Madison County, NC Genealogy Society

MADISON COUNTY, NC

GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

There were two items included in this packet that presents direct conflict with the Southern Claims Commission purpose. There are records from the Archive Office War Department, dated Jan. 2, 1877 that states that John Franklin of Madison County, NC was paid in 1863 a total of $3998.83 for shovels, picks, axes, horse shoes, horse shoe nails, etc. This claim states that one John Franklin appears to have been largely engaged in furnishing the C.S. with the above named items. Another receipt to John for 1864 totals $ 2219.

After reading the remainder of the packet I conclude there were definitely TWO John Franklins and their records were filed together.

The original statement was taken 10/15/1872 and filed 12/26/1872 by Rollins and Nichols of Marshall. The claim was resubmitted 3/15/1878 by George C. Roundtree and Co. The statements were taken by D.F. Davis, Special Claims, 3/8/1878.

The purpose of the claim was to collect for one good bay horse, 6 yrs old, that was taken by Union soldiers in Feb. 1864 by Commander of General Officers at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. John was in the hospital at the time the horse was taken. James Gosnell was in charge of "horse sitting" while John was in the hospital. Value allowed: $140.

John stated he was 57 at date of testimony, 3/15/1878, making him born in c.1821. He stated he was born and had always lived at the same place in Madison County.

"I fed Union soldiers and concealed them often during the war but I cannot now recollect the times and places and persons." James Gosnell testified that John Franklin fed him and aided in concealing him while he was avoiding conscription. "I was threatened by Col. Keith with death. Maj. Garrett of the Rebel Army took my hogs, grease, and bacon ..." " I had a horse taken in 1864 from my home in this county by Confederate soldiers."(this is not the same horse that was taken by the Union Army at Cumberland Gap, Tn.)

He testified that he was threatened and arrested by the Rebels in 1862 for his Union sentiments and kept in jail for awhile. "I was arrested sometime in 1862 at Reubin Tweed's in Madison County by Maj. Erwin because I was a Union man. I was kept under arrest about two weeks (part of the time in the common jail of Madison County). When I was released I was too old for the Conscript law to be in force."

John volunteered to serve with Co. E 2nd NC Mt'd Inf. in 1863 under Col. Smith Bainey and was discharged June, 1865 in Knoxville, Tenn.

"I had one son in Co.E 2nd NC Mt'd Inf. He went in 1864 and was honorably discharged at the close of the war."

"I had one brother, George Franklin, in the Confederate Army for a short while. He was taken off as a conscript in 1863 and deserted at Knoxville and there volunteered in the Federal Army."

#17 Who were the leading and best known Unionist of your vicinity during the war?

John Franklin's answer:
John Chandley
A.G. Tweed
Martin Shelton

James Gosnell's answer:
John Stanton
Charles Gunter
Oliver Cook

John Chandler's answer:
James Ramsey
Allen Henderson
A.G. Tweed
John Chandley
John Tweed