Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

James Moore (b. circa 1828 - d. 1865)
MSA SC 3520-3199
USCT Soldier, Talbot County, Maryland

Biography:

    James Moore was born a slave around 1828 (36 years old at time of enlistment) in St. Michael's, Talbot County, Maryland.1 James Moore was owned by James Harrison, a property owner near Royal Oak located in St. Michael's.2 As a slave, James Moore married Susan Ann Webb who was owned by a different slaveowner.3 Susan Ann Webb mentioned in a pension affidavit that James Moore was owned by James Harrison and she was owned by Major John Dawson.4 James Moore and Susan Ann Webb were married on May 8, 1852 at St. Michael's, Maryland by Reverend James Massey.5 The couple had six children together prior to James Moore entered the service between 1854 and 1864.6

    His wife stated that he was in good health at the time of his enlistment on March 31, 1864.7 He enlisted at Queen Anne's County, Maryland as a private in Company K of the 39th regiment.8 The 39th regiment began accepting enlistments from March 22 to 31, 1864 and included all colored Marylanders.9 The regiment faced battles including at Petersburg, Wilderness, Federal point, Bermuda Hundred, Hatcher's Run, and Fort Fisher.10 From the surrender of the Confederate Army in April 1865 until December 1865, the regiment performed garrison duty in the Southern States.11 However, James Moore was taken to a "Post Hospital, New Bern, N.C. Aug. 17, 1865, from Ambulance Train for treatment for Remittent Fever, and died Aug. 20, 65."12 His muster out record shows that at 40 years old he died "from disease" on August 20, 1865.13 James Moore was buried in row 5 of the "colored lot"under gravestone number twenty on August 21, 1865.14

    After his death, his wife who was living near Royal Oak, Talbot County eventually decided to move to Baltimore. His wife and six children moved to Baltimore at 34 Wayne Street.15 All of their children were under the age of sixteen making them eligible for a pension increase.16 She was able to secure $8.00 per month pension starting on August 20, 1865 and an additional $2.00 per month for each of the children starting on July 25, 1866.17 Susan Ann Moore described her husband as a man of "integrity and truth" and a "member of the church."18 She also stated that he was "greatly respected by the white people of the entire neighborhood."19 Moore had endured slavery, but took full advantage of having the opportunity to fight for his freedom. It was an unfortunate circumstance that led to his death while on garrison duty in North Carolina. 

For a visual representation of James Moore's journey from slavery to freedom, please click here. Users must have access to Google Earth in order to utilize this file, which includes landmarks(pins) in Moore's life from around 1826 to 1865. You may take the tour and investigate individual sites under the "Places" tab on the left of the screen, or you may navigate using the slider and cursor on the map itself.


Endnotes:

1. Ancestry.com. National Archives and Records Administration. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Record for James Moore. Company Descriptive Book. Company K. 39th Regiment. Page 136.
 
2. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) [MSA SC 4126] James Moore. Box 05. Folder 52. Page 6.

3. Ibid., 4.

4. Ibid., 6.

5. Ibid., 4, 6.

6. Ibid., 3.

7. Ibid., 7.

8. ADJUTANT GENERAL (Muster Rolls) 1863-1866. U.S. Colored Troops.39th Regiment. Company K. James Moore. Line 12 (Bottom of Page). Image 380. Location: 02/06/03/025. MdHR Number 50,055-50. MSA S936-50.

9. L. Allison Wilmer, J. H. Jarrett, and Geo. W. F. Vernon. History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers, War of 1861-65. Vol. 2 (Baltimore, MD: Guggenheimer, Weil & Co., 1899), 261.

10. Ibid.

11. Ibid.

12. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) James Moore. Page 10.

      Ancestry.com. National Archives and Records Administration. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Record for James Moore. Hospital Record. Company K. 39th Regiment. Page 151.

13. Ancestry.com. National Archives and Records Administration. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Record for James Moore. Muster Out Roll. Company K. 39th Regiment. Page 149.

14. Ancestry.com. National Archives and Records Administration. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Record for James Moore. Death Record. Company K. 39th Regiment. Page 154.

      Ancestry.com. National Archives and Records Administration. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Record for James Moore. Discharge Record. Company K. 39th Regiment. Page 158.

15. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) James Moore. Page 3.

16. Ibid., 18.

17. Ibid., 25.

18. Ibid., 7.

19. Ibid.

Written and Researched by Tanner Sparks, 2012.

Return to James Moore's Introductory Page
 
 
 
 


This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user.


Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!



© Copyright July 17, 2013 Maryland State Archives