Nathaniel Sanderson alias Natt Sanders, Company G

Nathaniel Sanderson was born into slavery in Northampton County, Virginia. After his military discharge, he settled in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, then later Baltimore. He married Sandra Gordon on St. George Island, St. Mary’s County, Maryland in 1893. Witnesses, including neighbors and army comrades, confirmed his inability to work.
Note: When I couldn’t make out the street address I Googled both variants and concluded the correct address in Baltimore is “2156 McEldroy Street” — Leslie

Invalid — 1.283,742 / 1,113.889
C– 2,496,599

Questionnaire (Form3-389), Nathaniel Sanderson, 13 May 1902
“[wife] Sandra Sanderson born Gordon
[when, where, by whom] “Jany 5, 1893 … St George Island, Md … Rev. Barnes“
[marriage record] “License to marry … minister (white) denomination”
[previously married] no
[living children] no

Questionnaire (Form 3-474), Nathaniel Sanderson, 13 May 1902
[when/where born] “Can’t give exact date birth about 1844 … Northampton Co, Va”
[enlistmen][ Norfolk
[residence before enlistment] Northampton Co., Va
[occupation] famr hand
[slave/slaveowner] yes, slave, A Samuel Sanderson
[discharged] City Point, Va
[residence since discharge] St George Island, Saint Mary’s County, Maryland
[occupation] none …. not able
[height / color/ permanent marks] 5′ 6″ / dark / none
[served under another name] no
[known by another name] no
[residence / post-office address] 916 N Duncan Alley, Baltimore, MD
[NOTE: The address “Jenkins Alley” is struck through with a pencil and “Duncan Alley” is written below.

Sworn Statement, Nathaniel Sanderson, 17 February 1903
59 years old; 916 N Duncan st, Norfolk, Va
“I generally go by name Nat Sanders … I have been trying to find some of my old comrades”

Sworn Statement, George Woodlawn, 4 November 1904 [date stamped by Pension Bureau]
66 years old; residence, 2156 McEldroy St, Baltimore, MD
“I am a near and intimate neighbor of Nathaniel Sanderson & for last four years I have seen him every day, or nearly every day … [applicant] has not able to perform any labor whatsoever since April 4, 1902”

Sworn Statement, William Lilly, 4 November 1904
52 years old; residence, 2200 McEldlry street, Baltimore, MD
“I am an intimate acquaintance of Nathaniel Sanderson … We lived in same house for the last four years. I have seen him every day.
“Also personally appeared

Sworn Statement, Wilson Brickhouse, 25 July 1905
60 years old; residence, 421 Princess Anne Ave
“I served in Company G … with the claimant … I am not quite positive as to the name he served under, but I used to call him Nat Sanders were in the army together … he was the only man of such a name in our company.”

Sworn Statement, Philip Bagnall, 25 July 1905
69 years old; residence, 36 North st; post-office adddress
“I served … with the claimant … I used to call him Nat Sanders when we were in the army together”

Sworn Statement, Nathaniel Sanderson
“can produce no church, bible, or other public record of my birth. From what my parents told me I believe I am now 70 years old — no one is now living who knew me in childhood.”

“Hospital & Military Prison at Point Lookout”

The image appears in a book owned and digitized by the New-York Historical Society. It includes watercolor sketches of Confederate prisoners of war and the African American troops who guarded them. It also includes correspondence and notes. Click here or on the image above to view the catalog record and the complete book.

There’s a story about a Union soldier who when he came across his former enslaver said “Bottom rail on top now.”

Access the Point Lookout State Park website for more information.

“One More River to Cross”

“One More River to Cross” is a permanent exhibit at the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center which “features the rich stories of the Underground Railroad in Niagara Falls, the crucial role of its location and geography, and the action of its residents – particularly its African American residents. The exhibition highlights modern connections to this history and invites visitors to consider their own choices when faced with present-day limitations on people’s freedoms.”

A number of African American men who served in the 1st US Colored Cavalry enlisted in Buffalo, New York — some as substitutes. One theory is that they had settled in upstate New York as they made their journey on the Underground Railroad.

Charlie Williams, Company K

This soldier enlisted in Buffalo, New York but settled in Louisiana after the war. He stated that before his enlistment he was a “plantation laborer.”

Invalid — 998,025 / —–

Declaration for Pension, Charlie Williams, 20 September 1890
52 years old; residence, Bunkie, Avoyelles, Louisiana
“Also personally appeared Peter Hubbard residing at [illegible] and George Smith, residing at Evergreen … acquaintance with him for about 20 years and about 20 years, respectively”

Claimant’s Affidavit, Charlie Williams, 25 July 1892
55 years old; post-office address, Bunkie, La
“I have not served in the military or naval service ince 1866 Dec 25th”

General Affidavit, Charlies Williams, 9 August 1894
59 years old
“I cannot hold my head down to work. I am deaf in my left ear. And lossed [sic] my middle finger on left hand caused by [illegible] bite.”

Letter from Mrs Dicie Williams, Bunkie, Louisiana to Pension Bureau, Washington, DC, 6 December 1894
“[Charles Williams] enlisted in Buffalo, NY and discharged in Texas rec’d his discharge papers & Bounty in New Orleans, La. and can prove that he is sufficiently disabled according to law to recieve [sic] a pension has been examined by the US Special Examiner of Natchez, Miss.”

Declaration of Pension, Charlie Williams, 20 May 1898
68 years old; residence, Bunkie, Avoyelles, Louisiana
“That prior to his enlistment as above he was of good, sound physique, being when enrolled a plantation laborer; that since his discharge as above he has resided in the state of Louisiana, his occupation being that of a farmer”
“Also personally appeared, Ernest Pitts, residing in Cottonport, La. and Allen Roth residing at Cottonport, La … their acquaintance with him for 12 and 15 years, respectively”

Granville Hunt, Co UNA

This is a skimpy file but since research doesn’t begin and end with a pension application, additional research is a matter of course.

Widow — 328, 349 / —–, Julia A. Hunt

Sworn Statement, Julia A. Hunt, [no date available]
“The plantation records are not available are not available in proof of my marriage to said Graville Hunt, and that I have failed to find the whereabouts of my former owners, and cannot say whether they are dead or alive.,,, I was married to Granville Hunt when I was of the age of about thirteen years …

General Affidavit, Absalom Steele, 12 November 1887
67 years old; residence, [blank], Marion County, Illinois
“That he was well acquainted with Geo W Hunt during the late Rebellion and that he was a loyal man”
“