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CIVIL WAR PENSION EXTRACT

 

NOTE: Some of the terminology used in Special Examiner R. P. Fletcher's report is obviously not apropos (or politically correct) by today's standards. But I have included it as a point of historical reference and as a substantiation of the claim of unique ethnicity of our Cheswold families. No offense or disrespect is intended.

 


 

Isaiah "Zeddick/Zadock" Munce/Muntz

Private,
Company E,
30th Maryland Infantry, also known as
30th U.S. Colored Infantry

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Zeddick is buried at Immanuel Union (formerly Manship) Cemetery, Cheswold, Kent County, DE.
Photo courtesy of Chris Wimmer

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Civil War markers. Photo courtesy of Janet Miller via Harry Muncey.

 

Pension #616466 [his widow Elmira's pension number]
(alternate/other numbers: 798846)


ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM THE PENSION RECORDS:

Enrolled:

Enlisted (drafted): 18 May 1864, Wilmington, DE

  Mustered out: 10 Dec 1865, Roanoke Island, NC
Honorably discharged: 10 Dec 1865, Baltimore, MD
   
Isaiah "Zeddick" Munce/Muntz:  
Date of birth: About 1835
Place of birth: Kent Co, DE
Date of death: 02 Jun 1905
Place of death: Cheswold, Kent Co, DE
   
Married to: Elmira Carter
Date of marriage: 29 Jan 1857
Place of marriage: Smyrna, Kent Co, DE
Date of birth: 13 Aug 1843*
Place of birth: Caroline Co, MD
Date of death: 18 Jan 1922
Place of death: Cheswold, Kent Co, DE
Place of interment: Dinah's Corner Cemetery**
   
  *According to the pension records, Elmira was born 13 Aug 1843 in Caroline Co, MD.
According to the Carty/Wyatt Family Bible, Elmira was born 13 Aug 1842 in Ridgely, Caroline Co, MD
According to Elmira's death certificate, she was born 18 Aug 1844 in MD. (Her son Leslie was the informant).


ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM THE PENSION RECORDS:

In the pension records, Isaiah "Zeddick" Munce/Muntz signed an affidavit on 04 Jun 1898 listing the following children as his & Elmira's:

1. Mary Ann, b. 01 Aug 1859
2. Margaret, b. 30 Sep 1861
3. Lizzie, b. 14 Jan 1864
4. Sadie [G.?], b. 04 Oct 1866
5. Leslie, b. 14 Jan 1868
6. Amelia, b. 09 Mar 1870, d. 11 Jan 1871
7. Rebecca, b. [28?] Jan 1874


Zeddick's residences at various times as noted in the pension records:

Near Smyrna, Kent Co, DE (upon discharge, until about 1878). (Farm labor).
Near Hazletville, Kent Co, DE (from about 1878 until about 1883). (Farm labor when able).
Near Dover, Kent Co, DE (from about 1883 until about 1888). (Farm labor).


Elmira's residences at various times as noted in the pension records:

Cheswold, Kent Co, DE (as of Jun 1905).


Among the affiants/witnesses for Zeddick and/or widow Elmira:

William Carney, of Cheswold, Kent Co, DE, age 69 (as of 29 Aug 1905).
William Carney, of Cheswold, Kent Co, DE, age 68 (as of 11 Sep 1906)
[Clearly one of the dates is wrong].
[Per his own pension records, he was born ca. 1836 which would put him around age 70 in 1906].

William F. Davis, of Dover, Kent Co, DE (as of 08 & 16 Apr 1888).
William F. Davis, M.D., of Dover, Kent Co, DE (as of 17 May 1888) (having been a physician for 20 years)
William F. Davis, of Dover, Kent Co, DE (as of 28 Jul 1896).

Robert Johnson (as of 16 Jan 1906).
James Miller (as of 16 Jan 1906).
Joel Durham, of Cheswold, Kent Co, DE, age 87 (as of 11 Sep 1906).
Lydia Durham (as of 11 Sep 1906).
Deborah Durham, of Cheswold, Kent Co, DE, age 64 (as of 11 Sep 1906).
Lydia A. Sammons, of Cheswold, Kent Co, DE, age 73 (as of 11 Sep 1906).
Cynthia Durham (as of 11 Sep 1906).
Lavinia Miller (as of 11 Sep 1906).
Rebecca Durham (as of 27 Jul 1896).
Rebecca Durham (as of 21 Sep 1922).
Walter Mosley (as of 27 Jul 1896).
Leslie Muntz, of Cheswold, Kent Co, DE (as of 18 Feb 1922).
William S. Hardcastle, of Cheswold, Kent Co, DE, age 46 (as of 30 Jan 1906).

OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE:

Per affidavit signed (by mark) by Zeddick Muntz, 02 Jul 1888:

"I contracted deafness while in line of duty from the reports of cannon from the artillery which was right in front of me while in engagement at South East River at North Carolina. I was not treated for my deafness until I came home from the army and then I was treated by one Dr. Gooden then at the town of Kenton, Kent County, Delaware and now has gone out west somewhere I do not know where and then Dr. Wm. F. Davis of Dover, Kent County, Delaware has treated me for deafness at different times ever since. I lost considerable time in 1866 my head would get stopped up so I could not scarcely hear anything and would remain in that condition till I got the doctor to operate on me and then it would be a little better for a while and then it all comes back on me again."

[Zeddick also made claim to having injured his back while in service, and in at least one case makes mention of an aggravation of a former eye injury as well].


Per affidavit signed (by mark) by Elmira Muntz, 29 Aug 1905:

"…that she holds one and three fourths acres of land with a two-story frame dwelling thereon containing four rooms occupied by herself valued at four hundred dollars located about one mile south of Cheswold, Delaware in Kent County, with a mortgage of $200 against it held by a Building Loan of Dover, Delaware. That she owns a colt about four months old valued at eighteen dollars. That she owns no other real or personal property and holds no bonds, stocks, or investments of any character."


Per affidavit signed (by mark) by Elmira Muntz, 13 Oct 1905:

"…that the proper or correct way to spell her surname is Muntz so far as she can ascertain. Being unlearned she and her late husband have depended on others to write their name and in doing so have thereby allowed it to be spelled Munce as well as Muntz."


Per affidavit signed (by mark) by Elmira Munce, 16 Jan 1906:

"…that Isaiah Munce who joined me in giving a mortgage of two hundred dollars to the Peoples Building and Loan Association of Dover, Delaware on December 10th, 1903 and Zeddick Munce are one and the same person and was my late husband. My husband and I were uneducated and depended on other people to both spell and write our names. Some people wrote his name 'Isaiah' claiming that was really his name, others wrote 'Zeddick' as he has always been called 'Zed' from his youth to the time of his death and claimed that Zeddick was his name."


Per affidavit signed (by mark) by Joel Durham, 11 Sep 1906:

"I am 87 years of age. No occupation. P.O. and residence Cheswold, Kent Co, Del.

"The soldier was my step son, and I had known him from the time he was a baby and he always lived in the same immediate neighborhood.

"I knew his wife--this claimant--before she was married, had known her from her childhood--always lived in the immediate neighborhood.

"Neither soldier nor claimant had been married before their marriage to each other. I was not present when they were married, but they left my house, drove my team, to Smyrna, Del--about six miles from my house--and was married at Smyrna and came back to my house the same afternoon and had a wedding supper that night at which I was present.

"I cannot give the year, but it was in cold weather a while before the war. They had two or three children before he went in the army.

"After their marriage they lived constantly together as man and wife until his death, were not parted except while he was in the army."

Q: What was soldier's correct name?
A: "'Saiah,' [sic] but we always called him 'Zed' from his boyhood."

Q: Under what name did he enlist?
A: "Zeddick Muntz. I do not know why he was enrolled as Zeddick Muntz if his name was 'Zaiah' [sic] Muntz.


Per affidavit signed (by mark) by Elmira Muntz, 11 Sep 1906:

"I was married to soldier January 29, 1857 by Piner Mansfield at Smyrna, Del, this county, in the presence of Charles Durham and William Dean. Mr Mansfield, Durham, and Dean are dead.

"After the wedding ceremony we had a wedding supper at Joel Durham's house. Durham was my husband's step father. We remained at his house a month and went to house keeping.

"William Carney, Lydia Ann Muntz--now Salmons, and Lavinia Miller are the only other ones living who were at the wedding supper.

"After our marriage we lived constantly together as man and wife until his death.

"I have not re-married since the soldier died.

"My maiden name was Elmira Carter.

"Neither soldier nor I had been married before our marriage to each other. So far as I know, there was no public nor church record of my marriage. There was no license secured from the court house--but we got a license from [Squire?] [Marian?] [Green?].

"We were married at the preacher's house. I do not know to what denomination Mr. Mansfield belonged--he was a white preacher.

"We got no marriage certificate and there is no private record of my marriage except an entry I have had made, of late years, on a pictorial 'family record.' The data for this entry I gave, the one who wrote it, from my memory.

"I have no property, except a house near here, small 1 1/2 story house with 1 1/2 acres of ground attached valued at about $350.00, with a $200 mortgage against it.

"I have no personal property.

"My only means of support since my husband died has been my daily labor."

Q: Who had known you and soldier from your childhood to your marriage and since?
A: "Joel Durham, Lavinia Miller, Wm Carney, [Jas.?] Brown, David Cloud, John Dyer, and about all the old people in this locality. I do not know any members of my husband's company who are living unless it is Henry Reese of Smyrna, Del."

Q: Was Aaron Hayes in the same Co with your husband?
A: "Yes sir, and he lives in Dover, Del. And there was another one in Ridley Park, Pa named Handy, and another named Rob't Prior who lives over toward [Blancker?] this county."

Q: What was your husband's correct name?
A: "I really do not know. I think his mother said his right name was 'Isaiah' but he was called 'Zed' by everybody, and sometimes called Zeddick--he would answer to any of these names."

Q: Under what name did you marry him?
A: "I do not know. He had an uncle named Zeddick and as a boy my husband was called Zeddick or Zed after this uncle, and when the enrolling officer went to enroll my husband he said 'Zed.' I have a letter here for you and he put his name down as 'Zeddick' and as I have said he was known both before and after the war as 'Zed' or Zeddick as all his friends will tell you, was known in the army as 'Zeddick.'"

Q: How was he registered to vote?
A: "Zeddick, I think."

Q: In the mortgage his name is given as Isaiah?
A: "I cannot explain that except that when my husband gave the mortgage he was asked what his correct name was and he said 'Isaiah.'"


Per affidavit signed (by mark) by Deborah Durham, 11 Sep 1906:

"I am 64 years of age.

"P.O. and residence Cheswold, Del.

"The claimant Elmira Muntz and I are about the same age, were play children and raised together and we have always lived in the same neighborhood--much of the time our houses in calling distance of each other.

"I knew her husband from his boyhood, was raised and always lived in the locality where he lived.

"Neither had been married before their marriage to each other.

"I was married in Jany 49 years ago and they were married the Jany before I was married.

"I was married at Smyrna, Del by Rev. [Piner?] Mansfield--and they were married by the same minister I think.

"I was not present when they were married but I was hired on the same farm with him when he went away to be married and I know he had a wedding supper afterward at Joel Durham's. I could not be present at the wedding or at the supper because in the house, where I was, we had scarlet fever and I could not get out of the house."

Q: What was his correct name?
A: "I suppose his correct name was 'Isaiah' but he was nicknamed 'Zed' and as a boy was called 'Zed' or 'Zeddick' by his parents and by everybody.
"I know when he was working, at Sheriff [Green's?] (dead) house, when he went in the army. I do not know in what Co and Dept he served. I do not know what name he enlisted under, I suppose 'Zed' or 'Zeddick'--as he was known only by that name."


Per affidavit signed (by mark) by William Carney, 11 Sep 1906:

"I am 68 years of age, Laborer.

"P.O. Cheswold, Del.

"I know Elmira Muntz and I knew her husband from their childhood, and always lived in the same immediate neighborhood, except while we were in the army. I do not know in what Dept he served, I was in the 32nd USCT.

"Neither claimant nor soldier had been married before their marriage to each other.

"I was not present when they were married, but I went to the wedding supper at Joel Durham's his step father.

"They went to Smyrna to be married, but I cannot remember the name of the preacher who married them. They came back the same day and had the wedding supper that night.

"I cannot give the year--it was before the war and a big snow on the ground at the time."

Q: What was the soldier's correct name?
A: "Isaiah Muntz, but we called him 'Zed' from his boyhood."

Q: What name did he enlist under?
A: "Zed Muntz."


Per affidavit signed (by mark) by Lydia A Salmons, 11 Sep 1906:

"I am 73 years of age.

"P.O. Cheswold, Kent Co, Del.

"The claimant I have known ever since her childhood and we have always been intimately acquainted and always lived in the same neighborhood.

"The soldier was my first cousin and my mother raised him and we always lived [as?] neighbors.

"Neither had been married before their marriage to each other.

"I was not present when they were married, but I know of the fact of their marriage by family talk and know it was considered they were legally married by a ceremony, before the war.

"After their marriage they lived constantly together as man and wife until his death--were not parted except while he was in the army."

Q: What was his correct name?
A: "'Zaiah' Muntz or Muncie--'Isaiah' I suppose is the correct way to give his first name, but we always called him 'Zed' from his boyhood. I never heard under what name he enlisted, but he was always called 'Zed' and I presume he was called 'Zed' in the army."


Per the Special Examiner's report signed by examiner R. P. Fletcher, 28 Sep 1906:

"I have the honor to return herewith all the papers and my report in the above indicated claim for pension which was referred for special examination to determine legal widowhood.

"Claimant was duly notified and fully advised of her rights and privileges, all of which she waived.

"Prior to 1861, there are no full records of marriages in Kent Co, Del.

"I examined such records as exist and found Rev. P. Mansfield's return--rather copy of return--for the year 1857 and under date of Jany 29, 1857 is recorded the following:

"Jany 29, 1857 - Isaiah [Mounse?] to Emeline Carter - P. Mansfield - Elder, M.E. Church.

"There is no other marriage by Mr. Mansfield recorded of same date. I was unable to identify the parties whose names appear in the record as the soldier and claimant; yet I am satisfied that record does refer to claimant and soldier, and that an error was made in transcribing from Mr. Mansfield's report.

"I endeavored to find the original report of Mr. Mansfield but could not locate it at the court house and was told the originals were kept about three years then destroyed. I could locate no books of Squire [Green?] to show if he had issued license to marry to soldier and claimant.

"As a rule a bond was [formerly?] given when parties applied for license, but this did not apply in the case of negros who by special provision of the law were permitted to get license from a Justice of the Peace instead of the Clerk of the Peace.

"There was but one Methodist church in Smyrna in 1857--is but one there now.

"I examined the records and while I found entries in Mr. Piner Mansfield's handwriting the marriage record only begins in May 1857--when a new minister took charge of the circuit.

"I do believe the testimony herewith shows the facts as fully and clearly as can be now established.

"I could have secured any amount of testimony from reliable white and colored people, showing no prior marriage, continued cohabitation and recognition if further testimony on these points had been thought by me essential. I had known the soldier for some sixteen years and he has always gone by the name of 'Zed' Muntz and it was not until the widow's claim came for special examination that I heard his name as anything else. He and the claimant and all of the witnesses belong to a people who declare they are not negros--they have straight hair--many of them blue or gray eyes--and look like the Italian laborers. They do not associate with the negros--have separate schools and churches--and I have found them universally reliable and respectable, but uneducated. They say they are Moors and Indians mixed.

"I recommend that the papers be referred to the Chief of the Board of Pensions for consideration.

"Very respectfully,
"R. P. Fletcher
Spl. Exr."

Zeddick is described at various times as:

("Age 29") (at time of enlistment) 5' 3" tall, black complexion, black hair, black eyes, occupation laborer.
("Age 52") (09 Apr 1888) 5' 3" tall, black complexion, black hair, black eyes.
("Age 52") (16 Apr 1888) 5' 3" tall, black complexion, black hair, black eyes.
("Age 52") (11 Jul 1888) 5' 3" tall, 143 lbs.
("Age 51") (17 Dec 1888)
("Age 55") (18 Apr 1890)
("Age 55") (14 Jul 1890)
("Age 54") (26 Dec 1890) 5' 4" tall, 144 lbs.
("Age about 56") (23 Apr 1892)
("Age 64") (Jun 1897) 5' 4" tall, 160 lbs.


Elmira is described at various times as:

("Age 61") (Jul 1905)
("Age 61") (Aug 1905)
("Age 62") (Sep 1906)


OTHER ITEMS PERTAINING TO ISAIAH "ZEDDICK" (OR ELMIRA) MUNCE/MUNTZ, NOT FROM THE PENSION RECORDS:

Scan of Zeddick's death certificate (listed as Zadock Munce):

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Elmira was an out-of-wedlock child born to Rebecca Carter, and thus took her mother's surname. According to Elmira's death certificate, her biological father was James Mason. Nothing further is known about him at this time. (Rebecca and her sister Elizabeth each gave birth to an illegitimate child while still living in Maryland, and each relocated to Delaware afterward, along with other members of their family).


Scan of Elmira's death certificate:

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On the African American Civil War Memorial in Washington DC:

 

Zeddick Muntz's name is displayed on Plaque B-46.

Regimental history:

To go to the official National Park Service's "Soldiers and Sailors" website, use the following link:

http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.cfm

and in the boxes do the following:
under Last Name enter MUNTZ
under First Name enter ZEDDICK
under Union or Confederate select "Union,"
under State (or Origin) select "US Colored Troops" from the alphabetical list of States
under Unit Number enter "30"
under Function select "Infantry"
On the resultant page click on the regiment's name to see a history of their service.



QUERY ITEMS:

1. Based on Joel Durham's and Elmira Muntz's affidavits (of 11 Sep 1906) stating that Zeddick was Joel's "step son," and based on Lydia A. Munce Salmons/Sammons' affidavit (of 11 Sep 1906) stating that Zeddick was "my first cousin and my mother raised him," it would seem that Zeddick is not actually the son of Robert Munce Jr and Jemina Handsor as had previously been believed. Instead, it would seem that he was actually an illegitimate child (b. Mar 1835) of Robert's sister Margaret Munce/Muntz prior to her marriage (ca. 1838) to Joel Durham. Does anyone have any additional information regarding this?

2. In her affidavit of 11 Sep 1906, Elmira states that her husband was named after an uncle of his. Does anyone know of either of Zeddick's parents (Robert Munce Jr and Jemina Handsor) having a brother named Isaiah or Zeddick? (Additional note: I just looked at the Munce family history report on the Mitsawokett website and it looks like Betty & Ray Terry show a brother of Robert Jr and Margaret named Isaiah who was also nicknamed Zaddock, and who was born in 1806. It would seem that this may be the uncle being referred to).

 

From RomeoJA@AOL.com, 11 Feb 2009:

Re: an uncle named Isaiah Munce. There is a "free colored" Isaih Munce family listed in the 1830 census for Kent Co., 1 male age between 10 and 24, 1 female age between 10 and 24, and 1 male under 10 - 3 total. [On same page is Jon Hews and John Cot.] There is a "free colored" Isaiah Munce family listed in the 1840 census for Smyrna, Kent Co., 1 male between 24 and 36, 1 female between 24 and 36, 1 male between 10 and 24, 1 male under 10, and 3 females under 10 - 7 total.

3. Who is the Deborah Durham who gave an affidavit on 11 Sep 1906? (In other words, what was her maiden name?) In her affidavit she states that she was married in January "49 years ago." If she was referred to the prior January, that would make her wedding in January 1857, and thus would put Elmira & Zeddick's in January of 1856 (and Elmira has said repeatedly that her own wedding was 29 Jan 1857). But if Deborah was already rounding upward to the forthcoming January for the 49 years, then Deborah's wedding would have been in January 1858 and Elmira's in January 1857.

 

From RomeoJA@AOL.com, 11 Feb 2009:

Deborah Durham is Deborah H (Cott) Durham, wife of Isaiah Durham, who was Joel's brother. Isaiah Durham and Deborah H Cott were married by P. Mansfield on 07 Jan 1858, so one year after Isaiah Munce and Elmira Carter, as stated.

4. Elmira was buried at "Dinah's Corner Cemetery," now known as Forest Grove (Seventh Day Adventist) Cemetery. Why wasn't she buried beside her husband at Manship (Immanuel Union) Cemetery?

5. In the pension records, Zeddick signed an affidavit on 04 Jun 1898 listing the following as his & Elmira's children:

  1. Mary Ann, b. 01 Aug 1859
2. Margaret, b. 30 Sep 1861
3. Lizzie, b. 14 Jan 1864
4. Sadie [G.?], b. 04 Oct 1866
5. Leslie, b. 14 Jan 1868
6. Amelia, b. 09 Mar 1870, d. 11 Jan 1871
7. Rebecca, b. [28?] Jan 1874

However, the 4th child "Sadie [G.?]" seems to be later known as Lydia (who married Jeremiah "Jerry" Durham) (and as "Lydia Durham" she signed as a witness on an affidavit for her mother on 11 Sep 1906). (Her brother Leslie spells her name as "Mrs. Lida Durham" in a statement on 13 Mar 1922 listing her as a caregiver of their mother prior to her death, and an attending doctor gave her name as "Mrs. Lydia Durham" in a similar statement on 21 Mar 1922 listing her as having been Elmira's caregiver). Why did her name change from Sadie to Lydia/Lida?

Also, at least one other source has indicated a possible son William, b. 23 Jan 1870 (another source gives ca. Dec 1869), but neither of these dates can be correct if daughter Amelia was b. on 09 Mar 1870. (This William married Sarah "Sally" Durham, daughter of Daniel Durham and Caroline Carney, and this William d. on 30 Jan 1860). Why wasn't this William listed in his father's affidavit? Does this William belong to another family? (Additional note: I just came across a note from MayBelle Durham Bordley which indicates William was a "foster son" of Zeddick and Elmira).

Also, at least one other source has indicated a possible daughter Arlena, b. 1879. Why wasn't she listed in her father's affidavit? Does anyone have any further information on her?

 

From RomeoJA@AOL.com, 11 Feb 2009:

Sadie vs Lydia. Sadie appears to be an error, perhaps on the part of the scribe (on the assumption that Isaiah himself could not write). The name is given as Lida in 1870, Lydia in 1880, Lida in 1900, Lydia in 1910, Lidy in 1920, and Lettia in 1930.

William Munce, age 9, is reported as a son in the 1880 census. Perhaps the note indicating that he was a foster son explains this.

Arlanna Munce, age 1, is reported as a daughter in the 1880 census. If not the biological daughter of Isaiah and Elmira, perhaps a granddaughter raised as a daughter? I have no further information about her.


6. Does anyone have a more specific birth date for Zeddick? In my notes from my early-early family tree days (before I was as meticulous with noting sources) I have his birth date as "March 1835," but I can't determine for certain where I got this information from (I think I received it from MayBelle Durham Bordley). His pension records detailed here seem to point to somewhere ca. 1835. His headstone lists "Aged 71 years" at his time of death but does not give a birth date.

 

From RomeoJA@AOL.com, 11 Feb 2009:

Isaiah's age in the census records: in 1850, missing; in 1860, age 23; in 1870, age 30; in 1880, age 48; in 1900, age 65 (b. Mar 1835).

- - - - - - - - -

For those who may be new to the list, a few of these Civil War pension extractions have been posted previously by John C. Carter, Paul Johnson and Joseph Romeo. To view some of the others, as well as an explanatory note, please see the following page of the Mitsawokett site:

(Once on the page, scroll down below the Index to see the Overview).

- - - - - - - - - -

Please let me know if anyone has any questions. Email  John Carter


 

 

 

 

MITSAWOKETT

"The History and Genealogy of the
Native American Isolate Communities
of Kent County, Delaware, and
Surrounding Areas on the Delmarva Peninsula
and Southern New Jersey"

 

 


Copyright 1997-

All rights reserved.
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