Moses Maxfield (b. circa 1841 - d. 1920)
MSA SC 3520-8789
USCT Soldier, Talbot County, Maryland
Biography:
Moses Maxfield was born a slave in Oxford, Talbot County, Maryland around 1841.1 As a slave, Moses was owned by William B. Willis, a property owner in the Trappe district of Talbot County.2 In 1852, Willis owned a total of 10 slaves that were a combined value of $1,900.3 Of those 10 slaves, there was a "Moses" listed as being 10 years old and was valued at $75.00.4 Moses was listed as a 23 year old farmer, 5 feet 47/8 inches with a mulatto complexion, brown eyes, and black hair.5 By 1863, the Civil War had been under way for two years before slaves would get the chance to fight for their freedom. On January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln enacted the Emancipation Proclamation calling for African American volunteers to join the Union army.6
Moses, along with Henry Clay, were two of Willis's slaves to join the U.S. Colored Troops. On February 9, 1864, Moses enlisted in Company C of the 30th U.S. Colored Troops regiment.7 On February 28, 1864, Moses was mustered in by Colonel S.M. Bowman in Baltimore, Maryland.8 With Moses Maxfield's enlistment in the Union army, Willis was eligible to receive a bounty payment of $100.00 on September 12, 1865 as compensation for the loss of his slave.9 The 30th regiment was organized at Camp Stanton, Maryland from February 12 to March 18, 1864, to serve three year terms.10
The 30th regiment was primarily recruited on the Eastern Shore and southern counties in Maryland.11 They participated in the Wilderness campaign in the spring and summer of 1864, and was also present for the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia where they built forts and rifle pits.12 Under hospital number 4368, Moses was admitted to a hospital in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 29, 1864 for "chronic diarrhea."13 The hospital record notes that he was married, which could mean he was married before the war.14 On November 23, 1864, he "returned to duty" after receiving treatment for his ailments.15 From late 1864 until early 1865, the regiment also participated in the capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina.16 After serving honorably in the Civil War and performing garrison duty in the south, Moses was officially discharged at Roanoke Island, North Carolina on December 10, 1865.17
After he served for one year, ten months, and one day, Moses permanently moved back to Oxford in the Trappe district of Talbot County.18 In 1890, he suffered from "disease of kidneys & left breast" and he applied for a pension because of the disabilities he received from the war.19 The 1870 census showed that Moses resided in District 3 of Talbot County with seven others, including his wife Maria.20 Moses was listed as a mulatto and 36 years old, with Maria being a mulatto and 37 years old.21 The household also contained Martin T., Matthew, Anna T., Lydia, and William Barnes.22 All were listed with the last name of Maxfield except for William Barnes. Ten years later, in 1880, Moses still resided in the Trappe district with his wife, Maria, his father, Matthew and seven others.23 The seven others were: his son-in-law Martin Thompson, his daughter E. Ema Thompson, his grandchildren, Laura V., Moses T., Mary M., and James A., and a boarder, Horrace Grey.24 They lived a few houses away from Philemon Willis and James A. Willis.
By 1900, Moses still resided in the Trappe district and was widowed.25 In his household was his daughter and two sons: Mary (b. 1893), Albert (b. 1895), and Moses Jr. (b. 1896).26 Moses was a day laborer and owned a house, which had a mortgage.27 On the 1910 census, Moses was a 70 year old farm laborer and resided at his house on 210 Oxford Neck Road.28 His household included his second wife, Alice, and his granddaughter, Ida.29 In 1920, Moses resided with his wife, Alice and his 25 year old son, Albert.30 Albert worked as a farm laborer and earned a wage for his work. On January 22, 1920, Moses Maxfield died from "arteriosclerosis" while he resided "near Oxford" in Talbot County.31 His mother's name was unknown, but his father's name was Matthew Maxfield who was born in Talbot County.32 Four days after his death, on January 26, Moses was buried in Oxford Neck.33
4. Ibid.
5. Ancestry.com. National Archives and Records Administration. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records. Moses Maxfield. Company Descriptive Book. Page 1347.
6. Callum, Agnes Kane. Colored Volunteers of Maryland: Civil War 7th Regiment United States Colored Troops, 1863-1866 (Baltimore, MD: Mullac Publishers, 1990), 1.
9. COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY (Bounty Rolls) Moses Maxfield. 30th U.S. Colored Troops. MSA S629-1.
10. 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), 233.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
16. Wilmer, History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers, 233.
19. Ibid.
21. Ibid.
22. Ibid.
24. Ibid.
26. Ibid.
27. Ibid.
29. Ibid.
32. Ibid.
33. Ibid.
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