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Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Williamson County's Fort Negley connections

On Saturday, December 2nd at 4 pm, Fort Negley Park hosted a ceremony to honor the people behind the 2,771 names listed in the "Employment Rolls and Nonpayment Rolls of Negroes Employed in the Defenses of Nashville, Tennessee, 1862-1863." 

Dr. Eleanor Fleming, a Franklin native, participated in that program.  She was also interviewed as part of the Fort Negley Descendants Project - her interview appears here:

Many of those people who helped build Fort Negley - like Dr. Fleming's descendants - were from Williamson County.  So far, I have identified more than fifty men specifically.  I suspect the numbers are far higher.  Below is a list of their names, and if I have written blog posts about them, I have hyperlinked their names to those posts.  I encourage you to attend the ceremony on Saturday if you are able, and to remember these men.  Consider what they managed to accomplish - not just for themselves, but for their families, their futures and their country.  And if you think, or know, that you descend from a laborer on the fortifications around Nashville, please consider joining the fight to save Fort Negley Park.  Even if you aren't related to one of these laborers, but you believe its the right thing to do, as I do, to preserve a place to tell and honor their service and stories, please join the effort, in honor of these men:
  1. James (Jim) Allison - listed as laborer #1987 enslaved by A. Allison; James appears back in Williamson County farming in 1870, 30 years old, married to his wife Mary with four children.
  2. Joseph Allison/Ellison - listed as laborer # 2283 enslaved by T. Allison; Joseph appears back in Williamson County farming in 1870, 33 years old, married to his wife Jane with two children; after Jane's death he would marry Mariah Crutcher Scruggs, the great-grandmother and great-greatgrandmother of several people living today in Franklin
  3. Charles Alexander - two men with this name are listed as laborers #775, 1607; Charles appears back in Williamson County farming in 1870, 30 years old, married to his wife Dicey with five children.
  4. James Andrews (USCT) - listed as laborer # 2278 enslaved by L. Andrews; James enlisted in the 12th US Colored Infantry and served as a waggoner; he mustered out January 16, 1866 in Nashville; in 1870 he appears in Williamson County, I think living with his brother and his brother's family
  5. Austin Beach [Bench] (USCT) - two men with this name laborers #498, 2319; Austin was born in Franklin and enlisted in the 12th US Colored Infantry in Nashville on August 12, 1863; he was discharged due to disability on October 28 1863 at the Elk River.
  6. Wm. (Bill) Beasley - listed as laborer # 321, enslaved by J. Beasley; by 1870 William was back in Williamson County, 30 years old, farming, married to his wife Chaney
  7. Harry Berry - listed as laborer Harrison Berry #241, enslaved by B. Berry; by 1870 Harry was back in Williamson County, 30 years old, working as a farm laborer, married to his wife Lizzie
  8. Washington Berry (USCT) - two laborers with this name appear #240, 2310, both enslaved by B. Berry; Washington was born in Williamson County and enlisted in the 12th US Colored Infantry on August 12, 1863 in Nashville, he mustered out on January 16, 1866 
  9. Carl Bradford (USCT) - this might be laborer Charles Bradford, #1184; Carl was born in Williamson County and enlisted in the 12th US Colored Infantry on August 12, 1863 in Nashville, he mustered in at Kingston Springs; he later became a drummer and was mustered out January 16, 1866 in Nashville
  10. Egbert Bright - listed as laborer # 1086, enslaved by D. Bright; by 1880, Egbert was 30 years old, living in Williamson County and working as a farm laborer; he was widower with two children
  11. Ruffin Bright - listed as laborer # 1084, enslaved by D. Bright; by 1880, Ruffin was 57 years old, living in Williamson County and working as a farm laborer; he was married to his wife Jane with five children
  12. Alexander Brown (USCT) - listed as laborer Alex Brown #1905 enslaved by "Brown"; Alexander was born in Williamson County and enlisted in the 13th US Colored Infantry on October 22, 1863 in Nashville; Alexander was in several battles including Johnsonville and Nashville, he mustered out January 10, 1866 in Nashville.
  13. George Brown (USCT) - three men George, George No.1 and George No. 2 are listed as laborers #2297, 1096, 1097; by 1870, George was back in Williamson County working as farm laborer married to his wife Tabitha with five children
  14. Isaac Brown - listed as laborer #1092, enslaved by T. Brown; by 1880, Isaac Brown is in Williamson County working as a farm laborer
  15. Green Carothers - listed as laborer Green Caruthers #993 enslaved by J. Caruthers; body servant from Williamson County, 20th Tennessee Infantry
  16. Jesse Carothers (USCT) - two laborers named Jesse Caruthers are listed as laborers #243, 699; born in Franklin, Williamson County enlisted in the 12th US Colored Infantry on September 28, 1863 in Nashville; mustered out January 10, 1866 in Nashville
  17. Pleasant Carothers - listed as laborer # 736 enslaved by J. Caruthers; on July 9, 1867, Pleasant was injured in the "Race Riot" that occurred in Franklin; in 1868 her married Jennie Bailey and in 1891 registered to vote in Williamson County.
  18. Jefferson Cartwright (USCT) listed as laborer #2352 enslaved by J. Cartwright; born in Williamson County, on August 12, 1863 he enlisted in the 12th US Colored Infantry in Nashville.
  19. Isaac Cater (USCT) - listed as laborer Isaac Carter #2368 enslaved by M. Carter; born in Williamson County, enlisted in the 12th US Colored Infantry on August 12, 1863 in Nashville; on April 7, 1865 he died of pneumonia in a regimental hospital in Kington Springs
  20. Charles Clayborn (USCT) - listed as laborer Charles Claiborne #2122 enslaved by T. Claiborne; born about 1847 in Williamson County; enlisted in the 17th US Colored Infantry on April 5, 1864; he was killed in action at the Battle of Nashville December 15, 1864.
  21. Mills Compton (USCT) - two men named "Miles Compton" appear as laborers #483, 2358; born in Williamson County enlisted in the 12th US Colored Infantry August 12, 1863 in Nashville.
  22. Edmund Davis (USCT) - listed as laborer Edmond Davis #2377, enslaved by Z. Davis; born in Williamson County, enlisted in the 40th US Colored Infantry on July 18, 1863 in Nashville
  23. John Dodson - listed as laborer #2388, enslaved by T. Dodson; appears in Williamson County in 1900 working as a day laborer, living with his daughter Sarah. 
  24. Michael “Mike” Ensley (USCT) - listed as laborer #2088 enslaved by C.P. Davis; born in Williamson County; enlisted in the 12th US Colored Infantry on August 12, 1863 in Nashville; he died April 8, 1864 of disease.
  25. Andrew Ewing (USCT) - two laborers with this name appear #953, 2406, enslaved by W. Ewing; born in Williamson County, enlisted in the 12th US Colored Infantry; he was left sick at hospital in Franklin December 18, 1864; in 1866 he entered into a labor contract with William Giles and married; he died in 1901 at the age of 70.
  26. John Gaines (USCT) - laborer #2427, enslaved by F. Gaines; born in Williamson County, enlisted in the 12th US Colored Infantry on August 12, 1863 in Nashville.
  27. Burton Glass - listed as laborer #906, enslaved by P. Glass; Burton Glass was born in 1818 and enslaved in Williamson County, husband of Milly Glass and father of Wiley Scruggs; by 1880 he appears back on the Census in Williamson County working as a farmer; in 1891 he registered to vote in Williamson County
  28. Luke Hays – listed as laborer #2450, enslaved by L. Hayes; Confederate body servant; born in Williamson County in 1852, 
  29. Claiborn Helm (USCT) - listed as laborer #2459 enslaved by H. Helm; born in Williamson County, enlisted in the 12th US Colored Infantry on August 12, 1863.
  30. Jack Henderson - listed as laborer #2451, enslaved by S. Henderson
  31. William Henderson - listed as laborer #1928, enslaved by S. Henderson
  32. Lewis Holt – enslaved on Wildwood plantation in Brentwood - two men listed as Lewis Holt laborer #s 1022, 2466, enslaved by T. Holt
  33. Adam Hughes (USCT) - Laborer #2453, enslaved by J. Hughes
  34. Henry Jackson - Laborer # 1881, enslaved by G. Jackson
  35. Andrew G. Johnson (USCT) - listed as laborer #641, enslaved by R. Johnson
  36. Charlie Johnson - two men named Charles Johnson listed as laborers # 474, 1073
  37. Thomas Johnson (USCT) - two laborers with this name appear on the list Files #500 and 2506
  38. William Johnson (USCT) - two laborers with this name listed with #s 1417, 2504, enlisted in the 14th USCT at Gallatin, enslaved by David Johnson
  39. George Jones - two laborers with this name listed with #s 885, 943
  40. William Jones (US Navy) - three laborers with this name are listed with #s 1368, 1778, 2494
  41. Daniel Jordan (USCT - laborer #2507 enslaved by Y. Jordan
  42. John Jordan (USCT) - listed as laborer #2496 enslaved by J. Jordan
  43. Dick (Richard) King - listed as laborer #1933, enslaved by P. King
  44. George King (USCT) - three men with this name are listed as laborers - #s 1006, 1453, and 2513, enslaved by J. King
  45. Harvey Ledbetter (USCT) - laborer “Herry Ledbetter” #2531 enslaved by A. Ledbetter
  46. George Mays (USCT) - laborer #399 enslaved by S. Mays
  47. John Merrill - listed as John Murrill laborer # 2155, enslaved by H. Murrill
  48. James Moore (USCT) - listed as laborer #1991, enslaved by Widow Moore
  49. Thomas Nolan - listed as laborer #910, enslaved by H. F. Nolan (his mother was Ettie Cunningham)
  50. Elijah Oglesby (Ogleby) (USCT) - Laborer #2589 enslaved by R. Oglesby
  51. Hugh Oty - probably Hugh Otey, listed as laborer #348, enslaved by J. Oty (probably John Otey, brother of Episcopal Bishop James Otey)
  52. John Perkins (USCT) - listed as laborer #1225, enslaved by T. Perkins
  53. Frank Petway (USCT) - laborer #329 enslaved by Mrs. Petway
  54. Augustus Pratt (USCT) - listed as laborer "Guss Pratt" #892 enslaved by A. Pratte
  55. Ephraim Rawlston (USCT) - listed as laborer "Ephraim Raelston" #2630 enslaved by R. Raelson
  56. Joseph Reece (USCT) - listed as laborer #2632 enslaved by P. Reese
  57. Martin Ridley (USCT) - listed as laborer #304, enslaved by J. T. Ridley
  58. Peter Sawyer (USCT) - listed as Peter Sayers, laborer # 1493, enslaved by "Sayers"
  59. Ned Scruggs (USCT) - listed as laborer #923, enslaved by Theo Scruggs
  60. George Smith - three laborers by this name are listed as #s 250, 939, 2653
  61. John Sneed (USCT) - laborer #2255 enslaved by J.P. Sneed
  62. James Strong (USCT) - listed as James Stong, laborer #388 enslaved by J. Stong (Strong)
  63. Warren Swansey (USCT) - laborer #2642 enslaved by J. Swansey
  64. Ben Swanson (Swansey) 2nd (USCT) - laborer #2643 enslaved by J. Swansey
  65. Archie Terrill (USCT) - this is laborer "Archy Terrill" #2684 enslaved by H. Terrill
  66. Freeman Thomas (USCT) (not on rolls, but says he worked on fortifications in pension) enslaved by James Caruthers
  67. Robert Waddy (USCT) - listed as laborer "Robert Wade" #89 enslaved byW. Wade
  68. John L. Wesley (USCT)  - listed as laborer #929 enslaved by J. W. Radcliff
  69. George Wilson - two laborers listed with this name #s 97 &1348
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