COATESVILLE INFORMATION
The following information has been provided in relation to the East Fallowfield cemetery research. Some of the following people were friends and relatives of those identified in the cemetery project.
Credits: The following people provided the information contained on this webpage. This information and images should be considered as copyrighted.
Amy Lenora (Smith) Gibbs of Coatesville, PA, Sara Mae (Smith) Searles of Coatesville, PA (i.e., Sister of Amy Gibbs) Ida J. Williams of Eastville,VA (Ida has written several books on the family) Perry Leroy Pennington of Nanjemoy, MD (My grandfather Perry Pennington is Amy's and Sara's uncle)
Private Joseph R. Jones ~ Mass. 54th Company ‘C’ (USCI) - My Cousin
Joseph H. Jones was born 1844 and was from the
Coatesville, PA area. It is assumed that his wife Ellen was also
from Coatesville. Joseph H. Jones joined Company "C" of the all Black 54th
Massachusetts regiment on March
21, 1863 and was mustered on March 30, 1863 at Readville, MA. He was enlisted in the Civil
War by Captain
James W. Grace in Readville, MA March 30, 1863, at age 19. Joseph occupation was farming
at the time he enlisted.
Joseph served with and fought along side of William F. Pennington (My uncle) under
Captain William Henry Homans.
Joseph was most likely mustered out in 1865 after which he returned Coatesville and
farming. Joseph later married
Ellen M. (Last name unknown) and had two sons, Joseph Jones Jr. and William Oscar Jones
who married Ida E. Ruth
and became the 2nd Pastor of the Church of Christ in Ercildoun. Joseph H. Jones died about
1905 at the age of 6l
and Ellen A. Jones died shortly there after about July 9, 1906. Joseph was 5'-5" tall
with brown eyes and a light brown
complexion.
Private Elias Pennington ~ 8th U.S. Colored Infantry
- My Uncle
Elias Pennington was born 1840 in Coatesville and was
the son of Oliver and Harriet Pennington.
Note: Elias' father is Oliver Pennington is
mentioned in Lewis Henson Pension File.
August 29, 1863, Elias enlisted with Company
“A” of the 8th United States Colored Infantry (USCI). He served as a
Private during the Civil War in Sergeant Robert Merrils unit. After becoming ill, he
spent some time in the hospital in Jacksonville, FL
and was later discharged November 10, 1865. On December 20, 1860 which was his brother
John’s birthday, Elias married
Sarah Petersen Barkley of Pottstown. The ceremony was officiated by Reverend John
Dennison and was held at Chestnut Hill
in Pottstown at the home of Sarah’s brother. It appears Elias was very
close to his father and the neighbors indicated that they saw a great deal of him in his
last days in route to his father’s home.
Elias and Sarah lived near Pottstown, PA and had a total of seven children, however most died very young. The only children to reach adulthood were Elias Jr. born about 1862, Ida D. born August 30 1866, and Harriet E. born March 11, 1870. Ida married into the McGraw family and her last known address was 424 South 6th street, Philadelphia, PA. Harriet married into the Jones family and her last known address was R.F.D. #1 West Chestnut in Chester county. Elias Jr. died 1888.
Sarah Barkley- Pennington died December 1875 and
Elias died May 13, 1877, in the Valley Township after a long battle with
consumption. His doctor was Joshm Scott. Oliver and Harriet took over the job
of raising the children after both Elias and
Sarah both passed. Elias is buried in Hepzibah cemetery in East Valley. His
head stone was supplied by the U.S. Military and funeral arrangements were performed by
Rufus D. Ford. Elias stood 5’-5”, light complexion with hazel eyes.
Note: The Harvey C. Pennington mentioned in Edward Spencer's Pension File is the son of John H. and Frances Pennington. Harvey C. Pennington was born May 7. John was the brother of Elias and Willia, F. Pennington.
Private William F. Pennington ~ Mass. 54th Company ‘C’ (USCI) - My Uncle, Brother of Elias Pennington
William Frederick Pennington, was the son of Oliver
and Harriet Pennington. He was born January 8,1845 in Coatesville, PA
and was a farmer. Harriet R. Parker was born 1847 in PA. The two were married August
21,1869 and the ceremony was officiated by Reverend J. S. Pugh.
William was enlisted in Civil War by Captain James W.
Grace in Readville, MA March 28, 1863, at age 18. William served
with Company “C” of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteers Infantry. He served
under Captain William Henry Homans. On November 30, 1864, William was shot in the
right shoulder with a musket ball in the Battle of Honey Hill, SC. The battle
resulted in a Confederate victory in which there were 746 Union casualties. William
was sent to Beaufort Hospital in
Charleston, SC and honorably discharged October 21, 1865. He was then transferred
North February 20, 1865 were he
returned to his farm in Coatesville and married Harriet R. Parker.
William and Harriet’s children are John Oliver born March 20 1871, William A. born February 23, 1874, Charles S. born March 19, 1869, Lionel E. born August 11, 1879 and Sarah Jane born March 4, 1877.
The Pennington’s lived at Strasburg Road North in Coatesville. In his later years, William resided with his son John Oliver who was a Steel Runner. Harriet died December 20, 1880 at age 33 and although see died at a very young age, it does not appear that William ever remarried. William stood 5’-7”, 145 lbs, light complexion and light eyes. William F. died at home in Newlinville, PA and is buried at Passtown Cemetery.
Cousin Amy Gibbs says that as young girl, John Oliver
kept his father’s saber sword from the Civil War proudly displayed in his
parlor. John Oliver died December 19, 1949 at the age of 78 and was buried at the
Church of Christ December 25, 1949. Amy Gibbs was born in John Oliver
Pennington’s home in 1921.
Private Vincent H. Bacon ~ 127th United States Colored Infantry - My Uncle
Vincent H. Bacon was born March 3, 1847 in Lancaster County PA and resided in Coatesville. He was the eldest son of John and Susan Jane Bacon. Vincent enlisted in the Civil War August 22, 1864 with the 127th USCT in Company “E” in Lancaster City, PA . He was 18 years old at the time. The 127th USCT was organized at Camp William Penn, Philadelphia, PA. On September 23, 1864 thru October 15, 1864, Vincent was hospitalized with the measles. He mustered out September 7, 1865 at Brazos Santiago, Texas.
After returning home from the war, Vincent became a Brick Layer and worked at the Pennoke brick making plant in Kenneth Square, PA. He later met and married Philena Hazzard, born March 23, 1861 in Kenneth Square, PA. Vincent and Philena Hazzard were married January 2, 1879 in the London Brittian township in the house of Isaiah and Sarah Watson. The ceremony was officiated by the Reverend Benjamin Boyer of the First United African Union Methodist church. Philena was the daughter of Spencer Hazzard.
Vincent and Philena Bacon had eighth children. They are: Thomas J. born December 1879, Viola B. born January 1882 - abt June 19, 1885, Evelina B. born January17, 1884, Unknown born May 1886, Harriet B. born October 23, 1889, Charles Leon born March 5, 1893, (Unknown) born May 1896 and Maud Oletha born February 25, 1898.
Vincent died November 1, 1905 at the National
Military Home in Dayton, Ohio in Barracks No. 10. Philena died March 24, 1921 in
Philadelphia, PA. She resided at 1634 North Warnock street with her daughter Maud
Brister. Vincent H. Bacon stood
5’-3 ½ ” and was dark complexioned.
Oliver Pennington - Mentioned in Lewis Henson's Pension File
Oliver Pennington born October 1815 in the Wallace township is the son of Elias and Diana Pennington. Harriet Pennington was born 1821. Both were Freeborn and were born in the state of Pennsylvania. They spent most of their lives, if not all in the Valley township community. Oliver was a farmer and Harriet kept house. Neither Oliver nor Harriet Pennington learned to read nor write.
Oliver and Harriet were married December 13, 1838 by Pastor Albein Nooke in West Brandywine, PA and had fourteen children who were all Freeborn. Their known children are: Elias (Named for his grandfather) born 1840, Sarah (Johnson) born 1843, William Frederick born January 1, 1845, John Hezekiah born December 20, 1848, Winfield born 1852, Louise born November 1856, Martha E. born 1858, Oliver Jr. born October 1863 and Bertha.
Oliver lived to be 90 years old and the 1900 Census
revealed that at the age of 84, he was still working as a farmer. Oliver died
December 24, 1905 in East Fallowfield and Harriet died March 10, 1892, at the age of 71.
Harriet’s parents were both from Pennsylvania and most likely Freeborn while
Oliver’s father was from the state of Maryland or Delaware. Oliver’s
mother was from the state of Pennsylvania and was probably Freeborn.
Private John Allen McPherson ~ 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry - My Great Great Grandfather
Note:
My great great grandfather only lived in Coatesvile a short while. However, my great
great grandmother Catherine Anne (Pinn) McPherson moved back to Coatesville after
separating from her husband to be near her sister. Her sister was Maria Louisa
(Pinn) Ruth and Louisa husband was Samuel Ruth (i.e., Founder of the Church of
Christ in Ercildoun). Samuel Ruth (Jul 15, 1850 - Dec 28, 1937) ~
Maria Louisa Pinn- Ruth (Sep 17, 1851 - Sep 28, 1930)
John Allen McPherson whose real name was Hezekiah Allen McPherson, was the son of Hezekiah Sr. and Mary McPherson. John was born December 30, 1839 in Prince George county and was a Runaway Slave. Prior to the age of 23, he escaped across the Mason Dixon line into Pennsylvania and settled in Harrisburg. Once in Harrisburg, he changed his name to John and commenced to work as a laborer.
Upon hearing that the Union Army was organizing an
all Black regiment, John joined up with the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in
Company D. John McPherson was 23 years old when he joined the Civil War. John
was enlisted by Captain Collins and Captain Alfred Stedman Hartwell (A. Hartwell was a
Lieutenant at the time) March 16, 1863, as a member of the famed 54th Massachusetts
Volunteers Infantry in Readville, MA. John A. McPherson served under the command of
Captain Charles Gustavis Chipman and 1st Lieutenant Stephen Atkins Swails. John
mustered out in Charleston, SC August 20, 1865.
Around the Coatesville area he was bestowed the title of "Captain McPherson",
but his actual rank was Private. There is also an interesting story of how John
McPherson brought Samuel Ruth (The husband of his wife’s sister Louisa Pinn) to the
54th and the Coatesville area.
One account of uncle Sammy Ruth's (i.e., former slave) liberation states that he and his brother Daniel ran off into the woods to hide when they heard that the Union Soldiers approaching. They hid because the dark complexioned Slaves told them that the soldiers were killing all the white looking slaves because they were often loyal to their Masters. The story has it that Private John Allen McPherson encountered the crying Samuel in the woods and took him in, so to speak sparing his life.
Catherine Anne McPherson was the daughter of Rev.
Robert Andrew Pinn and Elizabeth Jackson- Pinn. She was born
1840 in Fredericksburg, VA and moved to Columbia, PA with her family as a child. She
became acquainted with her
husband John McPherson through her brother Corporal Walter Samuel Pinn who served in the
same unit with John McPherson. Uncle Samuel Pinn was promoted from Private to
Corporal by Col. Rober G. Shaw on May 26, 1863.
During the war, Samuel told John of his sister Catherine and the two begun corresponding.
Both Catherine and Samuel
could read and write. After the war, John McPherson and Samuel Ruth returned to
Burlington, NJ with Samuel Pinn and shortly there after, John and Catherine were married.
John and Catherine were married October 19, 1865 in Burlington, NJ
in the Meeting House of Pastor Robert A. Pinn’s church. Some 200 people were
said to have attended the ceremony including Samuel Ruth and Louisa Pinn. Samuel
Ruth would later marry Catherine's sister Maria Louisa Pinn. A few days after they were
married, they moved into a home owned by Edenezer Maule in Coatesville, PA.
John McPherson Stood 5’-6 ½” and dark complexioned. He died at NW 1208-25th street Washington, DC October 5, 1920 of Bronchitis and Pneumonia. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. John McPherson and Catherine Anne separated in Washington, DC in 1885 after 20 years of marriage.
Note: Todate, the following institutions have been named in honor of Pastor Robert Andrew Pinn.Together John and Catherine had ten children. Samuel H. born 1866, Annie W. born 1868, Charles Henry born December 19, 1869 in Springdale, PA, Howard born about 1870 and Humphrey and who were all born in Chester county, PA. Amy Francina born September 10, 1872, Ella R. born 1878, Mary, Ishmael, and Luther were all born in Washington, DC. Luther at one time resided at 1932 North Alden street, Philadelphia, PA. Howard married Henrietta Johnson from Washington, DC December 25, 1890 in Ercildoun and Charles married first Susie born 1870 second Bertha born 1887 in PA, and third Effie Virginia Irene Long born September 6, 1890 in New Market, MD. Susie died February 4, 1908 and Bertha died March 31, 1912 and Charles and Effie were married November 28, 1912 in Philadelphia by Wm. O. Jones (This is Joseph H. Jones' son). Howard was a Preacher in Coatesville and he died May 29, 1918 at home.
Catherine out lived all of her children with the
exception of Amy Francina Pennington (my great grandmother). Catherine
died August 5, 1927 at the age of 87 in her son-in-law John Winfield Pennington’s (my
great grandfather) home and is
buried in the Church of Christ cemetery. She was known as Aunt Katie to her many
nieces and nephews.