Greene County, NC Civil War Pension Files

Military Information

• Regiment:  14th HA USCT Company H
• Rank: PVT
• Enlistment:  March 13, 1865 in Newbern, NC  (info from USCT Service Records)
• Discharged: Dec 11, 1865(info from USCT Service Records)
• Physical Description:  unk

Pension File Information

• Pension Status:  Rejected / Application  Filed by Absolom Williams + Annie Fields 
• Depositions By:  Lewis Mincey (Minshew), Prince Minshew, Judy Ham, Henry Jordan
• Residences Post War: 

Family Information

• Parents:  Not stated in Pension Records 
• Siblings: UnK
• Wife #1: Jane + 3 Children all died on Haywood Edmundson Plantation. 
• Wife #2:  Patsy Minshew  married while enslaved Died March 30, 1887 at John Blount Plantation near Snow Hill
• Children: By Patsy
• Alice, Annie(1870), Rosetta, Salomon,Lemon, Asbolom (1861), + 6 more (died)

Enslavement Information

• Slave Owner :  
  •  Isaac Williams – Caleb Williams (enslaved)
  • Haywood Edmunson – Jane (enslaved) (Caleb’s 1st wife)
  • William Edmundson – Lewis, Prince, Patsey Minshew (enslaved) Caleb’s 2nd wife and brother in laws)

Their Story Information

The premise of Caleb William’s pension application was for his minor children to receive his pension. Absalom and Annie filed for their father’s pension and here are stories from depositions in the quest for their pension. 

Lewis Minshew was also born in Greene County, Nc on William Edmundson’s Plantation, his enslaver. William Edmunson’s plantation was located near Cox Store. While on the Edmundson Plantation he became acquainted with Caleb William, who was on the Isaac William’s Plantation. Isaac William was Caleb’s enslaver and his plantation was neighboring William Edmundson’s Plantation. Caleb and Lewis saw each other often. Lewis knew that Caleb was first married to Jane under slavery customs. Lewis also bore witness to the death and burial of Jane on Haywood Edmundson’s Plantation.  Per Lewis, Caleb’s 2nd wife was Patsey Minchew, his sister.  Prince Minchew, presumably Patsey’s other brother, witnessed Caleb’s and Patsey’s marriage in Greene County, NC 1865 by Justice of the Peace- Nathan Peele. 

Unfortunately most of Caleb’s children died prior to applying for minors pension. Abolsom (October 10, 1862) and Annie Williams (1870) were the only children left to apply for the pension according to the law at the time.  Judy Ham,  Henry Jordan, Prince Minchew, and Lewis Minchew verified these births in their deposition. 

Trisha’s Genealogy Note-  As you can see Patsy was enslaved by Wm Edmundson but her surname was Minshew. Her mother’s  or father’s name must be Minshew and it appears that enslaved surnames in Greene County may more often be passed down by family and not acquired by previous enslavers. I still take it  case by case. 

Resources

Minor Application No 545736.,  Williams, Caleb, Private, Company H 14th Heavy Artillery US Color Troop; Case Files of Rejected Pension Group 15; National Archives Building, Washington, DC Retrieved 12 Dec 2021