John Jolley (b. circa
1825 - d. 1871)
MSA SC 5496-51306
USCT Soldier, Dorchester County, Maryland
Biography:
John Jolley was born around 1825 (41 years old at time of enlistment)1 in the Fork District, Dorchester County, Maryland, but was brought over to the Vienna district until the war.2 As a slave, he was owned by Captain James K. Lewis.3 One affidavit stated “the deceased soldier was owned by the Lewises at Vienna, up to enlistment.”4 Lewis did not own a substantial amount of slaves as he was listed in 1840 as owning 10 slaves.5 By 1860, that number only increased by one bringing his total to 11 slaves.6 The bounty roll shows that Lewis was eligible for $100 as compensation for the loss of his slave.7 He received his payment on August 16, 1865.8
Jolley enlisted as a private in Company D of the 7th U.S. Colored Troops regiment on September 23, 1863 and was mustered in three days later under the direction of Captain Wm. Birney.9 In August of 1864, the 7th regiment “acted as a reserve for the unit in the trenches in front of Petersburg.”10 Eventually, they were called into duty and alternated with another unit every two days as they experienced “steady rifle fire.”11 The 7th regiment was consistently “exposed to enemy fire” and they were “used to reinforce the center line of combat, to protect a flank, to act as advance men or to reconnaissance.”12 On September 29, 1864, Jolley was wounded in the right arm at Chapin’s Farm, Virginia.13
Despite being wounded, he returned to action on November 14, 1865, but "was not able for any heavy duty."14 Daniel Young, a Sergeant Major of the regiment, stated that Jolley was often sick, at or near Petersburg, Virginia spent time at a General Hospital near Fortress Monroe.15 Young mentions that Jolley was the cook for the squad until he was assigned to a different company.16 It appeared that after Jolley was wounded, he suffered immensely, but was still able to complete his service time. Both Nathan Johnson and Isaac Johnson testified in defense of Jolley as they both served in the same company and regiment.17 Nathan Johnson mentions in the affidavit that on September 29, 1864, he (Nathan Johnson) was "captured" and "he (Jolley) was wounded in the right arm at the same time."18 He was officially mustered out on October 13, 1866 while at Indianola, Texas19 helping the regiment serve as a garrison.20
After being discharged, Jolley worked in a lumber yard, but was forced to stop because of his weak lungs.21 Soon after his discharge he married Emeline Jolley, whose maiden name was Mitchell, on October 20, 1868 by Reverend Anthony Stanford in Baltimore, Maryland.22 It appears that John and Emeline had no children that they were aware of. Two people (including his cousin William Jolley), however were able to testify that John had four children from a previous marriage, but she had passed away when he returned from the war.23 In 1870, John was living in the eighteenth ward of Baltimore with his wife Emeline and three others.24 At the time, their residence was located at 211 South Howard Street.25 Moving to Baltimore was a common occurrence for many soldiers returning from the war as they searched for opportunity, both socially and economically.
A special examiner visiting the town of Vienna observed that “the town in which the soldier lived prior to the war is at least 18 miles from any other town and the adjacent county is but sparsely settled – he was known by every one living there.”26 The small town of Vienna enabled the special examiners to get credible information from the community in regards to their pension applications. According to Emeline, John died of consumption around August 4, 1870, but she was not certain about the time.27 William Weaver, a missionary of A.M.E. church, testified that Jolley’s “death occurred in 1871” and in “warm weather.”28 Weaver also mentioned that Jolley started to attend his church in the latter part of 1866 or early part of 1867.29 According to the widow’s pension, Jolley died on August 4, 1871.30 Emeline began receiving a pension rate of $8.00 per month commencing on August 4, 1871.31 Jolley passed away a short time after the war, possibly due to the wounds that he received. Emeline contends in an affidavit that she believed the consumption was a result of being in the army.32
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