Confederate Naval Ancestry

[mikelcar]

While doing research on my GGGrandfather, I found a book in the Augusta University library, History of the Richmond County Skinners.
It states Jeremiah Thomas Skinner, being an excellent carpenter, was sent or went to the confederate ship building plant in Pensacola for the duration of the war.
I understand the yards were taken over by the Union after a period of time. I do not know any other information and have been unable to validate any of this info. Any help is appreciated.
Regards
Mikel

 

[UCVRelics]

While doing research on my GGGrandfather, I found a book in the Augusta University library, History of the Richmond County Skinners.
It states Jeremiah Thomas Skinner, being an excellent carpenter, was sent or went to the confederate ship building plant in Pensacola for the duration of the war.
I understand the yards were taken over by the Union after a period of time. I do not know any other information and have been unable to validate any of this info. Any help is appreciated.
Regards
Mikel

I checked the CS naval records and I didn't find any info on him, hopefully some of our other members can find something. paging @lupaglupa

 

[mikelcar]

Thanks ucvrelics

 

[Fairfield]

He's on the 1910 census in Richmond County, GA. There he lists that he is a veteran of the Confederate or Union army or navy.

 

[lelliott19]

I'm guessing you already know, but the 1850 US census shows the parents of Jeremiah T. Skinner (b. 1828) are Thomas (b. about 1798 in GA) and Frances Darby Skinner (b. 1807-09 in GA). By 1850, Jeremiah has already reached adulthood and is no longer in the household of his parents, but the 1850 US census shows a number of younger siblings, still living in the household of the parents. Let me know if you need that information.

I know this is not related to his Civil War service, but perhaps it is a date you need.

The Daily Constitutionalist. (Augusta, Ga.), February 28, 1875, page 1.
Here is the record showing where Jeremiah Thomas Skinner was serving in 1862 -- on the Alabama and Tombigbee River repairing gun carriages. @ucvrelics will be able to tell you where this was and what it entailed.

Notice that he signed the second and third one as "Jere T. Skinner" --- so he went by "Jere" aka Jerry

Here are records for your Jeremiah Thomas Skinner, age 37, serving as an artisan at the SC Armory Macon GA. These records are filed under "miscellaneous" Confederate records.

And the records for J T Skinner working as a carpenter at the Macon, GA Armory August 1863 to December 1863.

And the records showing that he enlisted on Oct 8, 1863 and served as a Private in Co A of the Armory Guards, Macon GA

And the record of his capture and parole April 20/21, 1865 at Macon GA

And this one for a "J T Skiner" working as head mechanic at Salisbury NC in March 1864. It is possible that he was sent to NC for some assignment and then wound up back in Macon later, but it would require additional research to determine if this man is your Jeremiah Thomas Skinner.

Since "S" and "L" are often mistranscribed, I decided to attach this miscellaneous record too. Jeremiah had a younger brother, James S. Skinner (b. 1836 in GA) It is possible that this record is for James -- detailed as a carpenter at Macon, GA

 

[mikelcar]

lelliott19
Thank you so much for the information. You have helped answer many questions regarding my gggrandfather. You have undoubtedly spent some significant time doing so. If there is any monetary cost fir this please let me know. Eternally grateful.
Regards
Mikel

 

[lelliott19]

You have helped answer many questions regarding my gggrandfather. You have undoubtedly spent some significant time doing so.

Oh, that's wonderful! I am so pleased to be able to assist.

@ucvrelics where is Choctaw Bluffs on the Alabama River and what would have been the process of repairing gun carriages? Would Jeremiah Skinner have built new wheels to replace broken ones or would that have been done by a man designated as a wheelwright? I guess I've never really thought much about gun carriages before. Were they pinned together with big wooden dowels? Or how were the timbers held together? What were the most typical kinds of damages that Jeremiah would have been repairing?

 

[UCVRelics]

From the date on his records and being at Choctaw Bluff, (which is located on the Alabama river near Carlton AL) that he was involved in the building of Fort Stonewall in the fall of 1862. It was a big fort that manned huge 8 inch Brook guns which would have been on big fortification carriages.