William Smith (b. circa
1832 - d. 1881)
MSA SC 3520-5060
USCT Soldier, Dorchester County, Maryland
Biography:
William Smith's life began around 1832 (29 years old on service record) on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in Cambridge, Dorchester County.1 His exact date of birth is unknown, which was the case for many former slaves. As a slave, he was owned by William Radcliffe2 and served as a laborer.3 The slave statistics for Dorchester County list William Radcliffe as having only one slave, William Smith.4 Radcliffe acquired William Smith through purchase in January of 1855.5 In 1863, the Civil War presented the opportunity for free and enslaved African Americans to join the military. On May 22, 1863, the Bureau of Colored Troops was officially recognized as a separate entity of the War Department.6 By September, the War Department Adjutant General's Office gave Colonel Birney authorization to form a regiment, known as the Seventh Regiment United States Colored Troops.7 Birney Barracks, in East Baltimore, became the place in which free and enslaved African Americans could enlist in the U.S. army.8
He was a slave until he was granted his manumission from Radcliffe. The manumission stated that Smith's freedom would commence on September 23, 1863, "the date of his enlistment."9 However, the manumission did not appear to be officially acknowledged and witnessed until May 16, 1864.10 According to the Act of 1864, Chapter 15, Section 4, "to the owner of every negro slave who shall agree to the enlistment of his slave as above, the sum of one hundred dollars shall be paid when such owner shall file with the proper authority a good and valid deed of manumission."11 Radcliffe, like many slaveowners, may have viewed this as their final opportunity to receive compensation for the loss of their slaves as the institution of slavery was rapidly deteriorating. Not only were slaveowners entitled to compensation, but free blacks and slaves also counted towards the state quota,12 which meant many slaveowners could have protected their family members from having to join the war.Radcliffe put in a claim to receive compensation, "under the provisions of General Orders, No. 329, 1863" for his slave William Smith.13 It appears Radcliffe was paid his $100 bounty on May 11, 1865,14 but his application states that "compensation refused September 26, 1865, because the claimant has been disloyal."15 Radcliffe completed the necessary tasks for obtaining compensation, such as providing a valid manumission16 and signing an oath of allegiance supporting the United States.17 There were also two men, John M. Beckwith and John M. Beckwith Jr., that vouched for his loyalty to the "Government of the United States."18 It's unclear why his application for compensation was refused, but it could have been a mistake, since he went through the proper formalilities to prove ownership and his loyalty.
William Smith enlisted on September 23, 1863 as a private in Company C of the 7th U.S. Colored Troops regiment.19 Three days later he was officially mustered into the military to serve three years.20 Once these men were enlisted and mustered in, the regiment was transferred to Camp Stanton, Benedict, Maryland where they would receive drilling, training, and discipline.21 During the war, the 7th regiment participated in numerous battles and skirmishes mainly in Virginia, including Petersburg, Fort Harrison, Darbytown Road, Hatcher's Run, and Appomattox Court House, among others.22
Despite fighting in various battles, William Smith's health began to deteriorate as the war progressed. Robert Bennett stated in an affidavit that Smith contracted a disease known as "dropsy," (now known as Edema) and was declared unfit for service.23 Smith was able to perform light duties as he remained with the regiment until his discharge at Indianola, Texas on October 13, 1866.24 Bennett also states that after their discharge when traveling back to Maryland, Smith was forced to remain in Baltimore at a hospital before moving back to Cambridge.25 Jesse Hayes, another acquaintance states that Smith "was taken sick and not able for duty and sent to the hospital."26 Hayes stated he "never saw any thing more of him until I came home and found Wm Smith in this town and he complained of cough and pain in his side and died of dropsy."27 Another friend of Smith's was Thomas Woolford stated in an affidavit that Smith's health only worsened until his death and he believed it was caused from exposure while in the army.28 Robert Stafford also confirmed in an affidavit that Smith suffered from "dropsy" and was frequently confined to his house because of his poor condition.29 Bennett, Hayes, Woolford, and Stafford were all acquainted with William Smith as they were all from the Cambridge area and fought in the same regiment.
William Smith remained in Cambridge, Maryland after the war, possibly due to his poor condition, but he nonetheless was a free man. The census of 1870 shows that he was living with "Mary J." and two children in the 7th district, which was Cambridge.30 Smith was a "farm laborer" by occupation and he was listed as being able to read and write.31 On February 6, 1873, he married Mary Jane Bush at Cambridge, Maryland.32 They paid a license fee of $4.00 and a clerk fee of $.50 in order to complete their marriage license.33 They had several children together, two of which were twins.34 As of 1880, Smith was 49 years old and a "laborer" by occupation.35 He was unemployed for three months and suffered from "dysentary."36 The 1880 census also shows that "John Q." was eight years old, and "Garrison" and "Daniel H." were six years old.37
Smith joined the military to fight for freedom, but the diseases he contracted while in the service were insurmountable as he continuously suffered and struggled to provide for his family. From 1866 to 1881, Smith was only able to work in a limited capacity, usually never more than "one half of the time."38 On July 10, 1881,39 William Smith died from "exhaustion consequent chronic inflammation of the stomach and bowels, producing allmost constant nausea and diarrhea, not being able to retain nourishment sufficient to sustain life."40 Mary was able to gain an increased pension rate to support their family as several of the children were under the age of sixteen. She was earning a pension rate of $8.00 per month, which commenced on November 25, 1881, and two dollars per month for each of her three children.41 In 1886, her pension amount increased to $12.00 per month.42 Mary was dropped from the pension on March 4, 1899 due to her death.43 Her last payment of $12 came four months prior on December 4, 1898.44
For a visual representation of William Smith'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 Smith's life from 1838 to 1881. 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.
8. Ibid., 2.
10. Ibid.
12. Ibid.
14. COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY (Bounty Rolls) William Smith, Page 159, MSA S629-1.
19. Ancestry.com. National Archives. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. William Smith. Company Descriptive Book. Page 144.
20. Ibid.
21. Callum. Colored Volunteers of Maryland, 7.
22. Ibid., 41.
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid.
26. Ibid., 21.
27. Ibid.
28. Ibid., 23.
29. Ibid., 24.
31. Ibid.
32. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File) William Smith, Page 5.
33. Ibid., 4.
34. Ibid., 5.
36. Ibid.
37. Ibid.
38. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File) William Smith, Page 7.
39. Ibid., 33.
40. Ibid., 9.
41. Ibid., 33.
42. Ibid., 34.
43. Ibid., 30.
44. Ibid.
Written and Researched by Tanner Sparks, 2012.
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