Thomas Cross, Company A

The enslaved Thomas Cross fled the plantation where he was born while the slave owner — also named Thomas Cross — was away in the Confederate Army. Thirty years after his service, the 1st USCC soldier described his participation in the fall of Richmond and named the ships that transported the regiment from Virginia to Brazos Santiago, Texas.

 

Invalid — 894,250 / 680,811

Questionnaire, Thomas Cross, 14 June 1898
[married] Sophronia Cross — Sophronia Halstead
[when, where, by whom] 1878 in March — at Bowers Hill, Va. — Rev. Jordan Thomas Green
[record] Records, Norfolk Co. Court
[previously married] yes, Caroline Cross — died in Norfolk, Va. in Dec 1866
[living children] no

 

Deposition, Thomas Cross, 24 January 1902
“I am about 70 years of age; am an invalid and can do no work — have a terrible swelling in my feet — was a farmer when able to work & I live near Bowers Hill, Va….

“I was born in Nansemond Co., Va. I was a slave: was owned by Thos. Cross. My father was Eley Butler but I have never gone under his name. I have always been called Thomas Cross … was raised on a farm before enlistment. …

“While in the army I was in Va. & Texas. I was in file when Richmond fell & then they put us on a steamer called the ‘Meteor’ & sent to Texas. We landed at Brazos Santiago & remained there all the time we were in Texas. We came home from Texas on a boat called the ‘Morning Star.’ I have lived in this neighborhood since I left the army. I have always been a farmer.

“I was only in one regular battle viz Deep Bottom but I was in some skirmishes — was in a skirmish at Wilson’s Landing & at Bermuda Hundred & at Chickihominie [sic]. A man named Tripp was killed out of my co. at Chickihominie [sic] Swamp. We had other men killed but I cannot name them. I was never on detached service while I was in the army.

“Mr. Asbury was my atty. Personally I paid him nothing. My witnesses were Bill Scott & old man Dick Outten. They charged me nothing. I was a witness for them.

“Girrard was my Col.
Seip was next to Girrard
Brown as Major but I think he was next in command to Girrard. He was ahead of Seip.
Dey was my Capt.
Ricker was a Lt.
Brown was 2nd Lt.
Joe Fuller was Ord. Sgt.
Rix, Fulford & White were duty Sgts.
Warren, Chas. Thornton, & myself were corporals.”

“Willis Nixon, Henry Whitehurst, & myself bunked together.
“I never put in an application for pension under old law. I draw a pension of eight dollars a month — have been a pensioner for eight years. I have dropsy of the feet & suffer much with a pain in back.  I have nothing else the matter with me …

“I have been married twice. My first wife Caroline died in Norfolk while I was in Texas. I next married Sophronia Halstead. We were married near here in Norfolk Co. March gone [sic] be married for 23 years. We were married by Rev. Jordan Thomas. My wife had been previously married to Willis Jordan but he died near here in [illegible] years ago. Halstead was her maiden name. I have no children under 16 years of age.”

 

Letter from Bureau of Pensions to Thomas Cross, Bowers Hill, Virginia, 1 October 1909
“In your claim for increase in pension benefit filed September 18, 1909] you allege that you were born February 1838, while in your former declaration filed November 25, 1907, you give 1841 as the year of your birth.
“You should explain this discrepancy, under oath, and state the correct date of your birth, giving year, month, and day, stating how you are able to determine the same, and if you adhere to February 1838, you should furnish the evidence indicated in the attached letter.”

 

Letter from Bureau of Pensions to Thomas Cross, Bowers Hill, Virginia, 16 October 1909
“In your claim for increase in pension benefit filed September 18, 1909] you are requested to state the town, township, plantation, county and State in which you lived during 1850 and 1860, with the full name of your former owner, or of the person with whom lived during those years.”

[Cross responded on the same sheet of paper — Leslie]:
“Nov 9th 1909
“I was born at South Key or Quay Nansemond Co., Va. as told by my mother February 1838, in slavery, belonged to Thos. Cross, never lived anywhere else until I left and came to Suffolk when the U.S. troops occupied that town in 1862. Then was employed to wait on the sick at the U.S. Naval Hospital, about 10 months, left and joined the army as heretofore stated, never belonged to any other person but Thos. Cross who was in rebel army at the time I left home.”

 

Questionnaire, Thomas Cross, 27 March 1915
[birthdate/birth place] South Quay, Nansemond Co., Va
[post-office at enlistment] Norfolk,Va.
[wife’s full name and maiden name] Caroline Cross — same
[where, when, by whom] “no marriage – given to me by Thos. Cross in slave time 1851”
[record] no
[previously married] “I have married since the above date to Fronia Halstead, July 1880 but she dead — have no wife now”
[present wife previously marriage] no
[living with wife] wife dead
[names and birthdates of all children, living and dead] Katherine Cross born 1876 — dead