James W. Williams
(b. 1830 - d. 1897)
MSA SC 3520-9271
U.S.C.T. Soldier, Howard County, Maryland
Biography:
James W. Williams was born into slavery around the year 1830 under a woman named Mrs. Igleheart.1
“There were two men by the same name of James working on [Mrs.
Igleheart’s] farm and to distinguish [between them Williams] was called
James W. and he enlisted in the army under this name and ever after
went by this name”.2 Williams married Sallie Cure, a slave of Major Henry Owens, in an illegitimate “slave marriage”.3 The couple had six children before Williams went off to war.
Williams mustered into Co. F of the 30th USCT on March 1st 1864. The
30th USCT was organized at Camp Stanton in the beginning of 1864 and
assigned to the 9th Corps.4 The regiment’s first major action was during the Siege of Petersburg.5 Although initially assigned to work in a noncombatant capacity, the unit played an important role in the Battle of the Crater.6
The regiment also notably participated in the Battle for Sugar Loaf
Hill, Cox’s Bridge March, both efforts to capture Fort Fisher, and the
Capture of Wilmington.7
Williams
was one of the many African Americans who fought at the Siege of
Petersburg, a nine month campaign by Union officials from June of 1864
to March of 1865 to cut off supplies from Petersburg to Richmond, the
Confederacy’s capital.8 Williams received a “‘G.S.W.
(gunshot wound) of right thigh...’ at Petersburg July 30th 1864 and was
put on furlough on October 14th 1864.9 He was readmitted on November 4th 1864 and returned to duty December 12th 1864”.10 Rising to the rank of sergeant, Williams mustered out of service on December 10th 1865.11
James and Sallie Williams held a second “legitimate” marriage ceremony
conducted by Reverend R. Andres Poole on November 22nd 1886 in St.
Peters Church in Ellicott City, Maryland.12 “The soldier was 56 years of age and the claimant 49, [a second marriage ceremony] was recommended as a reasonable precaution”.13
On January 10th 1866, Williams successfully applied for an invalid
pension at the rate of $4 per month due to a “gunshot wound of left
thigh and right index finger,” which were inflicted during the war.14
Applications for increases in Williams’ invalid pension were rejected
on February 20th 1874, July 19th 1892, and November 16th 1892 because
it was determined that his alleged disability was not a result of his
service. On July 24th 1897, Williams successfully applied for an
increase in his pension to $12 per month. Williams died on August 19th
1897 and was buried on August 21st 1897 in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in
Catonsville. Recorded in her widow’s deposition, Mrs. Williams said
“...at [the] time he died he so badly swollen it was necessary to tap
him before they could get him into his coffin. He died suddenly from
heart failure”.15
Mrs. Williams
successfully applied for a Widows’ pension on August 24th 1897,
receiving $8 per month. Arguing in her defense for a widows’ pension,
Mrs. Williams explained in deposition that “at time my husband died I
did not have any money or property, in fact not a cent, and am obliged
to depend upon my own labor. I make my home with my married daughter”.16 In September of 1916, Mrs. Williams became eligible for a $20 monthly pension under the Act of Sept. 8th, 1916.17
The Act provided $20 per month to any legitimate widow pensioner over
the age of 70. Mrs. Williams received her last payment of $25 on
September 4th 1918 before her death on December 1st 1918 of Acute
Indigestion.18 She is buried with her husband in The Odd Fellows Cemetery, now known as the Western Star Cemetery.
Eliza Williams, daughter of James W. and Sallie Williams, took care of the $128.50 bill for Mrs. Williams’ funeral.19 The Home Friendly Life Insurance Co. paid for $78 of the funeral.20 Eliza Williams paid $12, and the remaining $50.50 was reimbursed by the Bureau of Pensions.21
Endnotes:
1. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) [MSA SC 5839] James W. Williams, Box 33, Folder 26. Page 33.4. "30th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry." Regiment Details. Ed. National Park Service. National Park Service, Department of the Interior, 16 July 2013. Web. 14 August 2013.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
20. Ibid.
Written and Researched by Daniel Ingham, 2013.
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