Josiah Lockerman
(b. circa 1844 - d. 1925)
MSA SC 5496-51930
USCT Soldier, Dorchester County, Maryland
Biography:
Josiah Lockerman was born around 1844; he was the son of Sam and Ally Lockerman. His mother, Ally, was a slave belonging to Jacob Howard, who willed Ally to his daughter and son-in-law, Mary Jane Howard Hodson and Dr. Levin Hodson. The Hodsons owned a farm in Dorchester County, Maryland. Dr. Levin Hodson also worked as a physician. When Josiah was twenty years old, he took the opportunity to run away and join the United States Volunteer service while his owner was sick with bronchitis.1 He enlisted on March 31, 1864 in the United States Colored Troops under a recruiting officer named Lieutenant Gorge C. Potwin. He would attain the rank of corporal in Company G of the 39th Regiment Infantry.2 During his service, the 39th regiment fought in the the battle of The Crater, Virginia. They also aided in the capture of Fort Fisher in North Carolina where they would stay until the end of the war. The regiment also participated in the Battle of Hatcher's Run, Virginia in February of 1865.3 Lockerman was mustered out on December 4, 1865.4
After serving in the Civil War Josiah returned to Dorchester County. In 1870 he was working as a farm hand and he and his wife, Mary Lockerman, were living in District 2. Josiah and Mary were both 26 years old, and the young couple was caring for a ten year old girl in their household named Henny Matthews.5
In 1880 the Lockermans were living in Linkwood Election District in Dorchester County. Henny Matthews no longer lived with them and they had two children of their own, Sarah (b. 1874) and James (b. 1876).6
Twenty years later in 1900 Josiah and Mary were living on their own on a farm in Vienna, Dorchester County.7 In 1910 Josiah was 65 years old and worked at odd jobs; however he hadn't gone a week without working and was not considered out of work. He and Mary were living in a house in District 17 in Salem.8
Josiah Lockerman died December 23, 1925 at Salem, Maryland.9
Researched and written by Emily Huebner, 2014.
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