1890 Wilkinson County Mississippi Civil War Veterans Census

Approximately 180,000 men of African descent fought in the 175 regiments of the United States Colored Troops during the US Civil War, representing 10% of the total Union Army.  In addition, 19,000 men of African descent fought in the U.S. Navy, where the units were not “technically” segregated by race.  Of those who served, around 36,000 died from either combat or disease. These men of color, then, fought and died for their own freedom from chattel slavery.

After the war, Black US Colored Troop and Navy veterans fought long and hard for their military benefits.  The March 1, 1889 Act of the Fiftieth U.S. Congress authorized the taking of the Eleventh Census on June 1, 1890 and included a special 1890 schedule enumerating Civil War Union veterans and widows of veterans.  These records were taken to help Union veterans locate other veterans who could testify in pension claims and to determine the number of survivors and widows for pensions.  The records gave the veterans name, rank, company, regiment or vessel, dates of enlistment and discharge, length of service, residence, disability, and other remarks as needed to complete their term of service. 

My interest in the Wilkinson County Veterans Census first came from finding the Civil War Pension index card of my great-great-grandfather Phil McWhorter, who fought in the Union Army’s 81^st Regiment US Colored Infantry, and then finding his name on the 1890 Census.  Since then, I have found several other relatives who fought in the Union Army or US Navy.

Those fortunate enough to locate a family member who served in the USCT or US Navy on the 1890 Veterans Census may find valuable information to bridge the 20-year gap in their research between the 1880 and 1900 census.  Finding a relative in the Veterans Census can lead to their military service records and in some cases their pension files at the National Archives.  The statements and testimonials given by family members and friends to validate the pre-Civil War life of the veteran, can be a “gateway” into plantation records that tell the story of our African ancestors who were held in chattel slavery before 1865. 

The Civil War Union Veterans and Widows living in Wilkinson County Mississippi in 1890 were mostly men of African descent. In writing this blog it really dawned on me that the 1890 Veterans Census that was taken in Confederate States across the South is overwhelmingly a census of Black Veterans, since most white Northern Union veterans returned to their homes after the war, and Confederate soldiers were not supposed to be counted in this Census. Since all the branches of my family lived in Woodville, Wilkinson County Mississippi in 1890, many of the men and women on the Census are relatives or they likely knew or lived near my family members.

The NARA Records 1890 Wilkinson County Mississippi US Census of Union Veterans and Widows contain a total of 7 pages listed under Supervisor’s District 3 and has records for 4 Enumeration Districts;

• Enumeration District 113 ~ Woodville Precinct ~ Enumerated by W.C. Miller (2 pages)
• Enumeration District 114 ~ Turnbulls Precinct ~ Enumerated by E.H. Lewis (2 pages)
• Enumeration District 116 ~ Fort Adams Precinct ~ Enumerated by W.E. Wheat (1 page)
• Enumeration District 120 ~ Cold Springs Precinct ~ Enumerated by John W. Bryant (2 pages)