy.com in the year 2000 about the location of "Township 19, Chanahatchee, Tallapoosa County in the 1850 US Census.”


A person named Margaret Stearns Payne replied a couple of days later, saying that “Chanahatchee is now a part of Elmore County. It is more commonly referred to as Chana Creek. It is a small community close to the town of Eclectic Alabama. Elmore County was formed in [the] 1860s from Tallapoosa, Coosa, Autauga, and Montgomery Counties. Not much there now except some small Primitive Baptist Churches, their adjoining cemeteries, farms, and residences."


One of the very few resources that gives location information about Chattahatchee is a weather forecast page for Chana Creek, Alabama. It has a small map that looks like this:


The town of Electric, Alabama (32.6416606 deg N -86.0409 deg E) is, according to Google Maps, a part of the Montgomery, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. I was also able to find the Chana Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Elmore County, Alabama (32.619669 deg N -85.98923 deg E), which is 3.2 miles from the town of Eclectic.


So far, this is my best estimate of where the Chanahatchee Post Office mentioned in the 1870 US Census was located. This is what the area looks like in the satellite photo from Google Earth (on 22 May 2014). It seems to match the description of "some small Primitive Baptist Churches, their adjoining cemeteries, farms, and residences” fairly well. The location of Chana Creek relative to Dadeville (the county seat of Tallapoosa County where the Tallapoosa Times, the Dadeville Banner, and the Dadeville Banner and Times newspapers were published) and to Montgomery (the state capital of Alabama, the first capital of the Confederate States, and the location where the Daily Confederation and the Daily Montgomery Ledger, and the Daily Advertiser were published at the time). It will be shown in a future post on this blog that the part of Elmore County in which Chana Creek is located was part of Tallapoosa County until 1866, until the new county of Elmore was founded and that this change is reflected in the 1860 and 1870 US Census data for David Averett and his family.


The next screenshot from Google Earth shows the location of Chana Creek Primitive Baptist Church relative to the town of Eclectic and a second, nearby Primitive Baptist Church.


The last screenshot shows what the land around Chana Creek looks like on 11 September 2012, according to Google Earth data displayed.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

War Service Records of John O. Jackson (1834-1861)

The Fold3.com web site recently offered two weeks free access to their Civil War records and I was able to find service records for some of my ancestors in the Confederate Army. Among them were:

  • Elphege Joseph Dugas (1846–1896), my 2nd great grandfather, who was a Private in Company H, 28th (“Thomas’”) Louisiana Infantry Regiment and was captured on 3 July 1863 when Vicksburg, Mississippi fell to U.S. Grant. He was paroled and released the next day, a practice on both sides that was not suspended until later in the war when it was realized on the Federal side that, owing to the much smaller resources of the Confederate Army in men (and materiel), the practice was disproportionally advantageous to the Confederate cause. Many parolees on both sides rejoined their units after their release, although the agreement they signed prohibited them from doing so. Elphege Dugas did not do so and, unfortunately, his widow Emma MARTIN Dugas (1858–1924) was denied a Confederate widow’s pension in the 1920s because of that.
  • John O. Jackson (1834–1861), my 3rd great grandfather, who was a Private in Company E, 19th Alabama Infantry Regiment, who died of disease in a Confederate Army camp in Huntsville, Alabama on 16 October 1861.
  • John L. Averett (1843–1862), my 3rd great grand uncle, brother of David Franklin Averett (1837–1927) who was a Corporal in Company F, 13th Alabama Infantry Regiment and died of disease in a Confederate Army camp in Yorktown, Virginia.
  • James McKissick Timmerman (1834–1863), my 3rd great grand uncle, who was a Private in Company K, 24th Alabama Infantry Regiment (incomplete records), who died 21 September 1863 in the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia.
  • William Jasper Pyron (1843–1921), my 3rd great grand uncle, who was a Private in Company B, 56th Georgia Infantry Regiment, (incomplete records) who survived the war.
I believe there are more to be found, including

  • Alvis Early Averett (1845—unknown), who survived the war and moved to California. He was another brother of my 3rd great grandfather David Franklin Averett (1837-1927).
Alas, I did not find service records for David Averett at Fold3.com. I wonder if this is due to the fact that he surrendered with his regiment at Appomatox Court House, Virginia with General Lee’s Army of Northern in Virginia in April 1865 — and that the Confederate government had virtually ceased to exist by that time, having abandoned Richmond, Virginia shortly before.

This post documents the files found in the service records of John O. Jackson (1834–1861), whose grave I visited in Hunstville, Alabama in March 2014. The source of the his records found at Fold3.com web site was Publication No. M311 Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Alabama, The National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives Catalog ID 586957, Record Group 109, State of Alabama, Roll 0274, Nineteenth Infantry:

Owing to my own inexperience with reading these records, I do not know the meaning of all notations written on the papers and will update this blog post in the future as I become more knowledgeable.

The first image is the scanned image of the outside of the folder that contained his records. They are transcribed as follows.

1026
Jackson, John O.
Co. E, 19 Alabama Infantry.
(Confederate.)

Private Private

Card Numbers.
44606306
50445921

Number of medical cards herein: 0
Number of personal papers herein: 0

Book Mark: [left blank]
See also: [left blank]



The second image is a card containing information from a Company Muster Roll for the 19th Alabama Infantry Regiment in which his name appeared. My impression is that, as information was requested about specific soldiers, a clerk would locate the archived information and copy it out on one of several standard forms, which would then be included in the soldier’s service record in a separate location. The information on this particular card is transcribed as follows:

(Confederate.)
J 19 Ala.
John O. Jackson
Pvt, Co. E, 19 Reg’t Alabama Infantry.

Appears on

Company Muster Roll

of the organization named above, For Aug. 12 to Oct 31, 1861.

Enlisted:
When: Aug 12, 1861.
Where: Kirks Grove, Ala.
By whom: Capt Kirkpatrick
Period: 3 yrs

Last paid:
By whom:
Pay due from Enrolmt [Enrollment]
To what time: [blank], 186[blank]

Present or absent
Remarks: Died Oct 16, 1861, Hunstville, Ala.

Book mark: [blank]
[signed] W.J. Hearst
Copyist.
(642)


The next card records the appearance of the name of John O. Jackson due to his widow’s claim of his back pay, his enlistment bounty, and money found on his clothing after he died prior to burial. It is transcribed as follows.

(CONFEDERATE.)
J 19 Ala.

John O. Jackson
Co. C. [error:  should be E?] 19 Regt

Name appears on a

Register

of Claims of deceased Officers and Soldiers from Alabama which were filed for settlement in the Office of the Confederate States Auditor for the War Department.

By whom presented: A.E. Jackson [his widow, Atharilla Elizabeth Roberts (1833–1908)]

When filed: March 4, 1863
Where born: [left blank]
Where died: Huntsville, Ala.

Comptroller:
When reported to: July 21, 1864.
When returned: July 23, 1864.

Number of settlements:
Certficates: 17406
Report: [left blank]

Amount found due: $99.20
By whom paid: [left blank]
No. Of Paymasters’ Settlements: [left blank]
Abstract and No. Of Voucher: [left blank]

Confed. Arch, Chap. 10, File No. 26, page 63.

[signed] J. Cary [?]
Copyist
(635)


The next card records his name appearing on a register of deceased Confederate soldiers, along with some of his information.

(CONFEDERATE.)
J 19 Ala

J.O. Jackson
Co. E 19 Regt

Name appears on a

Register*

of Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Confederate States who were killed in battle, or who died of wounds or disease.

Where born: [left blank]
When deceased: Oct. 16, 1861.
Where and from what cause: Huntsville, Ala
Amount of money left: [left blank]
Effects: [left blank]
In whose charge: [left blank]
When received: March 18, 1864
Number of certificate: 62
Remarks: [left blank]

* This register appears to have been compiled in the Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office from returns furnished by Hospitals and by Regimental and Company Officers.

Confed. Arch., Chap. 10, File No. 2, page 138.

[signed] G. C. West
Copyist.
(635)
3014


The next card is similar but provides a bit more information that did not appear on the first card, namely that he died of disease in camp.

(CONFEDERATE.)
J 19 Ala

John O. Jackson
Co. E 19 Regt

Name appears on a

Register*

of Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Confederate States who were killed in battle, or who died of wounds or disease.

Where born: [left blank]
When deceased: Oct. 16, 1861.
Where and from what cause: Huntsville, Ala. Disease.
Amount of money left: [left blank]
Effects: [left blank]
In whose charge: [left blank]
When received: [left blank]
Number of certificate: [left blank]
Remarks: [left blank]

* This register appears to have been compiled in the Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office from returns furnished by Hospitals and by Regimental and Company Officers.

Confed. Arch., Chap. 10, File No. 2, page 133.
[signed] G. C. West
Copyist.
(635)
3014


The next card reports on the disposal of property of deceased Confederate soldiers. For John O. Jackson, he had no effects to be given to his family, except for $7.40 found in his pockets after he died. It also states that he was due back pay from the time of his enlistment in the Confederate Army. 

(CONFEDERATE.)
J 19 Ala

John O. Jackson
Pvt. Co. E. 19 Regt Ala. P.A [I don’t know what “P.A” means]

Appears on a

Register

containing a record of the Property of Deceased Confederate Soldiers.

Date: Nov. 14, 1861.
Died: in Hunstville
Oct. 16, 1861

Remarks: No effects. Entitled to pay from 12th of Aug 1861 & $7.40 on clothing.

Confed. Arch., Chap. 1, File No. 27, page 160.

[signed] L.E. Fehl
Copyist.
(635)
(5649)


The next record appears to be a cover sheet for folded records used to settle accounts with the widow of John O. Jackson.

[unreadable handwritten notations]

No. 17,406.

Account.

John O. Jackson, Deceased.
Private of Capt. Israel’s
Co. E, 19 Alabama Reg’t.

Due: $99.20

APPROPRIATION. Pay of officers and privates of the army — volunteers, militia, &c.

Reported: July 20, 1864.
Confirmed: July 23, 1864.


The other side of that cover sheet reads as follows:

THE CONFEDERATE STATES,

To: Atharilla E. Jackson, Widow of
John O. Jackson, deceased,
Late private of Capt. M.M. Israel Co. E,
19 Reg’t Alabama Volunteers Dr.

For pay of said deceased from 12 August 1861 when enlisted to 16 October 1861 When he died.
Two months & six days at $11 per mo. $24.20
Comniulation [difficult to read handwriting: should be “commutation” or “the payment substituted”?] for clothing: $25.00
Bounty Fifty dollars $50.00

Due: $99.20

As per report of G.J. Williams herewith
Payable to: Atharilia E. Jackson Widow
Care of A. Woods Jacksonville Alabama

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
SECOND AUDITOR’S OFFICE,
July 21, 1864.

[signature difficult to read] Clerk.

COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE,

July 23, 1864.

[signature portion difficult to read] Hester, Clerk.


The next image appears to be the cover of another packet of records for settlement with the family of Jackson.

No. 62.
J.O. Jackson
Co. E
19 Ala.

[handwritten difficult to read]

Mar. 4/63 [March 4, 1863]
Order 80 15 Feby 1864 [15 February 1864]


The other side of that page consists of two forms, which read as follows:

FORM NO. 4.

I CERTIFY that the within named John O. Jackson a Priv’t of Captain M.M. Israel’s Company (E) of the 19th Regt. of Ala Vols [Alabama Volunteers] born in [difficult to read handwriting] in the State of Georgia, aged 24 [incorrect, should be 26: born 17 Dec 1834, died 16 Oct 1861] years, 5 feet, 8 inches high, fair complexion, blue eyes, Dark hair, and by occupation a Farmer was enlisted by Capt. Kirkpatrick at Kirksgrove Ala. on the 12th day of Aug, 1861, to serve three years, and is now entitled to a discharge by reason of died in hospital, Huntsville Ala Oct 16th 1861.

The said Soldier was last paid by due pay to include the [badly focused printing difficult to read] day of [handwriting difficult to read] from[?] enlistment[?] and has pay due from that date to the present date, day of his death.

There is due to him [left blank] Dollars traveling allowance from [left blank], the place of discharge, to [left blank] the place of enrollment, transportation not being furnished in kind.

There is due him 23 46/100 bounty for enlisting 50.00 dollars,

He is indebted to the Confederate States [left blank] dollars,
Account of [left blank]

Given in duplicate at Walton GA , this 6th day of January, 1864.

[signed] Joseph Williamson, [handwriting difficult to read], Commanding Company.


FORM NO. 5. — Account to be made by the Quartermaster.

For pay from 12 of Aug, 1861, to 16 of Oct 1861, being 2 months and 4 days, at 11 dollars per month, 23.46

For pay for traveling from [left blank] [handwritten: Commlation?, for clothing not drawn [handwriting difficult to read] to [left blank], being [left blank] miles, at ten cents per mile [left blank] 8.62

[handwritten: Bounty for Enlistment] 50.00
Amount ………… 82.08
Deduct for Clothing overdrawn, …………… [left blank]
Balance paid, ………… [left blank]

Received of [left blank], C.S. Army, this [left blank] day of [left blank] 186[left blank]

[left blank] Dollars and [left blank] Cents, in full of the above account.

[left blank] [SIGNED DUPLICATE.]

WITNESS: [left blank]

Note that I do not currently know where in Georgia he was born and I am not quite able to read the name of the town noted in red. If anyone reading this blog post can read it or otherwise knows the information, I would be grateful if you would post it in a comment below.


A bureaucratic form to further confirm the settlement from the point of view of the Confederate government:

Treasury Department, Second Auditor’s Office,

Sept. 4, 1863.

THE ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR GENERAL, C.S.,

SIR:

Please report me the term of enlistment and the service and death &c., of John O. Jackson Dec’d late Pr [Private?] of Captain Kirkpatrick’s Company E 19 Regiment Ala. Vols.

Very respectfully, &c.,

Alleged, died Oct. 16 1861.

[signature difficult to read]
Ch. Div. Deceased Soldiers.

[handwritten:]
Enld [Enlisted]
12th Aug 1861 [for the duration of the?] war
Died 16th Octo 1861.


And another:

Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office,
Richmond, Va. Jany 6th 1864

It appears from the Muster Roll of Capt Kirkpatrick Company, (E) of the 19 Regiment Ala Volunteers, on file in this office, that Jno O Jackson of his Company was enlisted for war 12th Augs 1861, and died on the 16th Oct 1861.

[signed]
Ed. A. Palfrey
Lt. Col. & A.A. Gen’l.


Finally, Jackson’s widow apparently had to submit an affidavit certifying that she was his widow. I know very little about probate law and assume this was necessary.

THE STATE OF ALABAMA,
CALHOUN COUNTY.

I ALEXANDER WOODS, Judge of the Court of Probate in and for said State and County, hereby certify that Calvin M Wheeler [handwriting difficult to read] whose genuine signature appears to the within and foregoing [handwriting difficult to read] affidavit [handwriting difficult to read] certificate is and was at the time of certifying and attesting the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said county of Calhoun, duly commissioned and sworn according to law; and all his official acts are and ought to be entitled to full faith and credit. I further certify that I am the Clerk of said Court as well as Judge of the same, and that there is no other presiding magistrate of said court other than myself; that said court is a court of record, having a seal annexed thereto, and that this certificate is in due form of law and by the proper officer.

All of which I certify under my hand and the seal of said Court, at Office in the Town of Jacksonville, Alabama, on the 11th day of October A.D. 1862. [handwritten notation difficult to read] A. Woods, Judge of Probate.

[Handwritten]
John O. Jackson
[handwriting difficult to read] Kirkpatrick
Co. [left blank] 19 Ala

A.E. Jackson
wid [widow]

R 4 Mar 1863.

[handwritten notation difficult to read]

Sept. 4, 1863.
[handwriting difficult to read]

Address A Woods
Jacksonville
Ala


More of the affidavit:

[Handwritten]
The State of Alabama
Calhoun County

On this 23rd day of August 1862 personally appeared before me Calvin M. Wheeler a Justice of the peace in and for said County of Calhoun Athariles E. Jackson a resident of said county of Calhoun, who being duly sworn by me according to Law States on [Oath?] that she is the late wife and now the widow of John O. Jackson deceased, that on the the 13th day of August 1861 the said John O. Jackson was mustered in to the Army of the Confederate States as a private for the War, at Huntsville Ala, [handwriting difficult to read] Co. Commanded by Capt. D[?] Kirkpatrick 19th Regt commanded by Col. Whales[?] Ala Vols that on the 16th day of October 1861 the said John O. Jackson departed this life at the Hospital in said Huntsville Ala, and and affiant as the widow and legal heir of the said John O. Jackson deceased [handwriting difficult to read] this affidavit for the purpose of obtaining the [handwriting difficult to read: Military pay account….?] while was [handwriting difficult to read] the said John O. Jackson at the time of his death on account of his service in said Company & Regiment, he having served in said Co. & Regt two months & 2 days without having drawn anything for his service, affiant further states that she has been [handwriting difficult to read] upon the Estate of the said John O. Jackson deceased. Sworn to & subscribed before me this 23rd day of August A.D. 1862.

Atharila E Jackson (X her mark)

Calvin M. Wheeler, J.P.[?]

I am puzzled by the use of “her mark” because each of the U.S. Census returns on which she appears indicate that all members of her family above the appropriate age, including her, were able to read and write. Except for this one bit of evidence, I have no reason to doubt that she was able to do so.

Further:

We, Joshua Roberts & John D. Cheatwood hereby certify that we reside in Calhoun in the State of Alabama that the foregoing affidavit made by Atharila E. Jackson was signed and acknowledged[?] by her in our presence, that we have [handwriting difficult to read] said Athariler E. Jackson personally for many years, as well as her deceased husband John O. Jackson in his lifetime mentioned in the foregoing affidavit all residing in the said neighborhood in said County of Calhoun, that we therefore State from personal knowledge, that the said Athariles E. Jackson & John O. Jackson lived together as man & wife & were so regarded by the community in which they lived, and we further State that the said Athariler E. Jackson is a Lady of [handwriting difficult to read] and veracity, and we are satisfied that the facts deposed to by her in the foregoing affidavit are true, we further State that we have no interest in the final result of the prosecution of this claim, sworn [and?] subscribed before me this 23rd day of August 21, A.D. 1862.

[signed] John D. Cheatwood

Calvin M. Wheeler J.P.[?]

Note: I think it is likely that this Joshua Roberts was the father, Joshua Robert (1795–1876), of Atharilla E. ROBERTS Jackson (1833–1908). I do not know who John D. Cheatwood might have been. It may or may not be relevant that the neighbors and good friends of the William Joseph Jackson (1881–1956) and Monnie Ethel WATTS Jackson (1885–1985) family in northern Louisiana was named Cheatwood. If there is a connection, it will need some kind of evidence that has yet to be found by me.


And finally:

I [space left blank] a Justice of the peace in and for Calhoun /County, State of Alabama hereby certify that the foregoing affidavit made by Athariles E. Jackson was signed and acknowledged by her in my presence, that the foregoing certificate made by Josehua Roberts & John D. Cheatwood was also signed and acknowledged by them in my presence, and Know that they are credible Witnesses residing in said County of Calhoun, & I further know that the said Athariles E. Jackson the claimant is the identical person she represents herself to be.

Given under my hand this 23rd day of August 1862
Calvin M. Wheeler J.P.[?]