James Henson (b. circa
1829 - d. 1908)
MSA SC 3520-5513
USCT Soldier, Queen Anne's County, Maryland
Biography:
James Henson's life began as a slave on April 5, 1829, according to a family bible record held by the slave owner. From the pension file, John M. Carter provides an affidavit stating that Henson was the slave for Carter's mother. John M. Carter and James Henson had a strong relationship as Carter states in an affidavit that he had "at all times looked after him, seeing him quite often." Carter also mentions in the affidavit that James "nursed me as a baby." James appeared to have taken care of John M. Carter in his younger days and Carter was able to develop a strong relationship with Henson. John M. Carter became a lawyer in Baltimore and continued correspondence with Henson after the war.
Henson did not enlist to join the United States Colored Troops until March 31, 1864. He enlisted as a private in Company H of the 19th U.S. Colored Troops regiment. The 19th regiment remained at Camp Benedict until ordered to Baltimore City on March 1, 1864. 1 They received drilling and discipline while in Baltimore, until March 22, when they were sent to Harper's Ferry, Virginia. 2 Since, James Henson did not enlist until March 31, he was "immediately sent to Charleston, West Virginia," according to an affidavit by James Henson. Henson also mentions they were sent to Charleston, West Virginia with Colonel Perkins looking for recruits. His wartime experiences mainly consisted of suffering. He suffered from a bowel disease from the outset of joining the army, which eventually led him to being discharged from the service. He was eventually "ordered on duty as Private Orderly to Colonel Bowman the Provost Marshall" for about eight to ten months before contracting the same bowel disease again, according to Henson. He was sent to McKim's Mansion General Hospital and remained there until his discharge. According to James Henson, he was officially discharged from the service on July 25, 1865.
James Henson moved to Baltimore, Maryland after he received his discharge. He resided at several residences while in Baltimore, including 25 St. Mary's Street (1876), 449 Little Monument Street (1879), 621 Jasper Street (1908), and 26 East Fayette Street. Soon after the war, he worked for Margaret E. Williams' father, Madison Jeffers driving a wagon and cutting wood, before his health deteriorated, according to an affidavit by Williams. According to an affidavit by David L. DeCoursey, he stated that James Henson worked for Arthur H. Mann and drove a carriage for Thomas Lanahan since the war. He was married and had two children. He was also a long standing member of the A.M.E. church in Baltimore, according to an affidavit by William H. Gray. John M. Carter, who kept in contact with Henson while in Baltimore, stated that around "1885 he had a stroke of paralysis which resulted in defective hearing and speech." Henson makes it known that these effects were not caused by the war. By 1908, his health had deteriorated to the point that he contracted apoplexy and passed away on January 7, according to his death record. His death record states he died in 1907, but he actually died in 1908. He was buried at the Loudon Park National Cemetery in Section C, Site 1122 on January 11, 1908. 3
For a visual representation of James Henson'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 Henson's life from around 1829 to 1908. 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.1. Wilmer, L. Allison , 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), 206.
2. Ibid.
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