Thomas Charity, Company E

Four brothers from Southampton County, Virginia — all freeborn — enlisted in cavalry units: Henry Charity, Company E, 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry; Joshua Charity, Company A, 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry; Thomas Charity, Company E, 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry; and Friday Charity alias Friday Whipple, Company I, 2nd U.S. Colored Cavalry.

Before enlistment this soldier and two of his brothers were bound out until each was 21 years old.

Mother – 292,885 / 225,641, Gincy Charity
See M.O. Ctf 225,614 Friday Charity alias Friday Whippler I 2d U.S.C. Cav (2 sons)

[Note: The mother filed for pensioner’s benefits on 19 May 1882. The handwritten note at the bottom of the pension index card — it begins “See M.O. Ctf” and stands for “Mother’s Original Certificate” — directs the researcher to the shared application and certificate number assigned to both young men. — Leslie]

Sworn Oath, Gincy Charity, 21 August 1885
“Q: Where were you living in 1865?
A: Near Newsoms, Southampton County, Virginia and have never changed my residence.
Q: What were the names and ages of each member of your family in 1865?
A: William Charity, son 39 yo; Robert Charity, son, 37 yo; Louisa Charity, daughter, 35 yo; Mary Charity, daughter, 33yo; Henry Charity, son, 20 yo; Friday Charity, son, 18yo; Thomas Charity, son, 17 yo; John Charity, son, 13 yo and “John Charity her son was hired out to support his mother until he was 21 years old.”
“Q: Who was your former owner?
A: Freeborn and never belonged to anyone
Q: Did Thomas Charity marry and did he leave a child?
A: He never married and did not leave a child.
Q: At what time did your husband die?
A: [Note: The use of “she” and “her” means the examiner answered for the bereaved mother though I don’t know why — Leslie] She never had a husband all of her children above named were illegitimate and she has no property except a bed and a few housekeeping articles in all not worth twenty dollars. Her means of support was by her children, John Charity and others.
Q: Did Thomas Charity live with you at date of his enlistment and how did he aid you in your support prior to his enlistment?
A: He did live with me at his enlistment and by his wages he helped to support me.
Q: Have you married since Thomas Charity died and did he send you any money for your support while he was in the service?
A: I have never married and he never sent me any money while in the service because he could not get it to me.”

“Also personally appeared … Elijah G. Joyner and Benjamin F. Knight and made oath that they both have known the above named woman Gincy Charity (col’d) all their lives and that she is the mother of the above named soldier Thomas Charity.”

Sworn Statement, Herrod Pope, 10 June 1886
“[S]tated that [Gincy Charity] had eight children named William Charity, 39 years old; Robert Charity, 37 years old; Louisa Charity, 35 years; Mary Charity, 33 years old; Henry Charity, 20 years old; Friday Charity, 18 years old; Thomas Charity, 17 years old; and John Charity, 13 years old. Their father died in 1851. Three of the above children Henry Charity, Friday Charity and Thomas Charity was [sic] bound out to George Fogg who died 8 years back and as we can not give George Fog’s testimony the above named Herrod Pope swears that he was knowing to the binding out of these above named children and that the said Fogg was to pay the said Gincy Charity one hundred dollars each for the three children above named who was [sic] bound out annually until each one was 21 years old, and the said Herrod Pope further swears that the said Thomas Charity the soldier was in the employ of the said Fogg at the time of his enlistment and that Gincy Charity did receive the pay for each one as long as they remained with the said Fogg and that it was actually necessary for Gincy Charity’s support.

“And that she has been supported by what she could do herself and her youngest child John Charity (who is now free).

“[Thomas Charity] was paid three hundred dollars in advance of bounty money when he entered and was transferred to Fort Powhatan, there he died early in the Spring of 1865 … the officers of his company was Capt. Charlie Emmerson and Lieut. Garrett and George Saddler was Orderly Sergeant and they were the officers with him when he died or he was under their care. Thos. Charity was not wounded. Henry Charity was with him when he enlisted and was with him when he died. He died in the U.S. Hospital from disease contracted in the Army.”

Sworn Statement, Jincy Charity, 22 January 1887
“[I]n the year 1865 the names, ages, and relationship of my family was as follows:
Henry Charity – 21 years – son; John Charity – 14 years – son; Louisa Charity – 30 – daughter;
Mary Charity – 28 years – daughter … I furthermore swear that no one has been legally bound to support me since 1865 nor since the death of the soldier nor have I ever married since the death of my son Friday … that my husband abandoned me prior to the death of the soldier and left me to support myself as best I could.
“I furthermore swear that I had my son Friday bound out to Mr. Geo. Fogg (now dead) about 3 years prior to his death for my support and that he ran away & joined the U.S. Army & on account of which I did not receive one cent for his service.
“My son Friday wrote no letters while in the Army & I only possessed a knowledge of his death by information of one Henry Williams who returned (a private of Co I 1st Reg US Col Cav).
“We the witnesses to the above hereby state that we are citizens of the aforesaid co & state that our P.O. Address is Newsoms, Va., that we believe & know the above statements to be true that we have lived near the applicant and have known all of the above facts to have actually taken place; that we are property owners and considered reliable witnesses.
“B.F. Knight
E.M. Darden”