Peter Adams, Company C

Peter Adams was probably in his eighties when he died at the National Soldiers’ Home not far from Fort Monroe in 1925. He owned several parcels of land in what’s now Hampton, Virginia. Entries with blue headings were shared by Adams’ first cousin 3x removed, Glenn Blackwell.

 

Invalid – 885,905 / 1,070,578

Claimant’s Affidavit, Peter Adams, 24 February 1893
52 years old … resident: Phoebus, Elizabeth City County, Virginia
“That his rupture was incurred in February 1864 at Mill Creek, Va. while drilling, that his horse which was young and unruly threw him upon the pommel of his saddle and this rupture has been a source of trouble to him ever since then … [As a result of contracting ‘La Grippe’ his eyesight became defective] it was good previous to that time.
“His rheumatism he first noticed in 1874 while cutting wood and hauling seine in Chesapeake Bay. As it prevented him from working at that kind of work.
“His left foot was injured while working at Fortress Monroe on Oct 12, 1872 in the Engineer Dept. A dump tray swinging around and it being dropped too quick by the soldier holding the trip line.”

 

General Affidavit, Caesar Mallory & Louis Seldon, 1 July 1901
62 years old and 65 years old, respectively; both residents of National Soldiers Home, Va.
“That they are and have been acquainted [with claimant] for 30 years and 29 years, respectively … That they also served with him in the same Company and Regiment … that he always was, and always has been, a man of sober and good moral character and [if he had any] vicious habits of any kind, they, the affiants would certainly know about it.”

 

Questionnaire, Peter Adams, 23 July 1921
[Born] Northumberland County, Va.
[Enlisted] Elizabeth City County, Va.
[Residence] Elizabeth City County, Va.
[Occupation] Laborer
[Enslaved] Slave, William D. Jones; free when enlisted
[Post-discharge residence] Elizabeth City County, Va.
[Current residence] National Soldiers Home, Va.
[Other names] Peter Blackwell Adams, father’s name was Blackwell

 

Death Certificate, Peter Adams, 1 February 1925
[Residence] Fox Hill Rd., Phoebus, Va.
[Informant] Henry J. Hall, National Soldiers Home, 6 June 1897
[Married] Yes but wife’s name not included
[Occupation] Laborer
[Birthplace] Virginia
[Parents’ names] Unknown
[Cause of death] Chronic nephritis
[Cemetery/Burial/Undertaker] National Cemetery, Va.; 3 February 1925; Jas. Buchanan, Natl Soldiers Home

 

Ancestry.com. U.S., Burial Registers, Military Posts and National Cemeteries, 1862-1960 [Original records: Burial Registers, compiled 1867-2006, documenting the period 1831-2006] (accessed 15 June 2018)
[1st of 2 non-consecutive pages]: Hampton National Cemetery; Died 1 February 1925;  Grave mark #880-A; His regiment was first entered as “1st USCT” but the “T” was struck through with red ink and replaced by “Cav.”
[2nd of 2 non-consecutive pages]: His regiment is recorded as “1st USCT” but it was not corrected. Next to his name there’s a handwritten note (in pen) “Died in Phoebas [sic], Va.”

 

Circuit Court, Elizabeth City County, Virginia, Annie James v. Eliza Ball etal, 22 May 1926
Peter Adams owned several lots of land at his death. When the property was sold, the proceeds were distributed to these relatives: Annie James, a full sister; Emily Norris, half-sister; Eliza Ball, half-sister; Margaret Ball, half-sister; James Blackwell, half-brother; Warner Neal and Edward Neal, children of Carrie Neal, a full sister; Catherine Carter, a deceased full sister. These individuals were named but their relationship to Peter Adams and/or abovenamed individuals was not defined: Emma Plummer, Cyrus Carter, Blackwell Carter, Eliza Wiggins, Walter A. Carter, John L. Carter, Willie Carter, Cora Hayden, and Carrie Rainey.