My Great Great Grandfather Joseph Fleming Thomason Of Virginia and the Civil War.

I started my genealogy search about two years ago. I was having a bad winter and not feeling great but I could at least do this search off and on. I searched for all members of my family and my husband's family so it kept me busy. I mainly used a site on the internet that I'm sure you all know about for my searching. My Mom is still living and gave me some information. I also had cousins and aunts that could help me out.

It's strange the things you find out searching for family and how their all connected. My Dad's family is connected to my Mom's family, something she never knew. I wish my Dad were still alive he would have enjoyed this.

In the the photo above is the grandson of Joseph Fleming Thomason and some of his great-grandsons.

Joseph was born in Jan. 1, 1812 in Henry, Virginia, United States

His
Death July 9, 1882 in Wayne City, Wayne, Illinois, USA

1827 his father Peter moved the family to Smith, TN

It must have been a hard trip all the way from Va by wagon. Indians and sickness all along the way.

1831 He moved to Jefferson Co. IL

1832 He fought in the Battle of Colley's Grove in the Black Hawk War under Col. Leech and Capt. Biggerstaff.

The Black Hawk War is now often remembered as the conflict that gave young Abraham Lincoln his brief military service. Other notable American participats included Winfield Scott, Zachary Taylor, Jefferson Davis and William Hamilton.

1832 He married Cassandra E "Cassie" Cox in Jefferson Co. Il married by John Tyler.

Poor Cassie she must have spent many a day alone with her children and worry over her husband and sons in the war.

1840 the family moved to Hamilton, Illinois

1846 Joseph fought in the Battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo under Capt. Hicks, 3 rd regiment. Illinois volunteers. He was wounded in the right leg by a grape shot.

In 1847 the family moved to Wayne Co, Ill.

Aug of 1861 Joseph was mustered into the Civil War along with 3 of his sons. They fought for the Union.

James Monroe Co. G 110th Infantry Regiment Illinois

Richard Morgan Co. G 110th Infantry Regiment Illinois

Peter H Co. D 40 Illinois Infantry

He was mustered out in Aug 9, 1864 . Served under Col. Hicks, Company D, 40th IL. Infantry, and under Captain Hooper and Lieutenants Stewart and Joe Rider. At the Battle of Shiloh he was taken prisoner and was held in prisons at Memphis, Mobile, Chanawba, Ala and Macon, GA.

As the battle calmed Joseph searched the bodies for his son Pete. He eventually found his son wounded and dying on the battlefield. Pete ask his father for a drink. Joseph with enemy still in the area first carried his son to a little knoll and layed him in the shade of a tree. He then went down to a small branch to get a canteen of water. As he was filling the canteen Joseph was spotted by Confederate Soldiers who crept up and captured him. At his capture he told the confederate soldiers of his son. They allowed Joseph to return to his son to give him the water before they took him away as a prisoner. Joseph returned with Pete's water and a father had to leave a dying son while a dying son watched his father be taken as a prisoner of war. Peter Thomason is buried at Shiloh.

Joseph was taken to Andersonville prison in Georgia, one of the worst prisons. Prisoners were deprived of water and food.

On Joseph's release another interesting story unfolds. While in the Stockades or Prisons Joseph would make Masonic signals to those that would pass before him. He was approached a few times by Confederates that recognized the signals and told him they would do what they could to get him out of there. Eventually they were able to arrange Joseph to be a part of a prisoner exchange. Joseph's health never recovered from being in Andersonville.

How awful it must have been for Joseph to come home and have to tell Cassandra that their son Peter had been killed.

Battle of Shiloh

The Fortieth Infantry was enlisted from the counties of Franklin, Hamilton, Wayne, White, Wabash, Marion, Clay and Fayette.

The Regiment was engaged in the battle of Shiloh. Colonel Hicks was severely wounded the first day. The Regiment lost in this battle one commissioned officer killed and three wounded; 42 men killed and 148 wounded.

Cassandra died in Sept of 1872. They had 9 children together, Joseph and Cassandra are buried next to each other in the Olive Branch Cemetery in Wayne Co. Buried in the cemetery Joseph helped to purchase only 2 years before his wife Cassie died.

Elizabeth Jane married Barney Haley,Wilson Butler

James Monroe married Louisa ? Almeda Jane Richardson,Amanda E Cozart

Peter died single

Richard Morgan married Sarah Ann Atteberry. My great-grandfather Geororge Washington Thomason married as his second wife Sena Sinks who was half sister of Sarah Ann Atteberry. I am also related to the Atteberrys from my mother's side of the family.

George Washington married Martha Thomason, Sena Sinks, Mary C. Corgan

Mary E.

Ferriby Ann married John Carl

Joseph Piercy (Jody) married Mary Evaline Rich

Jasper Newton married Martha J. Cozart,Minnie Mae Van Horn Wilson

1874 Joseph married Angelina Rich Crisel and had a son

Uriah Alexander his wife was Martha Francis Glenn

Wayne County Press 20-July,1882
A Pioneer Gone

Joseph F. Thomason or better known as uncle Joe Thomason, died at his residence in Wayne City, July 9th, at 2 o'clock a.m. He was born in Henry County Virginia, Jan. 1st, 1812, consequently he had lived over his three score and ten. When he was fifteen years of age, he with his father moved to Smith, or what is known as Macon county Tenn. four years afterward he moved to Mount's Prairie (Mound's Prarie), Jefferson county Illinois. Then in 1847 in Wayne, which has been his home ever since. In May, 1832, he volunteered in the Black Hawk War, under Col. Leech and Capt. Biggerstaff, and although serving as special scout was only in the Battle of Colley's Grove. He volunteered in the Mexican War May, 1846, under Capt. Hicks, 3rd regiment. Illinois Volunteers, participated in the Battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. At the latter he was wounded in the right leg by a grape shot, but remained with the Army until the close of the War. When the Rebellion called for the services of patriotic men he was again, in May, 1861, found in the ranks under his old Capt. now Col. Hicks, Company D, 40th Ill. Infantry, under Captain Hooper and Lieutenants Stewart and Joe Rider. At the Battle of Shiloh he was taken prisoner and was held in prisons at Memphis, Mobile, Chanawba, Ala., and Macon, Ga.; released on parole June 6, 1862, at Old Vicksburg and Chattanooga and on to Atlanta, where he was discharged at the expiration of his time. He was a life member of the Ill. State Association of Union Prisoners of War.
He had long been a consistent member of the Masonic fraternity, a firm and unwavering Republican in politics.
He was converted and joined the Missionary Baptist church at the age of nineteen and has ever since endeavored to live up to his profession. When the writer first knew him he was pastor in charge of a society, but a stroke of palsy has for a few years prevented him from taking an active part in the Master's cause. His comrades in the late war tell me that Uncle Joe never omitted his devotions, even amid the scoffs and jeers of his companions.Truly a good man and a hero has passed away. "He has fought a good fight; he has kept the faith and has finished his course.

I received the email below from a man who's grandmother had been married to my Great Grandfather, George Washingtion Thomason, she was his third wife. Her grandson emailed me and told me a little about my great great grandfather, Joseph Thomason.

I am Jim , 81 and counting, and I think your great grandfather would have
been my father's step-father for a few years. My research shows essentially
the same as yours. George Washington Thomason died in Essex in 1909, but I
have been unable to find the burial site. If I were to guess, I would say
the Essex Cemetery, because as far as I have been able to learn all of my
grandmother's time in Missouri was in Essex.
I remember her telling us tales about life in a Civil War prison which must
have been passed to her from George about his father Joseph who was held prisoner at Andersonville Prison. If he really was at Andersonville he was lucky to
survive to tell about it.
I hope this helps a little. Good luck in your search. It takes dedication.

Jim

So with a little help anyone can find their family. Some you may not want to find. You have to always remember that not all census takers spelled everything right and ages weren't always right, many didn't remember the exact date of their birth. Always look through the census at the neigobors to see who lived near by most of the time it was family. People didn't live to far apart back than because travel wasn't easy. They married people close by.

If I'm having trouble finding someone, I find lots of people just by putting in the first name and the city, state, county.

A nice lady Paula Moxley posted the pictures of the graves stones for me on find a grave. I didn't live close enough to search the cemetery. Find a grave is a good place to find information on ancestors.

It's been a fun trip this ancestor searching. I met and talked to cousins I didn't know I had. I've had lots of help with this search including from a cousin long gone now, who had first started this search.

Our granddaughter getting ready to put the wreath on the unknown soldier's grave at Arlington National Cemetary. Her G-G-G-G-Grandfather Joseph Fleming Thomason would be proud of her. We were.