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Pleasant Richardson

January 01, 1970

Pleasant Richardson (c. 1845- May 30, 1935) was a resident of Fincastle in Botetourt County, Virginia, where he was a former slave, a property owner, and Civil War veteran.

Early life edit

Pleasant Richardson was born to his slave parents, Patrick and Martha Richardson, on the nearby Edward Johnson family plantation, Lauderdale, in about 1845. His name is not listed on the 1850 census of Botetourt County.[1] However, an inventory of the plantation was taken in 1853 when Edward Johnson died, and listed the 50 slaves present on the farm. Pleasant was the third youngest in the family. The siblings included Will, Louis, Maria, Adaline, Taylor and Joe.[2]

Civil War edit

During the third year of the Civil War, he fled the plantation and crossed the border to Grafton, West Virginia, in 1864. There at age 19, he enlisted in Company F of the 45th United States Colored Infantry Regiment. This was the single black regiment assigned to West Virginia, and was composed mostly of escaped slaves and some freedmen from Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

"He served with the 45th Infantry of the U.S. Colored Troops, a posting that took him to West Virginia and Pennsylvania, then Washington, D.C., and in the spring of 1864, he was one of 30,000 Union soldiers who undertook the ill-fated Red River Campaign across Louisiana. Roughly one in five men on the Union side died during that expedition, but Richardson survived and the following year he was present when Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, according to a 1935 article in the Fincastle Herald."[3]

Civilian life edit

After he was discharged in Philadelphia, Private Richardson returned to Botetourt County. There he married Henriette Braxton, and they had two children, of which only Mrs. Arena Richardson Preston survived him. After the death of his first wife, he married Mrs. Nancy Callender, who also predeceased him.

Although he was unskilled and possibly unlettered, he was able to accumulate some property in the county after his return. He acquired Lot #151 on Murray Street by his marriage to Nancy Callender Richardson, which he subsequently sold to Mary L. Dodd in 1924. He also purchased one lot, #176 on Water Street, from E. Kate Crowder in 1912, which he later sold to Mr. William Gilliam in 1915. The lot numbers are taken from Gray's New Map of Fincastle from 1880.[4]

Death and burial edit

Private Richardson always remained proud of his service record, and appropriately enough, he died on Memorial Day in 1935. He was buried in Fincastle.[5] "He was a consistent member of First Baptist Church of Fincastle, Virginia. He was a soldier par excellence and next to his religion prided in this fact. It was very appropriate that he answered his last bugle call on Memorial Day."[6] Both he and his wives are interred in the First Baptist Church's graveyard.[7]

On May 17, 2017, the local Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War decorated his grave for Memorial Day.[8]

Private Pleasant Richardson was posthumously awarded the West Virginia Civil War Medal for his service with the 45th US Colored Infantry. The medal has been placed on display at the Botetourt County Museum of History. "A descendant of Private Pleasant Richardson has been awarded in his honor a Class I ("Honorably Discharged") West Virginia Civil War Medal."[9]

References edit

  1. ^ Jennings, Ruby Brugh. 1850 Census, Botetourt County, Virginia. St. Louis: Tree Art Publishers, 1976.
  2. ^ McCoy, Edwin. 2017. Botetourt County & the War Between the States. Botetourt County Historical Society. Fincastle, Virginia. Page 62.
  3. ^ Harvey, Neil. 2017. "A soldier of old, remembered" the Roanoke Times. May 27, 2017.
  4. ^ Burton, Charles T. Fincastle, Virginia Past: People with Places. Troutville, Va: C.T. Burton, 1984. Page number not given
  5. ^ Ayers, Charles Linard. Civil War Soldiers in Botetourt County Virginia Cemeteries. [Hollins, Va. (915 Hugh Ave., Hollins, 24019-4312)]: [C.L. Ayers], 1996. No page number given.
  6. ^ Fincastle Herald. June 4, 1935.
  7. ^ FindaGrave.com
  8. ^ Rousseau, Heather. 2017. "Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War honor the memory of Private Pleasant Richardson." Roanoke Times. May 27, 2017.
  9. ^ FindaGrave.com

January 01, 1970
pleasant, richardson, 1845, 1935, resident, fincastle, botetourt, county, virginia, where, former, slave, property, owner, civil, veteran, contents, early, life, civil, civilian, life, death, burial, referencesearly, life, edit, born, slave, parents, patrick, . Pleasant Richardson c 1845 May 30 1935 was a resident of Fincastle in Botetourt County Virginia where he was a former slave a property owner and Civil War veteran Contents 1 Early life 2 Civil War 3 Civilian life 4 Death and burial 5 ReferencesEarly life editPleasant Richardson was born to his slave parents Patrick and Martha Richardson on the nearby Edward Johnson family plantation Lauderdale in about 1845 His name is not listed on the 1850 census of Botetourt County 1 However an inventory of the plantation was taken in 1853 when Edward Johnson died and listed the 50 slaves present on the farm Pleasant was the third youngest in the family The siblings included Will Louis Maria Adaline Taylor and Joe 2 Civil War editDuring the third year of the Civil War he fled the plantation and crossed the border to Grafton West Virginia in 1864 There at age 19 he enlisted in Company F of the 45th United States Colored Infantry Regiment This was the single black regiment assigned to West Virginia and was composed mostly of escaped slaves and some freedmen from Pennsylvania Virginia and West Virginia He served with the 45th Infantry of the U S Colored Troops a posting that took him to West Virginia and Pennsylvania then Washington D C and in the spring of 1864 he was one of 30 000 Union soldiers who undertook the ill fated Red River Campaign across Louisiana Roughly one in five men on the Union side died during that expedition but Richardson survived and the following year he was present when Gen Robert E Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House according to a 1935 article in the Fincastle Herald 3 Civilian life editAfter he was discharged in Philadelphia Private Richardson returned to Botetourt County There he married Henriette Braxton and they had two children of which only Mrs Arena Richardson Preston survived him After the death of his first wife he married Mrs Nancy Callender who also predeceased him Although he was unskilled and possibly unlettered he was able to accumulate some property in the county after his return He acquired Lot 151 on Murray Street by his marriage to Nancy Callender Richardson which he subsequently sold to Mary L Dodd in 1924 He also purchased one lot 176 on Water Street from E Kate Crowder in 1912 which he later sold to Mr William Gilliam in 1915 The lot numbers are taken from Gray s New Map of Fincastle from 1880 4 Death and burial editPrivate Richardson always remained proud of his service record and appropriately enough he died on Memorial Day in 1935 He was buried in Fincastle 5 He was a consistent member of First Baptist Church of Fincastle Virginia He was a soldier par excellence and next to his religion prided in this fact It was very appropriate that he answered his last bugle call on Memorial Day 6 Both he and his wives are interred in the First Baptist Church s graveyard 7 On May 17 2017 the local Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War decorated his grave for Memorial Day 8 Private Pleasant Richardson was posthumously awarded the West Virginia Civil War Medal for his service with the 45th US Colored Infantry The medal has been placed on display at the Botetourt County Museum of History A descendant of Private Pleasant Richardson has been awarded in his honor a Class I Honorably Discharged West Virginia Civil War Medal 9 References edit Jennings Ruby Brugh 1850 Census Botetourt County Virginia St Louis Tree Art Publishers 1976 McCoy Edwin 2017 Botetourt County amp the War Between the States Botetourt County Historical Society Fincastle Virginia Page 62 Harvey Neil 2017 A soldier of old remembered the Roanoke Times May 27 2017 Burton Charles T Fincastle Virginia Past People with Places Troutville Va C T Burton 1984 Page number not given Ayers Charles Linard Civil War Soldiers in Botetourt County Virginia Cemeteries Hollins Va 915 Hugh Ave Hollins 24019 4312 C L Ayers 1996 No page number given Fincastle Herald June 4 1935 FindaGrave com Rousseau Heather 2017 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War honor the memory of Private Pleasant Richardson Roanoke Times May 27 2017 FindaGrave com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pleasant Richardson amp oldid 1186357284, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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