James Taylor (b. circa
1843 - d. 1916)
MSA SC 3520-6552
USCT Soldier, Queen Anne's County, Maryland
Biography:
James Taylor was born a slave in Centreville, Queen Anne's County, Maryland around 1843.1 The name of his mother was unknown, but his father's name was Phil Taylor, also born in Maryland.2 Taylor was unaware of his exact date of birth, but was told he was 21 years old a month after he enlisted in March 1864.3 On a pension document, an alleged date of birth for Taylor was March 31, 1843.4 Mary Taylor, however, his wife and informant for his death record, recorded his birth date as November 2, 1843.5 As a slave, Taylor was owned by R.E. Feddeman.6 Taylor served as a laborer on Feddeman's farm in the Centreville district, near Queenstown.7 After being a slave for over twenty years, R.E. Feddeman manumitted James Taylor from slavery which was to "commence from the 31st day of March 1864," the date of his enlistment in the U.S. Colored Troops.8 The manumission was not officially recognized until August 25, 1865 because it needed to be signed by Feddeman with three witnesses present.9
Under 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."10 Feddeman, 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.11 On December 20, 1864, Feddeman received a bounty payment of $100.00 as compensation for the loss of his slave.12
After being granted his manumission, Taylor enlisted as a private in Company K of the 39th U.S. Colored Troops in Queen Anne's County, Maryland.13 He was mustered into the service in Baltimore, Maryland by Col. S.M. Bowman and was credited to Queen Anne's County.14 The 39th U.S. Colored Troops regiment was formed and organized in Baltimore, Maryland consisting of colored men from all parts of Maryland.15 After enlisting on March 31, 1864, the regiment participated in the Wilderness campaign, which took place in May.16 Then, they participated in the battle of Petersburg and at Bermuda Hundred where the losses were significant.17
Around August 1864, while at Petersburg and Bermuda Hundred, Taylor was noted in an affidavit by Charles A. Wilson (from Queen Anne's County and fought in the same company and regiment) as being diagnosed with the mumps and suffering from a rupture in the left groin, which he believed was caused by the mumps.18 In January 1865, he was diagnosed with rheumatism in his legs from exposure at Fort Fisher, North Carolina.19 The 39th regiment played a crucial role in capturing Fort Fisher.20 He fought in battles such as Petersburg, Bermuda Hundred, and Fort Fisher.21 His disabilities may have led to him being a "teamster in Q.M. (Quartermaster's) Department on June 29, 1865.22 Once the war had ended, the regiment remained in North Carolina as they performed garrison duty before being discharged on December 04, 1865.23 According to Taylor's muster out roll, it seems he was able to retain his "gun equipments" per G.O. 101 War Department for $6.00.24
After serving in the Civil War for one year, eight month, and four days, James Taylor moved back to Centreville, Maryland.25 Shortly after his discharge, Taylor was married by Reverend A.S. Smith to Mary E. Clayton on June 20, 1867 at the Charles Wesley M.E. Church, Centreville, Maryland.26 James and Mary settled in Centreville, Maryland where they began a large family with their children's birth dates ranging from 1870 until 1890. In 1870, James and Mary Taylor were residing in Centreville, Maryland with Henry Clayton, who was the head of household.27 Mary Taylor was listed as having a personal estate value of $60.00 as she served as a domestic servant and James Taylor was employed as a farm laborer.28 R.E. Feddeman was listed as living nearby to where James Taylor was residing.29 Feddeman was a "real estate agent" with a real estate value of $6,765 and a personal estate value of $1,000.30
Thirty years later, in 1900, James Taylor was the head of his household working as a "day laborer" and renting a house with his wife, Mary, and their seven children.31 The children were: Phillip, Edward, Charles, Hester, William, Samuel, and Sallie.32 The census also recorded that Mary was the mother of 14 children with 11 of them living.33 The other children listed on a pension document were Addie, Mary, James, and John.34 On the 1910 census, Taylor owned a home on South Commerce Street in the Centreville district as the head of household.35 He was residing with Mary E., Phillip, Charles, Samuel, and Sallie.36 This census shows that Mary was the mother of 13 children with 11 of them living.37 Taylor worked as a janitor at the Episcopal Church for over 15 years and did light work for Peregrine Tilghman.38 Tilghman wrote that Taylor had worked for him for 20 years and he noticed Taylor as he suffered with rheumatism.39 James A. Mitchell, pastor of the P.E. Church of Centreville, employed Taylor as "attending to my horse, cutting woods, working gardens, and doing sextons work at the church for seventeen years."40
His wife, Mary, recorded on his death certificate that James was employed as a "gardner" and "old soldier" in the occupation field.41 For much of his time after the war, he was considered "2/3 disabled," which limited his ability to perform labor intensive activities.42 In 1893, Charles A. Wilson testified that Taylor "cannot do hard work" and was "not able to do more than 1/3 manual work."43 Wilson also stated that he had "lived within three miles of him (Taylor) ever since our discharge."44 Due to his disabilities, Taylor received a pension rate of $6.00 per month, which commenced September 26, 1893.45 He received an increase on January 21, 1903 for $10.00 per month.46 Four years later, on March 12, 1907, Taylor received another increase at a rate of $12.00 per month.47 On May 20, 1912, James Taylor received a monthly pension rate of $16.50.48 One year later, his monthly pension was increased to $21.50 commencing March 31, 1913.49
At the approximate age of 73, James Taylor died from "chronic valvular disease of the heart" on June 24, 1916.50 Three days later, on June 27, Taylor was buried in Centreville, Maryland.51 After his death, Mary began receiving a monthly widow's pension rate of $12.00 per month on July 8, 1916.52 In September 1916, Mary was 70 years old, which entitled her to $20.00 per month.53 By August 28, 1928, Mary Taylor was dropped from the pension rolls due to her death.54 She was last paid at a rate of $40.00 per month on August 4, 1928.55
For a visual representation of James Taylor's journey
from slavery
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28. Ibid.
29. Ibid.
30. Ibid.
32. Ibid.
33. Ibid.
34. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, James Taylor, Page 168.
36. Ibid.
37. Ibid.
38. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, James Taylor, Page 139.
39. Ibid., 138.
40. Ibid., 140.
41. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS (Death Record, Counties) "James Taylor." MSA SE43-1696.
42. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, James Taylor, Page 29.
43. Ibid., 119.
44. Ibid.
45. Ibid., 90.
46. Ibid., 89.
47. Ibid., 85.
48. Ibid., 78.
49. Ibid., 79.
50. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS (Death Record, Counties) "James Taylor." MSA SE43-1696.
51. Ibid.
52. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, James Taylor, Page 156.
53. Ibid.
54. Ibid., 9.
55. Ibid.
Researched and Written by Tanner Sparks, 2013.
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