Edward Dorham (b. circa
1842 - d. 1905)
MSA SC 3520-4460
USCT Soldier, Talbot County, Maryland
Biography:
Edward Dorham's life began as a mulatto1 slave on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in Talbot County around 1842 (21 years old at time of enlistment).2 His father's name was Belfast Dorum (Dorham).3 Belfast was listed in the assessment records for Talbot County under the ownership of Edward S. Winder in 1832.4 There is an Edward listed in the assessment records of 1840 as an infant under the control of Elizabeth J. Winder, which could be Edward Dorham.5 Edward Dorham was owned by Elizabeth J. Winder of Miles River Neck in Talbot County.6
Winder became possessed of Ed. Dorham alias Ed. Dorum through "ownership of his mother at the time of his birth, she being my slave by inheritance."7 Two of Winder's acquaintances vouched for her allegiance to the Government of the United States of America which was a law in order to successfully claim compensation for the loss of her slave.8 Winder made her claim for compensation and signed an oath of allegiance stating that she was a loyal citizen to the Government of the United States of America and not to the Confederate States of America.9
The Civil War had been under way for two years before slaves would get the chance to fight for their freedom. Abraham Lincoln enacted the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 calling for volunteers to join the Union cause.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 No record of Gibson's manumission has been found, but it's highly likely that he was manumitted.
Winder, like many slave owners, 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 slave owners 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. Edward Dorham was credited to the Talbot County quota as being owned by Elizabeth J. Winder.13 Winder received a payment of $100.00 on April 12, 1865 as compensation for the loss of her slave.14
The 7th regiment was among the first regiments formed after the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.15 In September 1863, the War Department Adjutant General's Office gave Colonel Birney the authority to compose one regiment of colored troops in Maryland.16 Edward Dorham was among the many slaves who volunteered to fight for freedom when he enlisted as a private in Company A of the 7th U.S. Colored Troops regiment on September 23, 1863.17 At the time of his enlistment, he was a "coachman" by occupation.18 The regiment was drilled and trained at Camp Stanton, Benedict, Maryland. 19
The 7th regiment participated in numerous battles and skirmishes including Johns Island, South Carolina (July 1864), Petersburg, Virginia (August-September 1864 and April 1865), Darbytown Road, Virginia (October 1864), Hatcher's Run, Virginia (March 1865), and Appomattox Court House (April 1865), among others.20 During the war, while at Powder House, Texas in 1865, he was assisting in unloading a vessel and sustained a severe sprain of the left ankle, which continued to affect him throughout his life.21 After acting as a garrison at Indianola, Texas for eighteen months after the war ended, the 7th regiment was discharged on October 13, 1866.22
After the war, Edward Dorham remained living in Miles River Neck until he moved to Baltimore around 1871.23 After his discharge, he was employed as a waiter and janitor.24 The 1880 census lists Edward Dorham as a "domestic servant" by occupation.25 He was hindered, however, from previous war injuries that limited his ability to perform manual labor. According to a pension document, he did have an alias, which was Edward Doram.26 His name on the 1890 veterans schedules correlates with his alias.27
Dorham was married to Harriet Ann Ward at the Madison Street Presbyterian Church on January 6, 1874 by Reverend Charles Hedges.28 There seems to be no marriage record that exists, but Dorham writes that "until present day (1897) affectionate man and wife" as the existing record.29 In Baltimore, he resided at 210 Richmond Street.30 Edward and Harriet had one son together, Edward Dorham, Jr., who was born on December 17, 1874.31
The 1880 census shows that Edward was living on Richmond Street with his wife Harriet and son Edward who was five years old.32 The census also shows that he could read, but could not write.33 Dorham was pensioned from April 15, 1891, at $8.00 per month for an injury of his left ankle and bronchitis.34 According to the 1900 census, Dorham was living with his wife, son, and two "lodgers."35 Edward was working as a "waiter" and his wife was working as a "house maid," while there son was working as a "public waiter."36 Edward Dorham were married for 26 years at the time of the census while renting a house in Baltimore on Richmond Street.37
While in Baltimore, Edward suffered from general debility, rheumatism, and paralysis of the right side.38 At around the age of 61, Edward Dorham died from tuberculosis of the lungs on January 19, 1905.39 He was buried at the Mount Auburn Cemetery on January 21, 1905.40 After his death, Harriet was able to continue receiving a pension of $8.00 per month, but she died shortly after her husband on July 6, 1905.41 She was able to continue receiving a pension with the help of Edward's two brothers, William42 and John43, since they testified in her defense in affidavits.
For a visual representation of Edward Dorham'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 Dorham's life from circa 1844 to 1905. 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.
|
Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!
|
