JOHN HENSON
Born: 1843
Died: 12 Mar. 1880
Married: Fall 1866 by Squire Miller, Parkesburg, PA.
Wife: JULIA HENRY
Born: 1850
Died: 21 Jan. 1931
Children: Mrs. Elsie G. Taylor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. No other record.
Lewis Henson's father and mother were born in Pennsylvania. Amanda Jones father was from in Maryland and her mother in Pennsylvania.
John Henson is probably the son of John Henson (b. 1810 in PA) and Rachel Smith (b. 1812). Rachel m.(2) Richard Adams.
John Henson: John, who was born in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, was aged 20 and 5' 5" tall when he enrolled for military service in the Civil War.
Military Service: John enlisted for 3 years in Company C of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on March 21, 1863. The 54th began recruiting volunteers shortly ;after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Massachusetts, at that time, was the only state that formally recruited black volunteers for the regular Army and John must have been eager to serve his country since he had to travel to Readville, Massachusetts to join in March 1863. He was probably accompanied by his friends, Joseph H. Jones and John H. Smith from Coatesville who served in the same Company. In May 1863, the 54th Regiment left Boston on the Steamer “De Molay” for Hilton Head, South Carolina, arriving in early June. They were the spearhead in the assault on Fort Wagner (Morris Island), July 18, 1863 during which the Regiment suffered massive casualties, much of the Regiment dying in battle. Other battles include the Battle of Olustee, Florida on 20 February 1864; Honey Hill, South Carolina on 30 November 1864; Boykins Mills, South Carolina on 18 April 1865. There were numerous other minor skirmishes in between the major battles. John had been reassigned from the Infantry to the Ordnance Department from November 1864 through February 1865. John Henson never applied for a disability pension and there is no indication he was wounded or disabled by his service in the war. The 54th Regiment was mustered out on August 20, 1865, including John Henson.
Family: John returned to live in
Coatesville where he married Julia Henry in 1866. They
were married by Squire John Miller, Justice of the Peace, in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania. John and Julia Henson resided in Valley Township
at the time. They lived their whole lives in
the Coatesville area.
Family members identified include one known daughter of Julia, Mrs. Elsie G. Taylor; a half sister, Annie Ennis; a mother, Edith Laatman; and Elijah Laatman (probably a step-father).
Death: John was "killed" on March 12, 1880 in Coatesville as noted in several Affidavits. No indication was given concerning the cause of his death.
Widow's Pension Application: John's wife, Julia Henson, applied for and was eventually approved for a Widow's Pension on 26 February 1897. At the time she was living in "Pomeroy, about three miles west" of the Coatesville Post Office. She continued to receive a pension until her death on January 21, 1931. Julia's pension file has many Affidavits and Depositions with most relating to an inquiry into her situation at the time of her application. The investigation into her life following her application was caused by a Coatesville Postmaster, A. C. Jackson (sp.?), who suggested a possible improper living arrangement by Julia and a "white" border that might violate the Act of August 7, 1882. Personal statements by Julia and other close friends and relatives are included in the Pension File to explain her living situation. The Postmaster eventually recanted his suggestion of impropriety when confronted with the results of the investigation. The investigator's report was detailed and concluded "... at least a dozen people knew pensioner well and all gave her a good name. She is a woman of more than average intelligence and industrious. "Pensioner's residence was about one mile out of Coatesville where many colored People reside."..."The foundation for the suspicion of the Postmaster I found, was based upon the fact the pensioner had a white man named Clark living at her house from Aug. to Dec. 1897 and she was seen riding about with a white man several times. Pensioner has a daughter married to a white man and she says it was him she was riding with. "Except twice when she took Clark in her wagon to town with her........." In the examiners report he lists Depositions from "Julia Henson, Pensioner; Edith Laatman, mother; Annie Ennis, half sister (who lived in Midway Hill); W. W. Stanley, white; and Philena Stanley, white." William Stanley was a Quaryman, aged 51 living with his wife, Philina, aged 49 in Penningtonville when they signed the Deposition in 1898 supporting Julia Henson's pension application. William Stanley was also a soldier in the Civil War as a Private, Co. I, 6th Pa. Vols. for 3 years. An interview with Julia Henson is included in the Pension File and Julia denies any impropriety. Besides the numerous Affidavits and Depositions, the file is closed out with an exchange of letters with Mrs. Elsie G. Taylor, 836 North 13th St., Philadelphia, Pa. around October 1931 pertaining to the death of Julia Henson and residual pension benefits. Elsie g. Taylor states that she is the daughter of Julia Henson. Friends:
Friends of John, as identified above, include Joseph H. Jones and John H. Smith, who also served with John in the Civil War. Friends of Julia, as identified above, are William W. Stanley and Philenie E. Stanley, a married white couple.
Associations in John Henson's Pension File:
Affidavits: Edith Lastman, John H. Smith, Joseph H. Jones, William W. Stanley, Philenie E. Stanley, Annie Ennis, Elijah Laatman
Attorney: John Wainwright of Wilmington, Delaware
Justice of the Peace: Henry G. Thomas, Squire Miller (Parkesburg)
Others: Elsie G. Taylor (Philadelphia)
Postmaster: A. C. Jackson (sp?)
Tax Collector, Coatesville: John D. Heffner
Undertaker: Rufus D. Ford
Witnesses: L. S. Morrison, B. P. Morrison, John H. Ziaderer, Walter Hilton, Sarah Laatman