Soldier Information

Name: Benjamin Smith
Alias:
Place of Birth: Hardin County KY
Year of Birth: 1845
Occupation: Laborer
Eyes: Dark Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Height in Feet: 5 Inches: 7
View Ledger

Enlistment Information

Enlistment Date: November 29, 1864
Enlistment Place: Louisville
Enlistment State: KY

Compiled Military Service Record

Document: View
Congressional District: 4th
Company: B
Regiment(s): 13th USCHA
Mustered Where: Louisville, Ky.
Mustered Out Date: November 18, 1865
Rank at Muster Out: Private
Notes:

The Compiled Military Service Records for Benjamin Smith state he enlisted on November 29, 1864, at Louisville, Kentucky, and he mustered in on the same date. Benjamin was 19 years old, height of 5′ 7″, with dark eyes, dark hair, and dark complexion. Benjamin served in the 13th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, Company B. In March and April 1865, he was noted as absent from his regiment: “On detached service recruiting.” Benjamin mustered out on November 18, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky. The CMSR includes enlistment papers, which include the name of Benjamin’s enslaver: George Smith.

Soldier Death Information

Died in war? No
Military Death Date:
Military Death Location:
Military Cause of Death:
Death Date:
Cause of Death:

Soldier Pension Information

Pension Card Link: Pension Card
Pension Application Date: July 10, 1890
Application No.: 801885 Certificate No.: 580300
Alternate First Name: Alternate Last Name:

Widow Pension Information

Widow Pension Card: Pension Card
Widow Application Date: July 27, 1907 Application No.: 873872
Certificate No.:

Other Family Pension Information

No other family pension card found

Pension File Information

Pension File:
Pensioners:   

Pensioner County:  Pensioner State:
Number of Pages:
Pension Notes:

On a pension card for Benjamin Smith, there is an application for an Invalid Pension dated July 10, 1890, application no. 801885, certificate no. 580300. There is also an application for a Widow’s Pension, but there is no certificate number. The widow’s name is: Mitia Smith. This pension card provides supporting evidence for the name of Benjamin Smith’s wife: Mitia Smith. The date of the Invalid’s Pension application, July 10, 1890, suggests Benjamin was still alive at this time. There is no certificate number for the Widow’s Pension, which suggests the application was rejected. However, the application date of July 27, 1907, suggests Benjamin died shortly before this date. Both the Invalid and the Widow’s pensions were filed in Kentucky. The full pension files have not been retrieved.

Freedman’s Bank/Freedmen’s Bureau Information

Freedman’s Bank Link: View
Freedman’s Bank Notes:

There is a Freedman’s Bank index record of a Benjamin Smith who opened an account in Louisville, Kentucky. The number 1569 is next to his name, which could be an account number, case number, or some other identifying number. There is no corroborating evidence this is our soldier Benjamin Smith.

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: Mitia Maiden Name:
Wife #2 First Name:  Maiden Name:
Wife #3 First Name:  Maiden Name:
Children:

Family Notes:

The only definitive family member of Benjamin Smith is a widow, Mitia Smith, who filed an application for a Widow’s Pension in 1907. In the 1900 census, she reported that she had never had any children. There is a possible record of a first wife in an 1800 census record. There is no corroborating evidence that this is the same Benjamin Smith of the USCHA, but if it is, he would have had a first wife named Jane and three children: Birdie, Jack, and Diner(?).

Family Tree:
View Family Tree on Ancestry.com
Please note: this requires a paid Ancestry.com account to view. If you do not have have a paid Ancestry subscription, you can still see this family tree on Ancestry by following these directions.

1870 Census

1870 Census information not found

1880 Census

1880 Census information not found

1890 Census

1890 Census information not found

1900 Census

1900 Census Link: View
1900 Profession: Flour packer at flour mill
1900 Ability to Read? Cannot read Ability to Write? Cannot write
1900 Own/Rent: Unknown 1900 Home Free/Mortgage: Unknown 1900 Farm/House: House
1900 Census Notes:

In the 1900 Census, Benjamin Smith is living with his wife Micia (Mitia) in a house in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. “Ben” and Micia have been married for 20 years, and they have no children. (Micia reported that she has had no children born to her.) Ben is a flour packer in a flour mill, and Micia did not report an occupation. Although this record states that Benjamin was born in 1858, which is a difference of 13 years from what was reported in his military records, this is very likely soldier Benjamin Smith since he lives in Hardin County, and since his wife’s unique name matches what was given in her Widow’s Pension application (Micia vs. Mitia).

1910 Census

1910 Census information not found

1920 Census

1920 Census information not found

Enslaver Information

Name: George Smith
Location: Hardin County, Kentucky
Previous Enslaver:
Enslaver Notes:

In 1860, George Smith lived on a farm in Hardin County, Kentucky. His real estate was valued at $17,600, and his personal estate was valued at $9,000. He was the enslaver of 12 people, including one 15-year-old male, who was the exact age to be Benjamin Smith.

1850 Enslaver Census

1850 Census information not found

1860 Enslaver Census

1860 Census Link: View
1860 Real Estate Value: 17600
1860 Personal Estate Value: 9000
1860 Slave Schedule Link: View
1860 Number of Enslaved: 12

1870 Enslaver Census

1870 Census information not found

1880 Enslaver Census

1880 Census information not found

Compensation Information

Compensation Application not found