Tag Archives: James Reeder

Reeders | St. Mary’s County

Known Information

Multiple documents connect the Reeders to St. Mary’s County.

Sources

ST. MARY’S COUNTY
COMMISSIONER OF SLAVE STATISTICS
(Slave Statistics)
1867-1869
C1698 | Maryland State Archives

The following documents suggest St. Mary’s County as a place of research for the Reeder family:

  • James Henry Reeder listed St Mary’s County on his service records and the Freedman’s Bank records
  • John Reeder listed St Mary’s County on his USCT service records and his marriage records in the Freedmen’s Bureau Records
  • James Henry Reeder and Emeline Dorsey Reeder listed St. Mary’s County on a birth return for two children
  • John and Cora Key Reeder listed St. Mary’s County on a birth return for two children

Slave Statistics

Emeline Dorsey, wife of James Henry Reeder

John Milburn reported enslaved nineteen people, including a Dorsey family group.

Enslaved IndividualsAge
Mary Dorsey45
Emeline Dorsey25
Catherine Dorsey23
William Dorsey19
Josiah Dorsey16
Susan Dorsey 11
Philmore Dorsey8
Mary Dorsey4

In 1867, the Maryland General Assembly ordered that enslavers provide lists the individuals they enslaved in 1864. These lists were to be submitted to the federal government in hopes of federal compensation the enlistment of enslaved individuals into the Union Army. No compensation was provided. The records however, include the enslaver’s name, the first and last name of the enslaved as well as their age and gender, allowing the researcher to go past the 1870 census to track family groups and households. Slave statistics survive for Anne Arundel, Dorchester, Frederick, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s counties.

Cora Kee/Key, wife of John Reeder

The Freedmen’s Bureau records indicate that Cora and John were married in 1861 by a priest with the last name Moore. This suggests that both Cora Kee and Cora Reeder should be used as search terms in the Slave Statistics. Cora Kee/Key is not listed. Cornore Reeder is.

John A Crane enslaved twenty two individuals, including Cornore Reeder, age 20 and Mary Alice, age 2. John and Cora Reeder listed one child on their marriage report; it is possible that Mary Alice is that child. In the 1880 Census, they list another daughter named Alice who was born in 1877 suggesting that Alice is a family name.

In the 1870 Census, Cora and John Reeder have three individuals with the surname Key living in their household: Mary, Caroline and James. George H. Morgan reported enslaving 24 people, including a family group of Keys.

Enslaved IndividualAge
Cecelia Key25 (Left, Nov 11, 1863)
Jack Key6 (Left, Nov 11, 1863)
Elizabeth Key8 (Left, Nov 11, 1863)
Sarah A Key23
James Key5
Mary Key10

Jane Reeder, mother of the Reeders

Mrs. Ann E Chiveral listed enslaving one individual: Jane Reeder, age 46.

She left with the Union Army on 20 Feb 1863.

the Reeders

Edward L Abell listed 28 enslaved individuals under his own name, and six as guardian for the Smith children. The six individuals appear on both lists, and include James (19), John (30), Thomas (21), and Mary Ellen Reeder (16).

He noted that they left with the Union Army:

  • Thomas Reeder left first: 14 Sept 1862
  • James Reeder left: 17 Oct 1863
  • John and Mary Ellen left: 28 Oct 1863

Thomas Reeder

James L Foxwell reported enslaving thirty individuals, among them Thomas Reeder, age 45. This Thomas is too old to be Thomas Reeder in DC, and is of a similar age as Jane Reeder, suggesting he may be a brother or spouse of Jane.

Further Research Needed:

  • Identify the land of the enslavers: Milburn, Foxwell, Chiveral, Smith and Abell
  • Locate inventories related to the enslavers and their family which may contain names of family members and/or the family groups.

related posts

the Reeders | hod-carriers

Known Information

James Reeder is listed as living on in Pierce Street Alley in the 1880s.

Sources

Birth Return

Reeder, Baby, 9236, 20 Nov 1876 | DC Archives

Map

A Complete Set of Surveys and Plats of Properties in the City of Washington, District of Columbia is a real estate atlas published by G. M. Hopkins and Co. in 1887.  | DC Public Library

Newspapers

National Republican 
Washington, District of Columbia
06 Jul 1881, Wed  •  Page 2

Evening Star 
Washington, District of Columbia
01 Dec 1876, Fri  •  Page 2

The Critic 
Washington, District of Columbia
27 Aug 1881, Sat  •  Page 3

National Republican 
Washington, District of Columbia
04 Mar 1884, Tue  •  Page 6

Evening Star 
Washington, District of Columbia
15 Mar 1884, Sat  •  Page 1

Evening Star 
Washington, District of Columbia
22 Mar 1884, Sat  •  Page 2

The Critic 
Washington, District of Columbia
20 Mar 1889, Wed  •  Page 4

Evening Star 
Washington, District of Columbia
04 Apr 1889, Thu  •  Page 1

Print

Mydans, Carl, photographer. Untitled photo, possibly related to: Hod carriers at Greenbelt, Maryland. , 1936. [July] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017715805/.

The hod-carrier’s song. Air.- Villikens and his Dinah. H. De Marsan, Publisher, 60 Chatham Street, N.Y. Monographic. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/amss.as201350/.

In the 1880 Census, James H Reeder is listed as living at 141 Pierce Street, with his family including his wife Emeline. His occupation is listed as a junk dealer. There are six families living in the home. This suggests that it was a larger apartment style home.

The map shows Pierce Street in 1887 and its alleys.

The 1876 birth return for the daughter of James and Emeline lists James’ occupation as laborer “hard career”, or hod-carrier.

Hod-Carriers

Hod-Carriers were tradesmen who supported bricklayers in the construction of buildings. They brought the supplies to the site. Details from an Evening Star article about a Hod-Carrier Strike in 1884 describes the work as strenuous. They carry the hod with bricks which can weigh up to 116 pounds. In the 22 Mar 1882, article, the Evening Star reported that six brick-layers with four hod-carriers could lay 9,000 bricks a day.

In 1881, James H Reeder and J. T. reeder, in connection with others, established “the Hod-carriers’ Society” for the mutual benefit of each other and to stop interference from their bosses. The 1887 Plat Book shows the Hod-Carrier’s Association building on Pierce Street, where James Reeder was living in the 1880s.

In 1884, there are numerous articles detailing tension between union and non-union hod-carriers and the strikes for better wages (from $2.00 to $2.50 a day). Thomas Reeder was charged with assault of a non-union man and charged $5 for hitting him on the back of his head with his open hand.

Due to the nature of their work (outside), laborers only worked for seven months of the year. There was competition between Irish laborers, “colored” laborers and “imported” laborers for the work. The National Republican ran an article in 1884 in which their sources described Northern Cities already paying $2.50/day and southern laborers as being “slow and uncertain”.

In 1889, there was a split in the Hod-Carrier’s Society. J. T. Reeder and others were charged with using the corporations name, banner and other insignia. Some of the articles names him as John T Reeder, others as J. F. Reeder. In May, Thomas Reeder (at times cites as James Thomas Reeder) filed suit claiming that the hod-carriers committed conspiracy by preventing him access to work as he was non-union. It is unclear whether this refers to Thomas Reeder, brother of James H Reeder, or James Thomas Reeder who lived on Ridge NW and unrelated to the Reeder brothers.

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Reeder Siblings | marriages

Known Information

James, John, and Thomas Reeder and Mary Ellen (Reeder) Fountain lived in DC after the Civil War.

Sources

Census

1870; Census Place: Washington Ward 3, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: M593_124; Page: 475A

1870; Census Place: Washington Ward 3, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: M593_124; Page: 475B

1870; Census Place: Washington Ward 3, Washington, District of Columbia;Roll: M593_124; Page: 449B

Marriage Records

District of Columbia, Marriage Records, 1810-1953 | ancestry.com


United States, Freedmen’s Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872 | familysearch.org

City Directory

District of Columbia Birth Returns, 1874-1897 | familysearch.org

Birth Certificates

Reeder, Baby, 9236, 20 Nov 1876 | DC Archives

Reeder, Baby, 28331, 16 Jan 1882 | DC Archives

Reeder, Baby, 36254, 15 May 1882 | DC Archives

Three Reeder brothers, James, John, and Thomas were recorded in the 1868 Washington City Directory as living at M and 6 NE, which is near the Kendall Green Barracks. Bank records also list them as the brothers of Mary Ellen Fountain.

James Reeder

James was living with Emeline, his wife, and their sone Henry J. in 1870. Walter Reeder, age 11, is also living with them. Based on the bank records of Mary Ellen Fountain, Walter is James’ younger brother.

DC Marriage records lists a marriage for James Reeder and Emeline Dorsey on 13 Aug 1868. A birth record for a daughter born in 1876 lists both James Henry Reeder and Emeline Dorsey Reeder as the parents, and that they both were born in St. Mary’s County, MD. A birth record for a daughter born in 1883 lists Emeline’s last name was West, but provides the mother’s birthplace as St. Mary’s County

John Reeder

John Reeder is living with his wife, Cora, and their son, Willie, who was born in DC in 1868; Cora collected rations in January 1868 due to “sickness”, it is possible that in addition to any number of illnesses suffered by freedpeople as a result of malnourishment, exposure from poor shelter and clothing, that she was pregnant and sick with morning sickness.

They are living with is likely the younger siblings of Cora, suggesting that her last name is Key.

The Freedmen’s Bureau recorded marriages for freedmen that had not been formally recognized before. In 1867, John Reader and Cora Keys had their 1861 marriage in St. Mary’s County, MD, recorded in the DC Bureau They listed that they had one child, which suggests that they had an older child prior to Willie. A priest named Moore married them.

Thomas Reeder

Thomas is living with his wife, Martha, and their daughter Mary E. They do not have any other family living with them.

DC Marriage Records lists Thomas Reeder’s marriage to Martha Colbert in June 1867. An 1882 birth certificate for their son lists her maiden name as Calbert and that she was born in Prince George’s County.

Mary Ellen Reeder

Mary E Fountain is living near her brother, Thomas Reeder, just a few households away in the census. She is living with her husband Benj. F. Fountain.

DC Marriage Records lists Mary Ellen Reeder’s marriage to Benj Franklin Fountain in June 1866. No children have been located for them.

Further Research Needed:

  • Research the Key, Dorsey and Reeder family in St. Mary’s County
  • Research the Colbert family in Prince George’s County
  • Research the Fountain family in Virginia

related posts

James Reeder | USCT

Known Information

James Reeder had an account in the Freedmen’s Bank. He identified his wife and child and mother on the depositor slip. Additionally, he identified St. Mary’s County as his birth place.

Sources

Plan of Fort Monroe

Sneden, Robert Knox. Plan of Fortress Monroe, Virginia, March 6. [to 1865, 1862] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/gvhs01.vhs00203/.

Service Records

The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Compiled Military Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served with the United States Colored Troops: 1st through 5th United States Colored Cavalry, 5th Massachusetts Cavalry (Colored), 6th United States Colored Cavalry; Microfilm Serial: M1817 | ancestry.com

Service records show that James Reeder served in Company K of the 1st US Calvary of Colored Troops, which was attached to Camp Hamilton at Fort Monroe in Virginia.

Fort Monroe

Stampede of slaves from Hampton to Fortress Monroe. United States Fort Monroe Hampton Virginia, 1985. [? from a Print In1861] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/92515012/.

His services records indicate that he enlisted in February of 1864. One sheet indicates Camp Nixon which was north of Georgetown near District of Columbia, and the second sheet indicates Fort Monroe. It is possible that he made his way to DC from St. Mary’s and then was dispatched to Fort Monroe once he enlisted, as his arrival in Fort Monroe is recorded as Mar 1864.

Fort Monroe sits near Hampton Roads and guards the harbor at Old Point Comfort. In 1861, three enslaved men escaped their bondage and asked Gen. Butler to harbor them rather than return them to their enslavers. Butler contended that since the enslavers were in open rebellion against the US, the enslaved were “contraband of war” and did not need to be returned. As a result, the enslaved made their way to Fort Monroe to free themselves from slavery, the media calling it a “stampede”. The Fort became known as “Freedom’s Fortress”. Gen. Butler helped to establish camps for the freedpeople, providing clothing and food, and finding jobs and training for them. Several of the refugees joined the military. This cartoon from the 1860s (drawn with racist tropes in its imagery and language) depicts the “contraband” policy that Butler established.

He was nineteen when he enlisted. His service records do not document any injuries or illness, suggesting that he stayed with his company throughout the war. During May of 1864, it indicates that his company was dispatched to guard cattle, a common duty when the US Army first starting enlisted Black men into the US Army during the Civil War, especially along the James River and the road up to DC from Richmond.

He died in 1897 and was buried in section 27 of Arlington National Cemetery.

Further Research Needed:

  • Research the 1st Regiment of the US Colored Calvary

related posts

The Reeders | Freedmen’s Bank Records

Known Information

Thomas and John Reeder owned property together on 1st St NW

Sources

Bank Records

Registers of Signatures of Depositors in Branches of the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company, 1865-1874. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. Micropublication M816, 27 rolls | ancestry.com

Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company’s was established to allow freedmen to deposit their savings in 1865; it closed in 1874 due to mismanagement. The bank kept records of depositors which included some demographic data including place of birth and family members.

These records show the family connections between the James Reeder family with the Mary Fountain family.

Further Research Needed:

  • Locate the Reeder family in St. Mary’s County
  • Locate the siblings in the 1870 Census
  • Locate marriage records for the Reeder siblings, esp James, Mary, and Thomas

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