Soldier Information
Name: Clayborn Fox
Alias: Clayton, Claiborne
Place of Birth: Madison County KY Year of Birth: 1846
Occupation: Farmer
Eyes: Black Hair: Black Complexion: Black
Height in Feet: 5 Inches: 5
View Ledger
Enlistment Information
Enlistment Date: September 9, 1864
Enlistment Place: Camp Nelson
Enlistment State: KY
Compiled Military Service Record
Document: View
Congressional District: 8th
Company: E Regiment(s): 5th USCC
Mustered Where: Camp Nelson, Kentucky
Mustered Out Date: December 19, 1866
Rank at Muster Out: Private
Notes:
Remarks on soldier’s Company Descriptive Book page (page 2) of the CMSR stated “Discharged on surgeon’s certificate of disability Dec. 19 1865”. Page 3 of the CMSR also listed Richard Fox as the enslaver.
The January-February muster roll page (page 6) of the CMSR reported Clayborn Fox was missing in action at Simpsonville, KY on 25 January 1865. This was the site of the massacre of 5th USC Cavalry soldiers as they escorted a herd of cattle to Louisville. Twenty-two men were killed and eight were severely wounded. These troops had previously fought at the battle of Saltville, VA. https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/35
Clayborn’s status was changed from missing in action to sick and in hospital at Lexington by the March-April muster roll report. He remained sick and in hospital until December 1865. He was discharged according to New Albany, IN surgeon’s certificate of disability. Clayborn Fox had not been paid since his muster date. He was discharged at Jeffersonville, IN, December 1865, according to page 18 of his CMSR.
Clayborn Fox’s Certificate of Disability was included in his CMSR file (page 24). The certificate stated his left index finger had been injured in the battle at Simpsonville, in addition to the amputation of two toes.
Soldier Death Information
Died in war? No
Military Death Date:
Military Death Location:
Military Cause of Death:
Death Date: December 9, 1914
Cause of Death: Brights disease
Death Certificate
Soldier Pension Information
Pension Card Link: Pension Card
Pension Application Date: March 15, 1866
Application No.: 104.715 Certificate No.: 141.164
Alternate First Name: Alternate Last Name:
Widow Pension Information
Widow Pension Card: Pension Card
Widow Application Date: April 19, 1915
Application No.: 1045.955 Certificate No.: 817.567
Other Family Pension Information
Pension Card Link:
Application Date:
Application No.: Certificate No.:
Pension File Information
Pension File:
Pensioners:
Pensioner County: Pensioner State:
Number of Pages:
Pension Notes:
Both the soldier and widow were awarded pension benefits. Two Veterans Administration Pension payment cards were retrieved, noting Clayborn’s pension data and the data relevant to his widow, Mary Fox. These cards are linked to the Clayborn Fox Family tree.
Freedman’s Bank/Freedmen’s Bureau Information
No Freedman’s Bank information found
Notes from Freedmen’s Bureau Documents:
Clayborn, named as Clayton Fox on this document was missing in action at Simpsonville, Kentucky on 25 January 1865.
Clayborn’s status was changed from missing in action to sick and in hospital at Lexington by the March-April muster roll report. He remained sick and in hospital until December 1865. He was discharged according to New Albany, IN surgeon’s certificate of disability. Clayborn Fox had not been paid since his muster date. He was discharged at Jeffersonville, IN, December 1865, according to page 18 of his CMSR. Fellow soldiers engaged in attack at Simpsonville are listed in this document.
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2583507:62309?tid=&pid=&queryId=5593695895ea322e259490571751268d&_phsrc=bIz275&_phstart=successSource
Family Information
Mother First Name: Violet Mother Maiden Name: Embry
Father First Name: Richard (Dick) Father Last Name: Fox
Siblings: Christopher Fox
Lizzie Fox
Wife #1 First Name: Mary Maiden Name: Evans
Wife #2 First Name: Maiden Name:
Wife #3 First Name: Maiden Name:
Children: Violet Fox 1891
Della C Fox 1893
Family Notes:
Clayborn married Mary Evans in Madison County, KY in 1890. They were parents to two known daughters. Mary survived Clayborn after his death in 1914 and she and their daughters migrated from Kentucky to Indianapolis, Marion County, IN by 1920. They resided in Marion County, IN past 1940, according to federal census schedules. An official death record was not retrieved for Mary Evans Fox.
Family Tree:
View Family Tree on Ancestry.com Please note: this requires a paid Ancestry.com account to view
1870 Census
1870 Census Link: View
1870 Profession: Farm Laborer
1870 Live with/near former enslaver? No
1870 Real Estate Value: 1870 Personal Estate Value: 200
1870 Ability to Read? Cannot read Ability to Write? Cannot write
1870 Census Notes:
Claiborne was enumerated in the household of his presumed parents, Dick and Violet Fox. He was presumably single in 1870, with personal property valued at $200. Claborne’s age was noted to twenty-four years of age.
1880 Census
1880 Census Link: View
1880 Profession: Farm Hand
1880 Live with/near former enslaver? No
1880 Ability to Read? Unknown Ability to Write? Unknown
1880 Census Notes:
Soldier was enumerated as head of household in Madison County, listed as “Clabe” Fox. His approximate age (twenty-three) appears to be several years younger than his actual age, given a birth year of 1846. The enumerator likely underestimated the age, or he was provided erroneous information. His marital status noted he was married; however, no wife was listed in the household. Clabe’s parents, Richard and Violet Fox resided in the household in 1880.
1890 Census
1890 Census information not found
1900 Census
1900 Census Link: View
1900 Profession: Farmer
1900 Ability to Read? Cannot read Ability to Write? Cannot write
1900 Own/Rent: Own 1900 Home Free/Mortgage: Mortgage 1900 Farm/House: Farm
1900 Census Notes:
Clayborn Fox was enumerated as “Claben” Fox in the 1900 Madison County, KY census with his wife Mary or May. The couple had been married ten years at the time of the enumeration. Mary’s age was noted as twenty-nine. She was noted as having given birth to two children, with two surviving by 1900. Two daughters were listed in the household, Viola age eight and Della age seven. Clayborn’s sister-in-law, Callie Evans resided in the household and a servant named Isaac McKinney, as well. Isaac appeared to be a farm laborer working on the farm with Clayborn.
An 1890 marriage record for Claibourne Fox and Mary Evans was retrieved, supporting the ten years of marriage noted on the 1900 census schedule.
1910 Census
1910 Census Link: View
1910 Profession: Farmer
1910 Ability to Read? Can read Ability to Write? Can write
1910 Own/Rent: Own 1910 Home Free/Mortgage: Free 1910 Farm/House: Farm
1910 Census Notes:
Clayborn and wife Mary were enumerated in Madison County in 1910. The enumerator noted that both could read and write. By 1910, Clayborn owned his farm, free of mortgage. The Fox daughters, Violet/Viola and Della resided in the household with their parents. Mary’s enumeration noted she had given birth to four children with two surviving by 1910. Two additional children must have been born and died between 1900 and the 1910 census enumeration.
1920 Census
1920 Census Link: View
1920 Profession: None
1920 Ability to Read? Can read Ability to Write? Can write
1920 Own/Rent: Own 1920 Home Free/Mortgage: Mortgage 1920 Farm/House: House
1920 Census Notes:
Clayborn’s widow, Mary Fox was enumerated in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana in 1920. Clayborn died in 1914. Mary’s daughters Violet and Della resided in her household. Although the enumerator noted that Violet was thirty-five, her actual age was probably closer to thirty-three based on previous census enumerations, listing her as one year older than her sister, Della. Della was noted as twenty-two in 1920. Both Violet and Della were employed as laborers in a hair goods establishment.
By 1930, Mary Fox was enumerated as the owner of a home valued at $2,000 in Indianapolis, Indiana. At the reported age of fifty-six, she was employed as a laundress for a private family. Her daughters continued to reside with her in 1930. Violet was employed as a chambermaid for a private family, and Della as a clerk in the office of the Secretary of State in Indianapolis.
Enslaver Information
Name: Richard Fox Location: Madison County, KY
Previous Enslaver: Isham Fox
Enslaver Notes:
Isham Fox of Madison County, KY was the likely enslaver of Clayborn Fox. Isham’s twenty-six year old son, Richard was a resident in his household.
By 1860, Richard Fox was an enslaver of seven individuals. A young, enslaved male was listed at eleven years of age, about three years disparity from Clayborn’s documented birth year in 1864, which is within an approximate match. Richard Fox was enumerated in the 1870 Madison County, KY census as Dick Fox.
Isham and Richard Fox were noted to be farmers in 1850, 1860 and 1870.
1850 Enslaver Census
1850 Census Link: View
1850 Slave Schedule Link: View
1850 Number of Enslaved: 16
1860 Enslaver Census
1860 Census Link: View
1860 Real Estate Value: $19,700 1860 Personal Estate Value: $7,600
1860 Slave Schedule Link: View
1860 Number of Enslaved: 7
1870 Enslaver Census
1870 Census information not found
1880 Enslaver Census
1880 Census information not found
Compensation Information
Compensation Application not found