Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

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

1. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (Levin Hodson Collection) Levin Hodson diary and ledger 1838-1845, MSA SC 2765. 

2. "History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers, War of 1861-6, Volume 2," Vol. 366 P. 278, Archives of Maryland Online.

3. Wilmer, History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers, War of 1861-65. Vol. 2, 261.

4. "History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers, War of 1861-6, Volume 2," Vol. 366 P. 278, Archives of Maryland Online.

5. UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU (Census Record, MD) 1870. "Josiah Lockerman." District 3, Dorchester, Maryland.

6. UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU (Census Record, MD) 1880. "Josiah Lockerman." Linkwood, Dorchester, Maryland.

7. UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU (Census Record, MD) 1900. "Josiah Lockerman." Vienna, Dorchester, Maryland.

8. UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU (Census Record, MD) 1910. "Josiah Lockerman." Salem, Dorchester, Maryland.

9. Josiah Lockman, Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900, NARA T289, 2588825, fold3.

Researched and written by Emily Huebner, 2014.

 

Return to Introductory Page


 
 
 


This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user.

Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!
© Copyright September 09, 2014 Maryland State Archives