Soldier Information
Name: Charles Newman
Alias:
Place of Birth: Bath KY Year of Birth: 1832
Occupation: Farmer
Eyes: Black Hair: Black Complexion: Black
Height in Feet: 5 Inches: 5
View Ledger
Enlistment Information
Enlistment Date: January 6, 1865
Enlistment Place: Maysville
Enlistment State: KY
Compiled Military Service Record
Document: View
Congressional District: 9
Company: C Regiment(s): 121st USCI
Mustered Where: Greenup, Kentucky (Greenup County)
Mustered Out Date:
Rank at Muster Out:
Notes:
Charles Newman, age 33, born in Bath County, Kentucky, enlisted at Maysville, Kentucky (Mason County) on January 6, 1865. He was mustered into Co. C 121st USCI on January 9, 1865 at Greenupsburg (known as “Greenup” since 1872), Kentucky (Greenup County). On January 20, 1865, Private Charles Newman was promoted to Corporal at Maysville, Kentucky. In March/April 1865, Corporal Newman was sick in the regimental hospital and, at the time, owed 99 cents for ordinance. Corporal Charles Newman died in the regimental hospital of chronic dysentery on May 7, 1865. He may have signed his enlistment papers in his own hand. He was issued $35.56 worth of clothing since his enlistment. At the time of his death, Corporal Charles Newman still owed the Government 99 cents for ordinance.
Soldier Death Information
Died in war? Yes
Military Death Date: May 7, 1865
Military Death Location: Maysville, Kentucky (Mason County)
Military Cause of Death: Chronic dysentery
Death Date: May 7, 1865
Cause of Death: Chronic dysentery
Death Certificate
Soldier Pension Information
No pension card found
Widow Pension Information
Widow Pension Card: Pension Card
Widow Application Date: May 7, 1867
Application No.: 146741 Certificate No.: 112026
No other family pension card found
Pension File Information
Pension File: Pension File
Pensioners: Mary Atchison Newman
George Washington Newman
Charles Newman
Pensioner County: Adams Pensioner State: OH
Number of Pages:64
Pension Notes:
Corporal Charles Newman’s widow’s pension file revealed several important pieces of information. First, was Mary Newman’s maiden name—it was Atchison. There were several persons named “Atchison” who served as witnesses who lived near her in Adams County, Ohio who served as pension file witnesses for Mary Newman; Delilah Atchison (Mary’s mother); Alfred and Martha J. Atchison, and their sons Hiram and Henry Atchison (possible relations but more research is needed). Henry Atchison served with Charles Newman in Co. C 121st USCI. One of the witnesses who provided evidence in support of Mary Newman’s pension claim was Charlotte Atchison (who was white), who stated that she was present for the births of Charles and Mary Newman’s two children. It is very likely that Mary Atchison Newman, her children and her husband Charles Newman, were at one time enslaved in Bath County by Jesse Atchison (1810-1890) and his spouse, Charlotte Atchison (1814-1890). Second, the circumstances of Corporal Newman’s death were discussed in detail by two fellow Bath County soldiers from Co. C 121st USCI (James Barnes and Morgan Barnes), both of whom knew Charles Newman prior to enlistment. Morgan Barnes stated that Newman, “…contracted the disease of which he died by taking a severe cold which lying in very cold weather in very small tents called “Dog Tents” only large enough for two persons to sleep under. We, including said Newman had only one blanket apiece which could not keep us comfortable in the very cold weather of Jan & Feb of 1865. He died of diarrhea and camp fever, as it was called.” Finally, Mary Newman was unable to read or write, a situation which cost her dearly as she attempted to recover her husband’s backpay and bounty. Her inability to read the legal documents that she was signing resulted a pension fraud investigation in which she was accused of trying to file a second (and thus fraudulent) pension claim. In fact, Mary Newman thought she was signing a document to make a claim for her late husband’s backpay and bounty money. Fortunately for Mary Newman, the pension investigator ruled in her favor and the fraud charges were dropped. The pension investigator remarked that: “From the evidence the undersigned holds the opinion that there was no collusion between atty. and Pensioner to perpetuate a fraud on the pension office, neither was there intention on the part of either party so to do—further that the duplicate application for pension filed was owing to misapprehension of the fact on the part of the atty., and blind ignorance on the part of the claimant, the papers in the case are herewith returned.” Mary Newman desperately needed her claim on Charles Newman’s backpay and bounty money to be approved. In various places in the pension file, Mary Newman was described as “destitute.” In the end, Mary Newman was granted a pension for herself and her two sons, but she never received the backpay or bounty money for which she was entitled. The Government said that they issued checks to Mary Newman for Charles Newman’s backpay and bounty money and that they were cashed with her endorsement. Of course, given that she could neither read nor write (or sign with her own hand other than an “X”), it is almost certain that her payments were cashed by fraudsters.
Freedman’s Bank/Freedmen’s Bureau Information
No Freedman’s Bank information found
No Freedmen’s Bureau Documents found
Family Information
Mother First Name: Mother Maiden Name:
Father First Name: Father Last Name:
Siblings:
Wife #1 First Name: Mary Maiden Name: Atchison
Wife #2 First Name: Maiden Name:
Wife #3 First Name: Maiden Name:
Children: George Washington Newman 1853
Charles Newman 1858
Family Notes:
Charles Newman married Mary Atchison in Bath County, Kentucky in May 1852. They had two sons: George Washington Newman (1853-not before 1913); and Charles Newman (1858-not before 1870). After the Civil War and by 1870, Mary Newman moved her family (including her mother, Delilah Atchison) from Bath County, Kentucky to Adams County, Ohio, a county in southern Ohio, located across the Ohio River from Mason County and Lewis County, Kentucky. Adams County was also home to other African Americans named Atchison from Kentucky, several of whom were likely related to Mary Atchison Newman. One of these individuals was Henry Atchison (1838-1904) of Bath County, who served with Charles Newman in Co. C 121st USCI, and who served as a witness for Mary Newman’s widow’s pension application. Mary Newman died sometime after June 1890 when the 1890 Veterans’ Schedule census was conducted in Adams County, Ohio. Her last known residence was in Eckmansville in Adams County. Charles Newman’s eldest son, George W. Newman, left Adams County by 1897 and relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio (Hamilton County). He worked as a servant in households of affluent Cincinnatians through at least 1913, after which he vanished from the record. The Newmans’ youngest son, Charles Newman, was described in the 1870 Census as an “Invalid,” and no further records were discovered for him after 1870. No evidence was found to suggest their either of Charles Newman’s two sons ever married or had children of their own. No burial records were found for Charles Newman, his wife or for his two sons.
Family Tree:
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1870 Census
1870 Census Link: View
1870 Profession: Washerwoman
1870 Live with/near former enslaver? No
1870 Real Estate Value: 0 1870 Personal Estate Value: 0
1870 Ability to Read? Cannot read Ability to Write? Cannot write
1870 Census Notes:
In 1870, Charles Newman’s widow, Mary Atchison Newman, worked as a washerwoman. She was about 46-years-old (Census age and birth year were incorrect–off by about 10 years), and lived in Wheat Ridge, Ohio (Adams County) with her mother, Delilah Atchison (head of household), age 78, who was born Virginia in 1792, who kept house. Also at home were Mary A. Newman’s two sons: George Washington Newman, age 15, “working on Pike” (a new road that was being built nearby); and Charles Newman, age 13, who was an “invalid.” It should be noted that Adams County, Ohio played an important role in the Underground Railroad. Today, Wheat Ridge is home to a large Amish community. Also, after the 1870 Census, Mary Newman’s son, Charles Newman, vanished from the record.
1880 Census
1880 Census Link: View
1880 Profession: Keeping House
1880 Live with/near former enslaver? No
1880 Ability to Read? Cannot read Ability to Write? Cannot write
1880 Census Notes:
In 1880, Mary Newman, a widow, age 56, born in Virginia, Black, lived in Eckmansville, Ohio (Adams County). She had no occupation. She could not read or write. Other family members in the household were her son George W. Newman, Black, age 25, who worked on a farm; and Mary’s mother, Delila Grigg (it is unknown why her surname changed from Atchison to Grigg between 1870 and 1880), age 88, Black, born in Virginia, who suffered from rheumatism. Also in the household was a boarder, Wallace Hickman, age 50, Black, born in North Carolina, who was a laborer.
1890 Census
1890 Vet/Widow Census: View
1890 Census Notes:
Mary Newman was named in the 1890 Veterans’ Schedule as the widow of Charles Newman. Her residence was Eckmansville, Wayne Township in Adams County, Ohio. Charles Newman’s rank was incorrectly given as “Private”–he was a Corporal. Charles Newman was the only USCT veteran on the Census page. On another page (p. 2), William D. Atchison, Corporal, Co. H 117th USCI (Kentucky), lived in Youngsville in Adams County. He was the only other veteran from Bath County who lived in Wayne Township in 1890. William D. Atchison was enslaved by Alfred Lewis Havens (1822-1910) of Fleming County, who was the brother-in-law of James Newman, the enslaver of Charles Newman. NOTE: After the 1890 Veterans’ Census was conducted, Mary Newman vanished from the record.
1900 Census
1900 Census Link: View
1900 Profession: Servant
1900 Ability to Read? Can read Ability to Write? Can write
1900 Own/Rent: Unknown 1900 Home Free/Mortgage: Unknown 1900 Farm/House: House
1900 Census Notes:
In 1900, George W. Newman, 39, Black, was single, and working as a live-in servant living in the household of Dr. Andrew Carr Kemper (1932-1905) in Cincinnati. The Kemper family had deep roots in Cincinnati with Dr. Kemper’s ancestors having settled in the area as early as 1790. There are several streets and historic sites in Cincinnati that bear the Kemper name. Dr. Kemper was an Assistant Adjutant General during the Civil War. Kemper and his family lived at 303 Broadway. Also in the household was Louisa A. Kemper (1838-1916) born Jefferson County, Kentucky. She had four children, two were living in 1900. This address no longer exists. The neighborhood was lost to infrastructure and commercial developments in downtown Cincinnati. NOTE: By 1900, it is assumed that Mary Newman was no longer living.
1910 Census
1910 Census Link: View
1910 Profession: Houseman
1910 Ability to Read? Can read Ability to Write? Can write
1910 Own/Rent: Unknown 1910 Home Free/Mortgage: Unknown 1910 Farm/House: House
1910 Census Notes:
In the 1910 Census, George W. Newman was enumerated as “George H. Newman,” 50, born KY 1860 (wrong), mulatto, was a houseman in the household of William J. Schroder, a graduate of Yale and Harvard, lawyer, philanthropist, veteran of the Spanish American War, and Jewish. George Newman was single, and could read and write. There were two other servants in the Schroder household: Mary Jackson, 18, single, mulatto, born KY, housework; and Alice M. Goesser, 54, white, a nurse, born in Kentucky to German immigrant parents. NOTE: This was the last Census entry for George W. Newman. It is assumed that he died sometime between 1910 and 1920.
1920 Census
1920 Census information not found
Enslaver Information
Name: James Newman Location: Fleming County, Kentucky
Previous Enslaver:
Enslaver Notes:
Enslaver James Newman (1811-1898) was born and died in Fleming County, Kentucky, Shortly after James Newman’s death in 1898, his grandson, S. Lemuel Denton [1857-1906, who was a journalist], wrote full-page tribute to James Newman and other family members, that was published in the Lexington Leader on February 5, 1899. The narrative was written with a sympathetic nod to Confederacy and the themes of the “Lost Cause.” Here are some excerpts: “[James Newman] had become totally blind since I had last seen him, and came into the room from a long walk over his estate led by his little great-grandson, the grandchild [Mississippi “Mittie” Brown Call, 1871-1907] of his dear deceased daughter [Mary Lucretia Newman Brown, 1850-1872] who married a Federal soldier [William Brown, 1844-1896, Clermont County, Ohio], when the Civil War ended, and moved away to Ohio—a member of that invading army which had just overrun Kentucky and set free many thousands of dollars worth of his future father-in-law’s property, with no monetary recompense to the kind and just master.”
“Faithful Servitors” [Subheading] “Even black Charley, Dan, Sam, Ann and other slaves hesitated about leaving ‘ole massa’ and ole missus’ when they were freed, so humanely had they been treated. There is not a Negro in all that locality now where once they were so numerous, as they have flocked to the towns. Old fat Charley, whom in my childish simplicity, from watching him lift the heavy logs of the forest, I had thought to be the strongest man in the world, died soon after freedom; faithful Dan, whom grandmother’s brother, Alfred Havens, bought from their father’s estate, went away to the war but came back when peace was declared to find his old place on the plantation taken by white men and the blacks [sic] all gone; Sam, the musician, settled in Ohio after his mild slavery days were over and became well-off in this world’s goods. When Thomas Havens, my great-grandfather died, two of his sons-in-law, who had moved to the free States, persuaded grandfather to take the negroes, ranging from $500 to $1,500 in value, and give them their share in money instead. They then, it is said, worked and voted to have the slaves freed. I do not think grandfather ever entirely forgave them for that.”
“Black Ann, the companion and protector of my childhood, who never said one cross word to the little boy he can testify, though he has not seen her for a generation, could have remained but she was lonely with her people all away, and sought the populous towns.” “It was learned that she had long been a cook at Mt. Sterling, in the family of Gen. John S. Williams, the hero of the Battle of Cerro Gordo in the War with Mexico. Henry Summers, and intelligent colored musician and mimic, tells me that Ann often visits the aristocratic Negro families of Lexington. I should be glad to see my old nurse again.” “When I asked my grandfather [James Newman] at the reunion Tuesday why he whipped black [sic] Ann once—one of my earliest memories—the only one of his slaves I ever saw him chastise, he replied, that during the Civil War, when in Kentucky brother often fought against brother, as was the case in the Breckinridge, Crittenden and Hanson families, he often fed soldiers of both armies, though naturally his sympathies were with the South, and he preferred to aid the Confederates; one time he directed them to camp in his woods and help themselves to his larder and granary, Ann heard what he said and while visiting the Federal camp thoughtlessly told a sentry of the act of her master and whereabouts of his hidden friends; that had he not previously fed the Colonel in command, and other Union officers, at his family table he would have stood a good chance of being shot or hung. ‘That is why I whipped her!,’ he concluded with some warmth as those now sightless eyes saw the events of more than thirty years ago pass in panorama as if but yesterday.” (Source: S. Lemuel Denton, “James Newman of Fleming County,” Lexington Leader, February 5, 1899: 5.
1850 Enslaver Census
1850 Census Link: View
1850 Number of Enslaved:
1860 Enslaver Census
1860 Census Link: View
1860 Real Estate Value: $7,700 1860 Personal Estate Value: $1,000
1860 Slave Schedule Link: View
1860 Number of Enslaved: 2
1870 Enslaver Census
1870 Census Link: View
1870 Real Estate Value: $16,000 1870 Personal Estate Value: $4,000
1880 Enslaver Census
Compensation Information
Compensation Application not found