What Do We Have?
Mary F. Freeman, Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Al Freeman, Camp Schoonmaker
December 19, 1862
Starting with the 1860 census for Mary F. Freeman, I was off and running.
The Results of the Hunt
The 1860 census revealed that Mary F. Freeman, age 22, lived with her widowed mother, Malinda Freeman, age 43, in Georges, Fayette, Pennsylvania. Also in the household were numerous siblings, Alson W Freeman (the soldier writing the letter), 20; Jno F Freeman, 16; Julia V Freeman, 10; and Azel C Freeman, 8.
In 1860, Alson worked as a farmer, presumably on the family property because the Freeman were fairly wealthy for the surrounding area. The census noted their real property was valued at $6,000, and their personal property was valued at $1,000. In comparison, others nearby had no real property and about $100 in personal property.
Mary and Al's father, Ellis Freeman, died November 1, 1859 of unknown causes. He was 46. His occupation was listed as farmer. [U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885]
By the time of the census in 1880, Malinda lived on the farm with A.W. Freeman (presumably Alson). Alson returned home from the civil war, but was not without difficulties. He applied for a civil war pension in 1895, stating he was an invalid. [U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934] The application noted he served in the 7 14 Pennsylvania Calvary. Of note, the aka on the application has a name of Allison Freeman, which is how he is listed in the National Park Service list of soldiers (this made research a little tricky). He was a private during his entire time in the military and was with the 14th Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry (159th Volunteers).
Alson, born December 30, 1839, died on August 6, 1910, a widower at the age of 70. His death certificate noted he was a farmer. The cause of death was tuburculosis he had in the spine, right hip, ankle and lung for the past 10 years. [Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963]
I was able to find information that he married Mary Elizabeth Shoaf in 1864 until her death in 1881. They did not appear to have any children, but I was not able to find any primary source information to document this. Interestingly, Alson was living with his mother in 1870 and 1880 according to the census records. I wonder what happened with this couple. Bad match? Stress from Alson's return from the war?
Mary married John James in 1865. As of the 1900 census, they lived with their son Arthur, born in May 1865 (hmm). The census notes she had two children, and only one survived. Both James and his son were farmers who worked land they owned.
By the 1910 census, Mary was widowed, and continued living on the farm with her son. Unfortunately, I was unable to find the names of the parents for John M. James, and due to the common name, I couldn't find his date or cause of death or whether he served in the military.
As of the 1920 census, 82 year old Mary was still living with her bachelor farmer son, who was 54 years old by that time. Mary Francis James died on April 4, 1928 of "paralysis due to cerebral hemorrhage and senility". She was 90 years old. [Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963]
The Letter
Dear sister
I will have to go on guard this after one mistake right away I will have to go on guard tomorrow for not going on dress parade this afternoon that's if the doctor doesn't mark me unfit for duty for I intend to report sick in the morning but very often it does no good the boys tried to play this off so much I got a letter from [illegible] last night we are at work now from morning till 9 o'clock at night if we are not sick and it is most awful we have had to practice jumping our horses over logs fixed up a piece from the ground heavens you are to see the boys pitching off and horses falling down I believe there are men here that never till they came here the doctor give old Jonathan's [illegible] his discharge but the captain and Colonel won't sign it he has to stay here but they can't make him do anything why the devil don't you send me them papers it won't cost much we all combed our heads in the morning in the tent the other day and they all catch a louse apiece but me and I didn't comb much for fear of finding some to we have some stuff to kill them now we have got our bounty but it was it was promised though only $27 instead of 42 and that's about all we will ever get I don't know whether to send it home or not probably have to have gloves and books and things that are old [illegible] find us and we have to pay for what he does find us and they are not worth anything I am seeing accounts of lots of poor old soldiers freezing to death while on picket but I won't freeze as long as there are there's any clothes or fire if I do have to let on to be sick does John [illegible] stay at our house yet I would like to be at home about Christmas but it no used to say anything to our old baldheaded captain unless you want to get cursed if ever I tell you or mother to write to me to come home to attend to something you must do it but I won't do that for a good while and I'll try to get just discharged first and if I can't they will never get any good out of me has singing broke up at the Grove yet tell mother I will send her enough money to pay Jake most of most for threshing and what owe her as she can sell something off mine a good [illegible] of fellows started their money home in letters and it was taken out poor fellows to that had nothing at home or their families to live on this war is an awful thing write immediately if not sooner and tell all the news
In 1860, Alson worked as a farmer, presumably on the family property because the Freeman were fairly wealthy for the surrounding area. The census noted their real property was valued at $6,000, and their personal property was valued at $1,000. In comparison, others nearby had no real property and about $100 in personal property.
Mary and Al's father, Ellis Freeman, died November 1, 1859 of unknown causes. He was 46. His occupation was listed as farmer. [U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885]
By the time of the census in 1880, Malinda lived on the farm with A.W. Freeman (presumably Alson). Alson returned home from the civil war, but was not without difficulties. He applied for a civil war pension in 1895, stating he was an invalid. [U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934] The application noted he served in the 7 14 Pennsylvania Calvary. Of note, the aka on the application has a name of Allison Freeman, which is how he is listed in the National Park Service list of soldiers (this made research a little tricky). He was a private during his entire time in the military and was with the 14th Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry (159th Volunteers).
Alson, born December 30, 1839, died on August 6, 1910, a widower at the age of 70. His death certificate noted he was a farmer. The cause of death was tuburculosis he had in the spine, right hip, ankle and lung for the past 10 years. [Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963]
I was able to find information that he married Mary Elizabeth Shoaf in 1864 until her death in 1881. They did not appear to have any children, but I was not able to find any primary source information to document this. Interestingly, Alson was living with his mother in 1870 and 1880 according to the census records. I wonder what happened with this couple. Bad match? Stress from Alson's return from the war?
Mary married John James in 1865. As of the 1900 census, they lived with their son Arthur, born in May 1865 (hmm). The census notes she had two children, and only one survived. Both James and his son were farmers who worked land they owned.
By the 1910 census, Mary was widowed, and continued living on the farm with her son. Unfortunately, I was unable to find the names of the parents for John M. James, and due to the common name, I couldn't find his date or cause of death or whether he served in the military.
As of the 1920 census, 82 year old Mary was still living with her bachelor farmer son, who was 54 years old by that time. Mary Francis James died on April 4, 1928 of "paralysis due to cerebral hemorrhage and senility". She was 90 years old. [Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963]
The Letter
Dear sister
I will have to go on guard this after one mistake right away I will have to go on guard tomorrow for not going on dress parade this afternoon that's if the doctor doesn't mark me unfit for duty for I intend to report sick in the morning but very often it does no good the boys tried to play this off so much I got a letter from [illegible] last night we are at work now from morning till 9 o'clock at night if we are not sick and it is most awful we have had to practice jumping our horses over logs fixed up a piece from the ground heavens you are to see the boys pitching off and horses falling down I believe there are men here that never till they came here the doctor give old Jonathan's [illegible] his discharge but the captain and Colonel won't sign it he has to stay here but they can't make him do anything why the devil don't you send me them papers it won't cost much we all combed our heads in the morning in the tent the other day and they all catch a louse apiece but me and I didn't comb much for fear of finding some to we have some stuff to kill them now we have got our bounty but it was it was promised though only $27 instead of 42 and that's about all we will ever get I don't know whether to send it home or not probably have to have gloves and books and things that are old [illegible] find us and we have to pay for what he does find us and they are not worth anything I am seeing accounts of lots of poor old soldiers freezing to death while on picket but I won't freeze as long as there are there's any clothes or fire if I do have to let on to be sick does John [illegible] stay at our house yet I would like to be at home about Christmas but it no used to say anything to our old baldheaded captain unless you want to get cursed if ever I tell you or mother to write to me to come home to attend to something you must do it but I won't do that for a good while and I'll try to get just discharged first and if I can't they will never get any good out of me has singing broke up at the Grove yet tell mother I will send her enough money to pay Jake most of most for threshing and what owe her as she can sell something off mine a good [illegible] of fellows started their money home in letters and it was taken out poor fellows to that had nothing at home or their families to live on this war is an awful thing write immediately if not sooner and tell all the news
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