Mark Pierce
Private,
Company K,
22nd Pennsylvania Infantry, also known as 22nd U.S. Colored Infantry
Pension #561386
Broad Street Church Cemetery, Bridgeton, Cumberland, New Jersey
Photo by John C. Carter, Fall 2003
Died May 10, 1909
Aged 78 Years**
*Engraving looks like it might say "23rd" regiment, but records show him in the 22nd.
**Engraving gives his age as "78 years", but records show he was 79.
ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM THE PENSION RECORDS:
Enlisted 03 Apr 1865, Camden, Camden Co, NJ.Mustered out 16 Oct 1865, Brownsville, Cameron Co, TX. Honorably discharged 04 Nov 1865, Camp Cadwalader, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA.Residence during pension record period: Bridgeton or Fairfield Township area, Cumberland Co, NJ.
Mark Pierce:
Date of birth: 07 Jul 1829 at Fairfield Township, Cumberland Co, NJDate of death: 10 May 1909 at [not given]Married to: Caroline (K?)urtz on [date not given] at Trenton, Mercer Co, NJHer date of birth: [not given] at [not given]
Her date of death: [not given] at [not given]
Their children:1. Laure Pierce, b. 17 Aug 1873 married Levi Richmond, probably ca. 1886*. Levi was born ca. 1867.
2. Charles Pierce, b. 07 Jan 1876
*[The estimation of probable marriage date of Levi and Laure is based on an affidavit dated 13 Jul 1889, in which Levi stated, "I am 22 years old. ... I am claimant's son in law. I have known him the past eight years, the last three more intimately. I lived with him nearly three years."]
Mark's wife left him ca. 1874-75 ("nine or ten years after the war"), and went to Boston, MA. She was described as living with another man in Boston by 1882.
Among the affiants / witnesses for Mark:
William H. Gould
Lorenzo F. Gould (aka Alonzo Gould)
Wanaca Pierce (who described himself as Mark's cousin).
Charles Goldsborough/Goldsboro/Gouldsboro
Clement Pierce
Charles Lloyd (who described himself as Mark's second cousin).
George Lloyd
Horace Pierce
Fayette Pierce
John [W.? / N.?] Pierce
Cornelius Pierce
OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE:
One interesting item of Mark's records is that when he initially applied for a pension, one of the reasons he listed for justification of the pension was that he "received a gunshot wound in the left wrist in a skirmish with the Indians."
After an investigation into his claim raised doubt, he later recanted his story, and admitted the wound was the result of a self-inflicted accident with an ax, years prior to his entering military service. The false claim had been accompanied by forged affidavits of Lorenzo Gould and Wanaca Pierce, and Mark later explained that he was persuaded to make the fraudulent claim by two men, William and Joseph Keen or King. He was reluctant to take part in the effort, but "they persuaded me for two or three weeks, and finally I gave in."
Mark was eventually granted a pension based on other disabilities/illnesses. However, the initial falsehood caused doubt and an inordinate amount of paperwork and a special investigation during the consideration for the pension.
Lorenzo Gould and Wanaca Pierce apparently bore no grudge against Mark, as they still supplied supporting affidavits on his behalf afterward. In an affidavit discussing Mark's wrist injury, Wanaca stated that it had occurred when Mark was a young man and that he was "present and bandaged it" at the time. He proclaimed the earlier affidavit (supporting the Indian wound) to be a forgery, and stated "I can't write that well."On another subject, one of the affidavits in the pension records stated, "He [Mark] looked like a white man and some of the officers didn't believe he was a colored man and they were going to put him in a white Regiment." Mark himself stated, "Some thought I was a white man, and officers wanted to put me in a white Regiment. Few people could tell I had any colored blood in me."
OTHER ITEMS PERTAINING TO MARK PIERCE, NOT FROM THE PENSION RECORDS:
On the African American Civil War Memorial in Washington DC, Mark's name is displayed on Plaque B-39. Regimental history click here
QUERY ITEMS:
1. Does anyone know who the parents of Mark were?2. Does anyone know of any descendants of the two named children?
Paul Johnson (ptj15m@gowebway.com) replies 1/25/2003 -- To answer your 3 questions. Here's what I have:
1. Does anyone know who the parents of Mark were? -- Clement Pierce & Patience Murray2. Does anyone know of any descendants of the two named children? -- Mark was married 1868 to Caroline (Born 1850). I have 3 children:
Elizabeth Pierce (1870) - No further info
Laura Pierce (1873) - Married to Levi Richmond. 2 children: Leonard (1887) & Laura Richmond (1889)
Charles Pierce (1876) - No further info
To view some of the other Civil War pension extractions, as well as an explanatory note, please see the following page of the Mitsawokett site:
http://www.mitsawokett.com/MilitaryService/DelmarvaAreaCivilWarPensions.htm(Once on the page, scroll down below the Index to see the Overview).
Please let me know if anyone has any questions: John C. Carter
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