Grave #814: Peter Wilson

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Peter Wilson, Private, Co. C, 36th USCT Infantry (United States Colored Troops). Born a slave in North Carolina and owned by Dr. Turner Wilson prior to the war, Peter Wilson ran away and enlisted in the 36th USCT at Plymouth, NC on July 13, 1863. Killed in action, June 16, 1864.

Images

Grave #814 Peter Wilson

Compiled Service Record

Handwriting, Font, Parallel, Monochrome photography

Company Descriptive Book -- Compiled Service Record, page 2

Company Muster-in Roll -- Compiled Service Record, page 3

Company Muster Roll for October 1863 -- Compiled Service Record, page 4

Company Muster Roll for November/December 1863 -- Compiled Service Record, page 5

Handwriting, Font, Material property, Parallel

Company Muster Roll for January/February 1864 -- Compiled Service Record, page 8

Handwriting, Font, Rectangle, Material property

Company Muster Roll for March/April 1864 -- Compiled Service Record, page 6

Company Muster Roll for May/June 1864 -- Compiled Service Record, page 7

Company Muster-out Roll -- Compiled Service Record, page 9

Compiled Service Record, page 10

Compiled Service Record, page 11

Compiled Service Record, page 12

Final Statement -- Compiled Service Record, page 13

Final Statement -- Compiled Service Record, page 14

Pension file, page 1

Handwriting, Rectangle, Font, Whiteboard

Declaration for Widow's Pension (December 11, 1865) (pension file, page 3)

Declaration for pension, back (pension file, page 4)

Letter from N. W. Allen of the 36th USCT stating that Anna Wilson was the widow of Peter Wilson (November 26, 1864) (pension file, page 17)

Pension file, page 18

Request to Adjutant General's Office for information (January 9, 1866) (pension file, page 13)

Pension file, page 14

Handwriting, Rectangle, Font, Paper product

Request to Surgeon General's Office for information about Peter Wilson's death (January 19, 1866) (pension file, page 7)

Pension file, page 8

Request for Adjutant General's report (January 1866) (pension file, page 190)

Adjutant General's Report (January 26, 1866) (pension file, page 6)

Request for verification Chaplain Stevens' rank and signature (May 1, 1866) (pension file, page 20)

Pension file, page 21

Peter and Anna Wilson were married by Chaplain David Stevens on May 12, 1864 (pension file, page 10)

Verification of David Stevens' signature (May 18, 1866) (pension file, page 19)

Brief in the widow's pension case of Anna Wilson (December 1, 1866) (pension file, page 2)

Pension file, page 184

Pension file, page 15

Pension file, page 16

Pension file, page 192

Suspension of Anna Wilson's pension (March 28, 1874) (pension file, page 22)

Pension file, page 23

Overview of the Anna Wilson pension case (1904) (pension file, page 175)

Overview, page 2 (pension file, page 176)

Overview, page 3 (pension file, page 177)

Overview, page 4 (pension file, page 178)

Overview, page 5 (pension file, page 179)

Pension file, page 191

Handwriting, Rectangle, Font, Tints and shades

A second woman, Barbery/Barbara Wilson, also claimed a widow's pension in 1884 stating that she had been Peter's wife during slavery (pension file, page 211)

Deposition from Mrs. M. E. Winston, former owner of Barbery/Barbara Wilson, about the slave marriage of Barbery to Peter Wilson (October 10, 1884) (pension file, page 213)

Barbara Wilson's Declaration for Widow's Pension (October 28, 1884) (pension file, page 215)

Barbery Wilson's deposition in her pension claim (February 4, 1891) (pension file, page 218)

Wilson deposition, page 2 (pension file, page 219)

1860 Census Slave Schedule shows Dr. Turner's slaves listed near P. H. Winston (owner of Barbery Wilson).

Rectangle, Handwriting, Font, Material property

Continuation of Dr. Turner's slaves

Font, Rectangle, Material property, Parallel

1863 map of Bertie County, NC. The slave quarters of Dr. T. Wilson are labeled to the north of Windsor.

Dr. Turner Wilson occupied this house (302 S King St, Windsor, NC) sometime after 1852 and the small outbuilding behind the house was used as his office

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

Thirty-four year old Peter Wilson enlisted as a private in company C, 36th USCT Infantry on July 13, 1863 at Pylmouth, NC. Probably born near Windsor, NC, before he enlisted he was a slave owned by Dr. Turner Wilson, most likely engaged in farming since he listed “Farmer” as his pre-enlistment occupation. Less than a year after his enlistment he was killed in action by Confederate guerillas at Pierson’s farm near Richmond on June 16, 1864.

The pension file connected to Peter Wilson is very interesting because two women filed for a pension separately, both claiming to be his widow. The first, Anna Wilson, married Peter Wilson in 1864 while he was in the 36th USCT. She was successful in gaining a pension; however, she later lost her pension and went through many appeals after evidence surfaced that she had been living with another man after Peter's death. The second woman, Barbery (or Barbara) Wilson, was married to Peter Wilson under a slave marriage before Peter ran away from his owner and joined the Federal Army. She was not successful in claiming a pension. Peter's mother and siblings also claimed pensions, stating that Peter Wilson had no wife at all. The pension file is an illustration at how marriage and relationships were understood within slavery as well as the gender expectations of women who held widow's pensions.

Sources

Pfanz, Donald C. "Where Valor Proudly Sleeps: A History of Fredericksburg National Cemetery, 1866-1933." National Park Service, 2007. (Available at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP)

Cemetery Roster & Book File, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP

Pension file of Peter Wilson, Fold3, Accessed May 21-24, 2021.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Photograph by Kathleen Thompson

Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War, compiled 1890 - 1912, documenting the period 1861 - 1866. NARA Record Group 94, ID 300398, Roll 0024. Accessed through Fold3, May 21, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, May 21, 2021.

1860 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedule (North Carolina, Bertie, Windsor), page 1. Accessed through Ancestry, May 24, 2021.

1860 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedule (North Carolina, Bertie, Windsor), page 2. Accessed through Ancestry, May 24, 2021.

Google Maps. Accessed May 24, 2021.