Black Confederates

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SHE COULD NOT ALLOW THE TRUTH TO BE COVERED UP AND NEGLECTED...

Katheryne Boone Hamilton the descendant of a free black man who served for the Confederacy in the Civil War said, "There are some naysayers that say it never happened. I tell people, 'You don't have to believe me. Just let this be a catalyst for you to do your own research.' I don't try to force it on anyone, but I simply suggest to do your own research."

Her great-grandfather, Jason Boone, was born and raised in the Skeetertown area of the old Nansemond County, the descendent of Joe Skeeter, for whom the area had been named. Hamilton, a Holland-area native and retired nurse, discovered her ancestor's history of service in the late '90s, when her sister "got bit by the genealogy research bug." They found that Jason Boone and his brother, Anthony, both served for the Confederacy.

"Jason Boone was a member of a community of freeborn blacks that had been in existence for over 150 years," Hamilton said, speaking of what she believes was her ancestor's motive for fighting for the Confederacy. "He had a lot at stake. I'm sure he thought about what was going to happen to Skeetertown. (When he saw others going to war), he felt like he was obligated to march off as well. He had a home to protect as well as they did."

Both brothers survived the war and lived to be old men. Jason Boone fathered 30 children in two different marriages.

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Clip 2 from 'Black Confederates: The Forgotten Men in Gray'

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George Dance was in a picture that was made before 1914 at the Lynchburg, Moore County, Tennessee courthouse. In it a number of elderly men were posing for a reunion for the area Confederate Veterans.

Other pictures from around 1900, taken from Gen'l N.B. Forrest's Escort reunion, again reveal George Dance with his fellow Vets. For some people these pictures are a problem. For SCV members it is not! A check with a genealogical online service indicates George Dance was a Confederate Veteran.

He was obviously at a reunion with his veteran comrades. He had applied for a Confederate pension number C46 in Moore County, Tennessee, having served in the 8th TN Infantry, CSA. Oh yes, why is this a problem to some? George Dance is black. Was George a free black when the uncivil war broke out? Currently no information is available and more importantly, does it matter?

George Dance was born Jan 1, 1842 and died Nov. 12, 1924. This information was obtained from the photograph that also contained the dates of birth and death of the other men. Presently, very little is known about George Dance. The state of Tennessee census records of 1891, page 27, indicates he in District 1 as a registered male voter.

He, his wife America, and their three children are in the 1880 U.S. census of Moore County. He is listed as a farmer and she as keeping house. All are listed as being born in Tennessee. Next he was found in the 1910 U.S. census of Moore County as widowed, employed in a grist mill, and a survivor of the war. The census does indicate he said he was born in Alabama.

He is next found in the 1920 U.S. census of Moore County as widowed, not employed, and living with a son and family. A granddaughter is named America. Again it states he was born in Alabama.