Danforth Family, Dinwiddie Co, Va

[Vuhginyuh]

I am looking for help locating information on the Frederick William Reaves Danforth family who I believe lived near the junction of Jerusalem Plank Road and Cabin(?) Rd., Dinwiddie County Va. She was Emily Maria Temple (Reade)Danforth.

Following the death of her husband in action near Petersburg she and another woman were detained and held by Federal Forces while attempting to cross the lines.

She (Mrs. Danforth) petitioned Grant for thier release and return to her small children who were still behind Confederate lines. They were freed after three days and an oath not to conspire against or share information learned about her captors with the enemy.

Her adventure is confirmed by mention of her in the OR'S and inclusion of her letter to Grant in that same publication.

I recently inhereted some of her clothing, jewelry she wore in mourning, family textiles and a pistol she ''borrowed'' from her captors. There is also a remarkable field or harvest bag used by the three slaves they owned. I am photographing the items and scanning letters and an images of her to post.

She is listed in the OR'S as Danforth, E. M. Mrs
Correspondencec with U.S. Grant............................................. ...P 326
Mentioned......................................... ......................................P 399

(MY O.R.'s ARE DATED 1892)
SERIES I-VOLUME XL -IN THREE PARTS
PART III - CORRESPONDENCE, ETC UNION

OPERATIONS IN SE. VA. AND N.C. CHAPTER LII

[celtfiddler]

You may want to contact the Newberry Library in Chicago. They have an enormous genealogy library and may be able to offer some assistance in your search for information.

Another option (if you find yourself visiting Chicago) is to visit the special collections department of the Harold Washington Library. The GAR collection is over 5000 pieces and you may be able to find more information in OR reports there.

Also, I would recommend checking the Federal census for the area--they became increasingly detailed in the data they collected over the years. I would also contact the universities in the area to find out if they have any collections related to the history of the area where you might be able to find more information on the individuals.

I hope this is helpful,

Kimberly Schwatka

[Vuhginyuh]

The Danforths and their slaves seem to be quiet remarkable people; new glimpses of their lives are coming to the surface daily.

He (FWR Danforth) was from Dinwiddie Co, attended UVA and became a Librarian in Charleston SC. (1854) She grew up in Richmond. She joined him in Charleston after he purchased a home there and the African couple, William (Will) and LucyBing Jennette, was part of the household inventory bought.

They returned to Dinwiddie county prior to the war to tend to the family farm. He possibly worked at the Register of deeds office as well. He joined the City Guard for a while and we think an infantry Regt. there-after.(Mahone's Brigade?)

The Danforths had two sons William and Fred. Fred was 8 when Petersburg fell and lived to be 104. It is his recollections of the period that have been documented and passed on. A vived memory is of Confederate prisoners lining
the sides of the Jerusalem Plank road and all of their arms stacked at the railroad junction on that road, near his home.

The slaves, Will and LucyBing also had a son named (Lil'?)William.

It is LucyBing's field sack that we have. It is perhaps the most fascinating artifact I have ever seen or had the pleasue to work with. It is a stout linen sail cloth with many repairs and a fine linen shoulder strap made like a cartridge box strap with the ''helix''style re-inforcement.(Not blackened)

When Mr. Danforth was killed at Petersburg, Will, LucyBing and Lil' William were manumitted. We loose their known history soon there-after but it is believed that they went to DC or NYC.

There is much more to tell, especially tales of the three boys at school, camping out on frigid nights and playing ''Indians'' with the soldiers of both sides. The kindness, love and dependency these two families had for each other would be hard for many people to imagine much less accept today.
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