John Blackwell (b. circa
1842 - d. 1908)
MSA SC 5496-51310
USCT Soldier, Talbot County, Maryland
Biography:
John Blackwell was born a slave in Talbot County, Maryland around 1842.1 His father's name was Peter Blackwell, and his mother's name was unknown, according to the informant James Gibson.2 According to the bounty rolls, Blackwell was owned by Colonel Edward Lloyd, one of the largest slaveowners in the state of Maryland.3 He served as a farm laborer4 on one of his plantations in the Miles River Neck district of Talbot County.5 The Miles River Neck district was composed of nearly 15,000 acres and the Lloyd family owned roughly half of that land.6
The need for more Union troops increased as the Civil War progressed, which sparked debate on whether or not to recruit slaves into the army. It was not until after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 that slaves were called upon to join the Union military.7 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."8 Lloyd, 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, which meant many slaveowners could have protected their family members from having to join the war.
Soon after Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, Blackwell was able to enlist in the United States Colored Troops on September 23, 1863.9 He enrolled as a private in Company B of the 7th Regiment on September 26, 1863 in Baltimore, Maryland.10 Since he enlisted in the war, his owner Col. Edward Lloyd received a one hundred dollar bounty as compensation, which was paid to him on May 25, 1865.11
The 7th regiment fought in numerous campaigns that included Baldwin, Florida, Johns Island, South Carolina, Darbytown Road, Virginia, and Petersburg, Virginia, among others.12 After the regiment had fought in approximately 11 battles, John Blackwell was honorably discharged in Indianola, Texas on October 13, 1866.13 Their arrival back in Baltimore meant they were officially discharged from military service. Despite being disqualified from earning a bounty for their service, there commanding officer fought for them to obtain a bounty for serving. After consulting the Secretary of War, Col. Shaw was able to successfully negotiate their bounty of $100.14 Once they were paid, each soldier went their separate ways.
After being discharged from the army, John Blackwell went back to Talbot County where he would live in Tunis Mills for the remainder of his life.15 Blackwell would go on to marry twice after the war. His first wife was Mary Blackwell, who according to George Cooper, died in 1885 while in Miles River Neck.16 Blackwell did have five children, Elizabeth (b. 1872), Annie (b. 1878), Fannie Ellen (b. 1884), Henrietta (b. 1886), and Emory (b. 1894).17 According to the 1880 census, John and Mary were living in the 1st Election District of Talbot County.18 They had 4 daughters, 1 son, and 1 boarder in their household.19 Their children were James, Elizabeth, Annie, Fanny E., and Mary F.20 Three of their children (Elizabeth, Annie, and Fanny E.) on the census were listed in the pension document with their names and birthdates.21 The boarder living in their household was Isaac Gleevis.22 His second marriage was to Annie Money.23 They were married at her father’s house on January 13, 1887 by Reverend Thomas M. Cole.24 The marriage certificate notes McBlair Lloyd who was the son of Edward Lloyd VII as being the applicant for the license.25
Blackwell was well-respected within the community as many vouched for him when he attempted to earn a pension. A couple of affidavits describe Blackwell as being a “respectable”26 and “kind"27 man who was “well thought of by his fellow man.”28 By 1907, he was earning twelve dollars a month for his pension.29 He had been unable to work since 1901 as he began to have trouble with numerous ailments. In an affidavit given by Matthew Roberts, Blackwell was said to have suffered from rheumatism, rupture, affection of the eyes, a right ankle injury, and from general debility.30 His doctor stated that he died as a result of heart problems and cirrhosis of the liver on November 27, 1908.31 John Blackwell faced the perils of slavery, fought for the freedom of African Americans in the Civil, and lived the remainder of his life as a free man in Talbot County, Maryland before passing away.
For a visual representation of John Blackwell's journey from slavery to freedom, click here. Users must have access to Google Earth in order to utilize this file, which includes landmarks(pins) in Blackwell's life from circa 1842 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.12. Callum, Colored Volunteers of Maryland, 41.
13. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) John Blackwell, Page 18.14. Callum, Colored Volunteers of Maryland, 39.
15. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) John Blackwell, Page 13. ; Ancestry.com. 1890, Veterans Schedules, John Blackwell, Easton District, Talbot County, Maryland, Roll: 9. Page: 1. Enumeration District: 80.
16. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) John Blackwell, Page 12.
17. Ibid., 3.
19. Ibid.
20. Ibid.
21. Ibid.; SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) John Blackwell, Page 12.
23. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) John Blackwell, Page 9.
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid., 2.
26. Ibid., 4.
27. Ibid., 6.
28. Ibid., 4.
29. Ibid., 40.
30. Ibid., 28.
31. Ibid., 7.
Researched and Written by Tanner Sparks, 2012.
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