Member Review Andy joined the USCT

[Moutrey]

Andy was a slave belonging to Elizabeth Watts. He was born abt. 1842 and described as a mulatto in the 1850 Cass Co., MO Slave Schedule. In 1852 he was sent to live with Elizabeth's daughter Margaret Watts, the wife of Upton Hays, on their farm near Westport, Jackson Co., MO. In 1861 Margaret sent him with her brother-in-law, Amazon Hays, to Callaway Co., MO. Andy was in charge of herding Upton Hays' mules. Amazon Hays' wife was Mary Berry, her first cousin whose father Caleb Berry had a farm in Callaway Co. Andy may have lived there. In 1863 Margaret Hays was exiled from Jackson Co. and went to live with relatives in Fulton then Williamsburg. By 07 November 1863, however, Andy had successfully run away to join the United States Colored Troops. By 28 DEC 1863, Andy had enlisted in the United States Colored Troops (Union), and "had his gun to fight for his freedom".

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See: The Watts Hays Letters www.wattshaysletters.com Letter 53

I have not been able to find an enlistment record for Andy nor find what happened to him. His owner, before Elizabeth Watts, was one of her 3 sons who died between 1844 and 1851 and whose estates were probated in Cass Co., MO. They were Matthew Yocum, Berry R. Yocum and Jesse Yocum.

 

[lupaglupa]

That would be a hard record to trace unless you knew which surname he chose to use.

 

[Moutrey]

Several relatives and I have done extensive research to find where Andy enlisted and served with no success. He may have been recruited in Callaway Co., MO and enlisted at St. Louis. There seems to be a lack of records for USCT Missouri troops.

 

[archieclement]

Early on Missouri runaways were often put in neighboring states USCT, as slavery was legal here.

 

[Moutrey]

Early on Missouri runaways were often put in neighboring states USCT, as slavery was legal here.

From Margaret Hays' 1863 letters she reports that there was a draft for Union recruits going on and that she did not think that they would need to take any white men as so many Blacks were joining. The USCT were formed by Pres. Lincoln in Jan. 1863 and it seems that by the fall of 1863 there were USCT recruiters in Callaway Co. and surrounding counties. Illinois would be the nearest Free State. After Lincoln's proclamation any former slave who joined the USCT was guaranteed their freedom.

 

[19thGeorgia]

Freedom Fighters of Missouri

Over 8,000 African Americans from Missouri – mostly former enslaved – volunteered to fight for freedom in the Union Army in 1862 with the Confiscation Acts. Not until the issuance of th…

mocivilwarblog.com

 

[archieclement]

Well then he should be easy to find on a Missouri roster...........and all the accounts that many joined other states wrong.

Like Missouri digital heritage "Even more African American Missourians enrolled in out-of-state units."

Obviously if a runaway tried to enlist in the area he had run away from, he could be recognised, captured and returned before he enlisted. Most in state recruiters would have been trying to recruit slaves with the owners permission "To facilitate recruiting in the states of Maryland, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky, the War Department issued General Order No. 329 on October 3, 1863. Section 6 of the order stated that if any citizen should offer his or her slave for enlistment into the military service, that person would, "if such slave be accepted, receive from the recruiting officer a certificate thereof, and become entitled to compensation for the service or labor of said slave, not exceeding the sum of three hundred dollars, upon filing a valid deed of manumission and of release, and making satisfactory proof of title."

 

[19thGeorgia]

There was an Andrew Watts that served in the 63rd USCT - but he was 40 years old.

Andrew Yocum? - none found.

 

[archieclement]

There was an Andrew Watts that served in the 63rd USCT - but he was 40 years old.

Andrew Yocum? - none found.

The 63rd USCT was also raised in Louisiana.

 

[19thGeorgia]

Freedom Fighters of Missouri

Over 8,000 African Americans from Missouri – mostly former enslaved – volunteered to fight for freedom in the Union Army in 1862 with the Confiscation Acts. Not until the issuance of th…

mocivilwarblog.com

How many with the first name Andy/Andrew would be among those 8,000? At least 100.

 

[Moutrey]

Freedom Fighters of Missouri

Over 8,000 African Americans from Missouri – mostly former enslaved – volunteered to fight for freedom in the Union Army in 1862 with the Confiscation Acts. Not until the issuance of th…

mocivilwarblog.com

Thanks for the link to the Blog. One of my relatives thought he joined the 56th USCT and died of cholera.

 

[Moutrey]

Well then he should be easy to find on a Missouri roster...........and all the accounts that many joined other states wrong.

Like Missouri digital heritage "Even more African American Missourians enrolled in out-of-state units."

Obviously if a runaway tried to enlist in the area he had run away from, he could be recognised, captured and returned before he enlisted. Most in state recruiters would have been trying to recruit slaves with the owners permission "To facilitate recruiting in the states of Maryland, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky, the War Department issued General Order No. 329 on October 3, 1863. Section 6 of the order stated that if any citizen should offer his or her slave for enlistment into the military service, that person would, "if such slave be accepted, receive from the recruiting officer a certificate thereof, and become entitled to compensation for the service or labor of said slave, not exceeding the sum of three hundred dollars, upon filing a valid deed of manumission and of release, and making satisfactory proof of title."

I am fairly certain that Andy was born abt. 1842. His owner, Elizabeth Watts, was in California. Her Agent in Missouri was Upton Hays who had been killed in Sept. 1862. He was probably living on one of Margaret Hays' Uncle's farm in Callaway Co. Since Margaret did not actually see Andy but heard reports of his joining the USCT maybe her Uncle or his wife allowed Andy to enlist. There was one of the Berry slaves that joined the USCT about the same time as Andy. - Thanks for your comment.

 

[19thGeorgia]

Thanks for the link to the Blog. One of my relatives thought he joined the 56th USCT and died of cholera.

Here are all the Andys and Andrews in the 56th USCT. Do any of the surnames sound familiar-

 

[Fairfield]

You're going to be hard pressed to solve this! If Andy was an escaped slave, it is possible that he did not use any recognizable surname but, rather, invented one. Also, if Andy was in uniform by 12/1863, he not only had enlisted but had mustered in; this narrows down the time frame (just about everyone in the 56th enlisted/mustered in by September).

 

[19thGeorgia]

There was one of the Berry slaves that joined the USCT about the same time as Andy. - Thanks for your comment.

There were five with the surname Berry that joined the 56th.

 

[lelliott19]

If Andy was an escaped slave, it is possible that he did not use any recognizable surname but, rather, invented one.

Many of the enslaved men who left my gg grandparents' plantation in April/May 1863 used the family surname when they enlisted. Some are easier to find than others due to age and/or place of birth as listed on plantation records and matching on their enlistment records. Others that match by name, but whose records don't necessarily match up exactly with plantation records regarding age/place of birth -- they are harder to pin down.

I am fairly certain that Andy was born abt. 1842. His owner, Elizabeth Watts, was in California. Her Agent in Missouri was Upton Hays who had been killed in Sept. 1862. He was probably living on one of Margaret Hays' Uncle's farm in Callaway Co. Since Margaret did not actually see Andy but heard reports of his joining the USCT maybe her Uncle or his wife allowed Andy to enlist. There was one of the Berry slaves that joined the USCT about the same time as Andy. - Thanks for your comment.

I did several searches of USCT records for Andrew/Andy Watts, Andrew/Andy Yocum [also spelling variants Yokum , Yoakum, Yokam, Yocam, etc.] and Andrew/Andy Hayes. As @19thGeorgia mentioned, there is a Andrew Watts who served in the 63rd USCT but he was 40 years old. There is an Andrew Hayes who was 25 years old and served in the 81st USCT but he enlisted March 15, 1865 at New Orleans and the enlistment papers say he was born in Amite County, MS.

 

[lelliott19]

Thanks for the link to the Blog. One of my relatives thought he joined the 56th USCT and died of cholera.

Oh wow! I just saw this part of your post - about cholera

So the Andrew Watts who served in the 63rd USCT was of mixed race and died of dysentery - which could easily be confused with cholera in family lore. How sure are you about the year of Andy's birth?

You mentioned this information in the OP:

His owner, before Elizabeth Watts, was one of her 3 sons who died between 1844 and 1851 and whose estates were probated in Cass Co., MO. They were Matthew Yocum, Berry R. Yocum and Jesse Yocum.

Have you checked the estate papers? In the estate papers of my 3x great gradfather, the enslaved that were passed down to the children (including my 2x ggrandfather) are enumerated by name, age, and family group. Perhaps the same is true in the case of whichever son died? If you can locate the estate records, there is likely to be all kinds of helpful information. Hopefully including Andy's age at the time of the Yocum son's death?

 

[Moutrey]

The 63rd USCT was also raised in Louisiana.

Andy was a slave belonging to Elizabeth Watts. He was born abt. 1842 and described as a mulatto in the 1850 Cass Co., MO Slave Schedule. In 1852 he was sent to live with Elizabeth's daughter Margaret Watts, the wife of Upton Hays, on their farm near Westport, Jackson Co., MO. In 1861 Margaret sent him with her brother-in-law, Amazon Hays, to Callaway Co., MO. Andy was in charge of herding Upton Hays' mules. Amazon Hays' wife was Mary Berry, her first cousin whose father Caleb Berry had a farm in Callaway Co. Andy may have lived there. In 1863 Margaret Hays was exiled from Jackson Co. and went to live with relatives in Fulton then Williamsburg. By 07 November 1863, however, Andy had successfully run away to join the United States Colored Troops. By 28 DEC 1863, Andy had enlisted in the United States Colored Troops (Union), and "had his gun to fight for his freedom".

---

See: The Watts Hays Letters www.wattshaysletters.com Letter 53

I have not been able to find an enlistment record for Andy nor find what happened to him. His owner, before Elizabeth Watts, was one of her 3 sons who died between 1844 and 1851 and whose estates were probated in Cass Co., MO. They were Matthew Yocum, Berry R. Yocum and Jesse Yocum.

Here are the excerpts from the Watts Hays Letters (www.wattshaysletters.com) about Andy.
Letter 52

Williamburg Caliway Co. Mo.

Nov the 7/63

Dear Mother

Once more I have the pleasure of answering a kind letter received a few days ago. The letter was directed to Westport, my friends forewarded on to me. This is the fourth letter I have writen since i have been in this place. We have peaceble times hear. Have never had but little trouble hear with the exception of negros running off. They are leaving every few days, my last one has gone, Andy. I had run him down hear for two years thinking I could save him, but they are but little profit to anyone now.

Letter 53

December the 28/63

Dear Mother
(down the page) Times is quiet hear at this time. Some excitement about the Draft, but I think it will wear off. I think they will get negros enough without taking any of the white men. They give the State credit with the negros that is sent. I do hope that they will take them all. Andy went some time ago, the last time I heard of him he was dressed in his uniform and had his gun to fight for his freedom.

 

[Moutrey]

Oh wow! I just saw this part of your post - about cholera

So the Andrew Watts who served in the 63rd USCT was of mixed race and died of dysentery - which could easily be confused with cholera in family lore. How sure are you about the year of Andy's birth?

You mentioned this information in the OP:

Have you checked the estate papers? In the estate papers of my 3x great gradfather, the enslaved that were passed down to the children (including my 2x ggrandfather) are enumerated by name, age, and family group. Perhaps the same is true in the case of whichever son died? If you can locate the estate records, there is likely to be all kinds of helpful information. Hopefully including Andy's age at the time of the Yocum son's death?

None of the slaves who lived on the Upton Hays farm near Westport, Jackson, Missouri were Plantation slaves. All of the building on the farm were burned by 1863 so there are no birth or other records for these people. Some of them are listed in the 1850 Cass Co., MO Slave Schedule and the 1860 Jackson Co., MO Slave Schedule. Some of the slaves were listed in the Cass Co. probate records.

 

[lelliott19]

Some of the slaves were listed in the Cass Co. probate records.

I'd start there. If you can verify the year of Andy's birth by his age at the time the will was probated, it will help you to either confirm or rule out the 40 yo. Andrew Watts of the 63rd USCT who died of cholera.

It looks like the probate records are fairly extensive - at least for Berry R. Yocum.