William F. Bordley (b.
circa 1845 - d. 1890)
MSA SC 3520-3282
USCT Soldier, Talbot County, Maryland
Biography:
William F. Bordley was free born in Talbot County, Maryland1 around 1845. His service record also shows that he was 18 years old when he enlisted in 1863, making his birth date around 1845.2 The Civil War offered him the opportunity to fight for the liberation of African-Americans. Bordley was freed "on or before April 19, 1861,"3 which presumably enabled him to earn $300.00 as a soldier in the Union army. Before the war, Bordley served as an apprentice to Amos Gregory until he "arrived at twenty one years of age."4 It appears Bordley left from his apprenticeship early and Mrs. Ann R. Gregory was searching for his whereabouts. Bordley enlisted as a private by Col. Birney in Baltimore, Maryland on July 21, 1863 serving in Company B of the 4th U.S. Colored Troops regiment.5 The 4th regiment was formed in Baltimore from July 15 to September 1, 1863, with a three year service time.6 Bordley enlisted just six days after the regiment was organized. The regiment underwent thorough drilling and discipline at Yorktown, Virginia in September 1863.7
During the war, he suffered from a gunshot wound to his right thigh and was wounded by a bayonet in the right hip at Deep Bottom, Virginia on September 19, 1864.8 At Deep Bottom, the regiment was directed to capture Fort Harrison, which they eventually did.9 That was an important battle and General Grant gave all the troops who participated the highest commendation from the General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States.10 In addition to this battle, the 4th regiment also participated in Bermuda Hundred, Petersburg, Dutch Gap, Chapin's Farm, and Fort Fisher, among others.11
The regiment then faced garrison duty in the Southern States from the close of the war until May 4, 1866 when they were officially discharged from the army.12 Bordley was officially discharged at Washington, D.C. on May 4, 1866.13 The muster out rolls state that he was due $100.00 which was the amount African Americans were supposed to receive for their time in the service.14 However, the bounty rolls show that Bordley was compensated $250.00 on December 12, 1865 for his time in the service and he also received another $50.00 after his discharge on April 6, 1867.15
After the war, Bordley moved to Baltimore, Maryland where he served as a laborer. In 1866, he was earning a monthly pension rate of $4.0016 and in 1888 he was earning $6 per month.17 He was married twice after the war. His first wife was Sarah who died from rheumatism on November 23, 1877.18 On September 28, 1881, the Reverend Joseph France married William Bordley and Ida M. Johnson in Baltimore.19 At the time the marriage was certified, Bordley was a "Fireman" by occupation.20 They had one daughter together named Blanche21 and she was born August 13, 1889 at 1140 McElderry Street.22
While in Baltimore he resided at 12 Leadenhall Street (1866),23 and 1140 (Little) McElderry Street (1888,1889).24 His residence at death on May 12, 1890 was 1140 L. McElderry Street.25 He was buried at Loudon Park Cemetery two days later on May 14, 1890.26 His wife, Ida, continued to receive a pension up until her death on March 11, 1895.27 On July 5, 1890, she was able to receive a pension rate of $8.00 per month, plus an additional $2.00 per month for Blanche since she was under the age of sixteen.28 She was last paid $8.00 per month on March 4, 1895.29
For a visual representation of William F. Bordley'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 Bordley's life from circa 1845 to 1890. 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.6. 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), 129.
7. Ibid.
8. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) William F. Bordley, Page 3, 4, 30.
9. Wilmer, History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers, 129.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid, 130.
12. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY (Bounty Rolls) William F. Bordley, MSA S629-1, Page 130.
16. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) William F. Bordley, Page 7.
17. Ibid., 8.
20. Ibid., 22.
21. Ibid., 18.
22. Ibid., 19.
23. Ibid., 23.
24. Ibid., 5.
26. Ibid.
27. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) William F. Bordley, Page 29.
28. Ibid., 31.
29. Ibid., 29.
Return
to William F. Bordley's Introductory Page
|
Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!
|
