Baskins and the Civil War

I know I promised my next post would be on Adolphus McDuffie Baskin, but the plan has changed a bit. In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, Ancestry.com has made many new records available for review, and I've taken advantage. Since tomorrow, April 12th, is the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, I wanted to share some of these stories with you all. I've chosen a few individuals who I've identified pretty well as close relatives who would have surely known one another. Each soldier's story impacted the others and the family as a whole, I'm sure. Hopefully this inspires us all to at least think about that terrible war and what it did to and for our country...

(All stories based on the Compiled Confederate Service Records found at Ancestry.com/Footnote.com, Confederate Pension Records found at Ancestry.com/Footnote.com, and Confederate Pension Application obtained from the Texas State Archives by mail, as well as my own research into our family history.)

Moses H. Baskin

Moses H. Baskin was the son of John Alexander Baskin and Sarah Noble. He enlisted in Greene County, AL as a private of Company C, 11th Alabama Infantry, C.S.A. on June 11, 1861 for the duration of the war. He appears on the company muster roll from June 11-20, 1861 and July and August 1861. The muster roll for September and October 1861 says that he was last paid on Aug. 31, 1861 and was furloughed on 6th September for 6 weeks. He had been absent without leave since October 20th. Though he returned late from furlough, he did return. We know this because he next appears on a report of casualties in Anderson's Division in the engagements before Frederickburg, VA, Dec. 11-15, 1862. "Remarks: wounded since dead."

I haven't been able to find a regimental history for the 11th Alabama Infantry yet, but they were far from home in a cold winter in Virginia when Moses was killed. Frederickburg was a Confederate victory.

George Peter Keys Baskin

George P. K. Baskin was a 1st cousin once removed of Moses H. Baskin. His father, William Leroy Baskin, was the son of William Cander Baskin who was John Alexander Baskin's brother. Though his family lived in Mississippi, George enlisted at Opelousas, LA as a private in Company F, 8th Regiment Louisiana Infantry C.S.A. on March 22, 1862 for the duration of the war. He appears on the muster roll on April 30, 1862, Aug. 31, 1862, September and October 1862, November and December 1862, January and February 1863, and Feb. 28 to March 14, 1862. He was paid each time roll was taken. The rolls for May 14 - Aug. 11, 1863 list him absent - detached on General Ewell's Guard. He served in General Ewell's Guard from Jun 6, 1863 to his return to his company on Nov. 19, 1863, according to the muster roll taken in December 1863. The next roll on which he appears was taken a year later and tells us that George was killed on May 10, 1864. Remarks on his service record say that he was a student from Mississippi, age 19 when he enlisted, and was "A general favorite of all who knew him. A good and willing soldier."

George was listed as "absent - sick" for engagements occurring May 25 - July 1, 1862. He was present at Slaughter Mountain on Aug. 9, 1862, Bristoe Station on Aug. 27, 1862, and 2nd Manassas on Aug. 29-30, 1862. He was wounded at Chantilly on Sept. 1, 1862, so he missed the battle at Harper's Ferry on Sept. 15. He was "absent - on detail or duty by order" during the battle of Sharpsburg on Sept. 17, 1862, but he was present at 1st Fredericksburg on Dec. 13, 1862 (where Moses died) and 2nd Fredericksburg on May 4, 1862. At 2nd Winchester on June 14, 1863, George was present, but then he went to serve with General Ewell's Guard for 6 months. I assume that wherever General Ewell was, George was fighting. When he returned to his company, it wasn't for long. He was killed at Spottsylvania Court House on May 10, 1864. One of his pay receipt from May to August 1863 says he was paid $44.00 for his service, or $11.00/month.

William Cander Baskin

William Cander Baskin was also a 1st cousin once removed to Moses H. Baskin and a 1st cousin to George P.K. Baskin. William C. Baskin's father was George Pringle Baskin, whose father was William Cander Baskin, brother of John Alexander Baskin.

William C., or W. C., Baskin (he is referred to both ways in the service records) served throughout the war as well. He enlisted at Columbus, MS on Nov. 14, 1861 at the age of 22. He began as a private in Company A, 4th Battalion, Mississippi Cavalry. He brought with him his own horse and tack valued at $255 total when he enlisted. Company A, 4th Battalion Mississippi Cavalry subsequently became Company C, 8th (Wade's) Confederate Cavalry after the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862 under Major General W. T. Martin. W.C. Baskin rose from private to Captain at some point and was then recommended by Gen. Martin for promotion to 2nd Lieutenant in December 1862. He was then assigned to duty as Ordnance Officer of Martin's Brigade in November 1863. His service record contains many requisitions for not only ordnance, but horses and feed for the horses. He was relieved of his service as Ordnance Officer in July 1864. I'm not sure if he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant as it seems there was no vacancy for him to be promoted, and records for the surrender show him as both Captain and 2nd Lieutenant Jr. in Martin's Escort. Regardless, he appears on the list of those surrendered and paroled at Columbus, MS on May 19, 1865, more than a month after Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House and Lincoln's assassination.

J.A. Baskin

I cannot be certain that this soldier is who I think he is, but here is his story anyway. I believe, based on location and census records, that J.A. Baskin is John Alexander Baskin, Jr. - brother of Moses H. and William Orren Baskin. There are, however, several other Baskins with the same initials, so this could be one of them. I was unable to find a pension record which may have solved this mystery, and I will keep looking. Regardless, he is likely related to us somehow!

J.A. Baskin enlisted in Company B, 27th Louisiana Infantry as a Corporal at New Orleans on March 25, 1862. I assume he entered at a higher rank either because he was older (he was about 39), had previous war experience, or brought with him supplies, money and/or men; but I don't know for sure. He was promoted from 2nd Corporal to 5th Sergeant to fill a vacancy on Sept. 8, 1862. He next appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War paroled at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863. At that time, his rank was 2nd Lieutenant Jr. It appears that wither the siege of Vicksburg was enough war for J.A. Baskin, or he took the document he signed upon his parole very seriously, because we have no further record of him during the war.

G.R. Baskin

This is another possibly incorrect assumption on my part. I suspect that this man is George Reid Baskin, brother to John A., Jr. and Moses H., again based on census records and the fact that he and J.A. Baskin served in the same company. I could be wrong.

According to G.R. Baskin's service record, he enlisted as a private in Company B, 27th Louisiana Infantry on March 25, 1862 at New Orleans - same as J.A. He, too, was at the siege of Vicksburg and was paroled on July 4, 1863. His parole document was witnessed by "J.A. Baskin Jr. (or Lt.?)", which also leads me to believe the two were related and, indeed, are who I think they are. As with J.A., the war service record for G.R. ends here.

Moses H., John Alexander, Jr., and George Reid Baskin were all younger brothers to William Orren Baskin, as were Thomas Stuart and Adolphus McDuffie. These younger brothers, where they had children, had children too young to serve in the Civil War. William Orren, however, had a couple of sons who came of age during the war and subsequently joined the fight. Here are their stories:

J.J. Baskin

J.J., or John J., Baskin was born in 1843 in Alabama, but his family lived in Louisiana by 1860 and he with them. Be that as it may, he enlisted as a private in Company B, 36th Alabama Infantry, C.S.A. His service record is sparse. He appears on a receipt roll for "commutation of rations" and was paid on Dec. 24, 1862. He also appears on a receipt roll for clothing, issued on April 14, 1864. He next appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War at Meridian, MS on May 12, 1865 - the end of the war. That's all that his service record reveals.

His pension application is more informative. One Oct. 9, 1913 in Knox County, TX, John J. Baskin filed Form A - For Use of Soldiers Who Are In Indigent Circumstances. This form, which he completed himself, says that he does not make more than $300/year and his property exclusive of his home does not value more than $1000. He says he is 71 years old, born in Greene County, AL, and has lived in Texas for 30 years. He enlisted March 1862 and was discharged in the spring of 1865, serving the entire time in Company B, 36th Alabama Infantry. Witnesses who attest to his identity and service under oath are his brother, G.B. Baskin, and a G.O. Baskin, but that wasn't enough. They needed an affidavit from someone who served with him, and that's where this next comes from. Mr. M.C. Hutton says, in fact, that they served together until about 3 months before the end of the war when, during fighting in Tennessee, J.J. was wounded by a minnie-ball in the top of the head as he stood beside his friend. J.J. Baskin was sent to the hospital and Mr. Hutton does not remember if he was able to return to service before the war ended.

I can't tell if all of this got J.J. the financial help he needed, but included in the file is an Application for Mortuary Warrant. It seems old J.J. died on Sept. 14, 1933 in his home of heart disease, and his son, W.B. Baskin, applied for help with the funeral expenses.

G.B. Baskin

G.B., or George Baxter, Baskin will get a bigger biography later as he is my Great great grandfather, some of William Orren Baskin. His service record is very short as he only served one year - the last one. Why? I can't imagine, but he served under his 2nd cousin, W.C. Baskin. G.B. was 4th Corporal in Martin's Escort, C.S.A. from 1864-1865. His service record only tells us that he was surrendered and paroled at Citronelle, AL in May 1865.

His Soldier's Application for Confederate Pension is slightly more informative. It is dated 21 November 1925, and at that time he said he was 79 years old and in poor health. He said he served in an escort Company under Capt. W.C. Baskin in the Cavalry. His brother, J.J. Baskin, signed an affidavit confirming his service and identity, as did a lady living in California then, a Mary J. Mecklin. The War Department, however, could not find record of G.B.'s service (I suspect because they were looking at the 3rd Alabama Cavalry rather than the 8th!). His pension application was approved anyway.

Of course, these are just some of the Baskin soldiers on both sides of the Civil War. It seems that most of our close relatives were Confederates, which is understandable when you consider that most of them were also slave owners. The story that isn't told here is that of the women and children and old folks left at home. Remember, they were Southerners and the war was fought in and around their homes. In this way, they were as much a part of the war as the enlisted men were. Then there are the men who chose not to enlist. Why didn't they choose to fight? I wish we had some diaries or letters to give us at least some hints at what all went on during this tumultuous time in our nation's history!

William Orren Baskin

IV. William Orren Baskin (born Nov. 2, 1811 in Abbeville, SC, died Feb. 6, 1891 in Falls, TX) married Mary Ann Mitchell (born Sep. 25, 1825 in Franklin Parish, LA, died Dec. 18, 1907 in Franklin Parish, LA) on Feb 14, 1842 in Franklin Parish, LA.

1. John J. Baskin (born Feb 5, 1843 in Alabama, died in Munday, TX) married

Emily Cathern Henderson.

2. William Orren Baskin, Jr. (born Sep. 29, 1844, died Apr. 10, 1918 in LA)

married Sallie L. Dunham in 1865, then Annie M. Mecklin in 1885, then Rosa Baskin (his cousin) on Feb. 10, 1895 - all in Franklin Parish, LA.

3. George Baxter Baskin (born May 29, 1845 in Alabama, died Jan. 20, 1931 in

Democrat, TX) married Rose Ella Barnes Henderson (born Aug. 20, 1852 in

MS, died Jan 13, 1940 in Mullins, TX) on Jan. 7, 1873 in Franklin Parish, LA.

4. Sarah Baskin (born 1848) married Oliver (Nathan) Balph (died Feb. 5,

1903)

WILLIAM ORREN BASKIN

William Orren Baskin was born on Nov. 2, 1811, according to his headstone (which I recently found!). This contradicts my previous belief, which was based on the work of Raymond Martin Bell in 1963. This new birth date is also supported by the 1850 US Census which was dated 20 Nov. 1850 and lists his age as 39 years, as well as the 1860 US Census, dated 29 June 1860, which lists his age as 48 years. Clearly the November birth date is most likely. This finding also changes my assumptions of his parents, John and Sarah, and why they may have been married. Although these two certainly wasted no time between their wedding in January 1811 and the conception of their first born, Sarah could not have been pregnant when the couple got married.

(Just thought I should clear that up...more to come later.)

So, as we've learned, William Orren Baskin was born Nov. 2, 1811, first child of John Alexander Baskin and Sarah Noble Baskin. His parents gave him lots of siblings, and his first 24 years were lived in Abbeville County, SC. By this time the Baskins had a long history in that area, and though their grandfather died in 1804, you can bet William Orren and his siblings grew up with stories of his namesake, Capt. William Baskin, the old war horse.

In what seems to have become almost a family tradition though, the family packed up and moved to Alabama in 1835. The move seems to have served the family well. On Valentine's Day 1842 William Orren married Mary Ann Mitchell, and they soon started a family of their own. First came John J. (born Feb. 5, 1843), then William Orren, Jr. (born Sep. 29, 1844), then George Baxter (born May 29, 1845), and finally a girl, Sarah (born 1848). Yes, it was a small family for the Baskins, but there were cousins nearby. The 1850 US Census shows this little family prospering with William Orren, Sr. listed as a planter with real estate valued at $2000 and 6 slaves who, judging by their ages, may have been a young family themselves, though we may never know that for sure. What we do know is that there was lots of family in the area in the 1850s. A directory of Greene County, AL from 1855-56 shows John A., Sr., a planter, John A., Jr., a merchant, T.S. (Thomas Stuart), a druggist, Moses H., a planter, G.R. (George Reid/Reed), "California" (still no clue what this means!), and, of course, W.O. (William Orren), a planter. By 1860, planter William Orren Baskin had improved his lot further according to that year's census. His real estate is valued at $3600, his personal estate at $14990, which included 14 slaves by this time. The 1860 US Census also tells us that three of William's brothers, John A., Jr., Thomas Stuart and Adolphus McDuffie, and his son, George Baxter, have moved to Franklin Parish, LA. So, on the eve of the Civil War, the family is separated by a great distance. As it will later become clear, however, they kept in touch.

William Orren, Sr. was, perhaps, too old to join the army on either side when the Civil War began, but his sons and nephews were not. With so many planters and slave owners in the family, and so many rambunctious young men, it is no surprise they fought for the Confederacy. What is interesting is that they did not all fight for a company from the state in which they were living when the war broke out. Some of those boys who had moved from Alabama to Louisiana, for example, returned to Alabama to fight in a regiment led by their second cousin! This underscores the family connection that must have existed among different branches of this large family tree. That, sadly, is the only bright side of the Civil War for the Baskins. William Orren, Sr. lost his brother, Moses, in action at Fredericksburg in 1862, several cousins were taken prisoner at Vicksburg in 1863, and when the war finally ended the Southern economy had collapsed. By 1870 the US Census shows that old William Orren and Mary Ann Baskin had joined their family in Louisiana, but the value of their real estate was one $300, their personal estate $100. It is the same for the rest of the family too, but they stuck together, presumably to help each other. Next door to William and Mary in 1870 live all of their adult sons and one grandchild, born the year before. The boys are all listed as farmers living on what appears to be William Orren, Jr.'s land. Interestingly, just a few doors down from them lived another Baskin family, a black Baskin family. Since 1870 is the first year that most Southern black families were listed by name in the census, it may be impossible to know if these Baskins are our kin, our ancestors' former slaves, or both; but they aren't doing much worse that William Orren and his boys financially in 1870.

It is no surprise then that a couple of William and Mary's sons moved on in search of opportunity, I presume, in the 1880s. Perhaps William Orren, Sr. was visiting one or both of the boys in Texas in 1891 when he died, I don't know. All I do know is that he was buried at Carolina Cemetery in Falls County, TX. According to his tombstone, he died on Feb. 6, 1891. Mary Ann, his wife, seems to have stayed in Louisiana because she died there in 1907.

NOTE: My next post will veer off of my/our direct line a bit to tell you about one of

William Orren's brothers, about whom I have some interesting information.

Also, if you read the comments posted on the entry about John Alexander

Baskin, you noticed we've found a new relative! Our next entry will address

one of her ancestors, Adolphus McDuffie Baskin, MD. Welcome to the family,

Sandy!

Family Photos (368 photos), by Alicia Watt

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

John Alexander Baskin

III. John Alexander Baskin (born Oct. 21, 1783 in Abbeville, SC, died Jun. 1, 1869 in LA) married Sarah Noble (born Mar. 1, 1790 in Abbeville, SC) on Jan 11, 1811.

1. William Orren Baskin (born Mar. 3, 1811 in Abbeville Co., Rocky River CH, SC, died Feb. 6, 1890 in Falls, TX) married Mary Ann Mitchell (born Sep. 28, 1825, died Dec. 18, 1907) on Feb 14, 1842 in Franklin Parish, LA.

2. James Noble Baskin (born Nov. 13, 1813 in Abbeville Co., SC, died June 18, 1876 in Franklin Parish, LA) married Nancy Ann Neal (born Oct. 11, 1813, died June 18, 1872) and then M.A. Mecklin on Dec. 23, 1875 in Franklin Parish, LA. Complete the degree of M.D. at the University of South Carolina in 1834.

3. Jane Love Baskin (born Jan. 1, 1816, died Jun. 30, 1893 in Baskin, LA).

4. Ann Reid Baskin (born Mar. 6, 1818).

5. Mary Elizabeth Baskin (born Feb. 13, 1820).

6. John Alexander Baskin, Jr. (born Mar. 24, 1822 in SC, died Dec. 13, 1904) married

Margaret I. Williams (born Aug. 29, 1841, died Sep. 23, 1874) on Jan. 18, 1870 in

Richland Parish, LA.

7. George Reid Baskin (born Jan. 26, 1824, died Jun. 6, 1904 in Franklin Parish, LA)

married Jamima Aurelia (a.k.a. Arrillia J.) Cummings (born Jan. 9, 1840, died Dec. 27,

1908) on Aug. 1, 1877 in Franklin Parish, LA.

8. Sarah Lorinda Baskin (born Dec. 25, 1825).

9. Thomas Stuart Baskin (born Sep. 12, 1828)

10. Moses H. Baskin (born Jun. 8, 1831, died Dec. 13, 1862 in service, Fredericksburg, VA).

11. Adolphus McDuffie Baskin (born Sep. 27, 1833, died July 18, 1912 in Baskin, LA)

married Margarette Neal.

The historical records don't often mention John Alexander Baskin, largely because record keeping in the new United States of America was presumable not a priority, but also because fires have destroyed many of the records that did exist. What I could piece together is this:

John Alexander Baskin was born on Oct. 21, 1783 in Abbeville, SC to Capt. William Baskin, Jr. and Ann Reid Baskin. It was the end of the Revolutionary War when this ninth child was born to this proud family. His childhood would doubtless have been filled with stories of his father's experiences in the early wars of this land, hour spent in church and school, and learning the business of running a successful plantation in the antebellum South. John married his sister-in-law, Sarah Noble, on Jan. 11, 1811 in South Carolina, and the couple very shortly welcomed their first son, William Orren Baskin, on March 3rd of that year. Though they may have been forced to marry, they seemed to be a happy couple as the children kept coming: James Noble was born in 1813, Jane Love in 1816, Ann Reid in 1818, Mary Elizabeth in 1820, John Alexander, Jr. in 1822, George Reid in 1824, Sarah Lorinda in 1825, Thomas Stuart in 1828, Moses H. in 1831, and Adolphus McDuffie in 1833. judging by the names of their children, the Baskins must have been a close knit family with great love and knowledge of their ancestors. Ann Reid, for example, must have been named for her grandmother, and George Reid for his Great Grandfather.

With such a large family, John must have been doing well in South Carolina, but decided to move to Alabama in 1835. Once again the may have moved with a group of other Scotch-Irish as the community was called Hebron Presbyterian Church, near Pleasant Ridge, Green County, AL. Census records before 1850 list only the heads of household by name and give little more information on the family. The 1850 census is very telling, however. In the "Schedule I. - Free Inhabitants," the family is shown living in Greene County still, and John was a 65 year old farmer with the value of his real estate listed as $3800. His first son is no longer listed in his household, having started a family of his own by this time, but his younger son, John Alexander, Jr., is listed as his overseer. The three youngest children, Thomas, Moses and Adolphus were students at the time. They were neighbors with the local Presbyterian minister. But it must be remembered that at this time "real estate" included people - slave. In the "Slave Schedule" for the same census year John was listed as owner of 31 slaves. They were listed individually, though not by name, and ranged in age from 50 years old to 1 year old. It is a sad fact that this would have been a mark of John A. Baskin's success in his time. He must have had quite a bit of land to work to necessitate so many slaves, and he was not alone among our clan. Many Baskins are listed in the Salve Schedule for 1850 and other years. Mind you, these were good, church-going folk, but this was the reality of the times in which they lived. (As an aside, there are many black Baskins in this country today, and although I haven't yet found a link between their families and ours, such a link may well exist.)

It isn't surprising then that when the Civil War came along, John's sons and grandsons fought for the Confederacy. His son, Moses, was killed at Fredericksburg in 1862. His grandson, George Baxter Baskin (more on him later) served in Col. Martin's Escort in 1864-65. Several of his nephews were taken prisoner at Vicksburg. And, yes, there were Baskins on both sides of that war, but our direct ancestors were Confederates and former slave owners. It is important to remember this sad history and the people who suffered by our ancestors' hands.

Before the war began, John and his family moved to Louisiana. There a town called "Baskin" was settled by two brothers according to local history. which Baskin brothers they were, I don't know, but our people weathered the turbulent years during and just after the Civil War in that place. That is where John Alexander Baskin, his wife, and most of their children and grandchildren are buried. There is a cemetery (and not much else, as I understand it!) there called Union Presbyterian Cemetery which is just full of our relatives and ancestors.

Excerpt about Carr's Fort/ Capt. William Baskin, Jr.

Here's the story of the battle of Carr's Fort I promised before Christmas. Keep in mind this was written in 1883 by the winning side. Also remember that the forces facing one another in these battles were nearly all American colonists and neighbors, in all likelihood, they were just on different sides of the war.

Excerpt from Ancestry.com. Georgia History, Vol. I & II. (Database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2002.

Original Data: Jones, Charles C., The History of Georgia Vol. I-II. Boston, MA, USA: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1883. pp. 336-342.

"...Thus, for the moment, was Georgia completely in the possession of the king's forces....

So soon as it was known in Wilkes County that Augusta had passed into the possession of the enemy, the inhabitants who were able to remove, hastily collecting their household effects and cattle, fled into Carolina. Those who remained betook themselves to forts, and associated together in small bands for mutual protection. Many, having lodged their wives, children, and servants in places of security, assembled under Colonel John Dooly on the Carolina shore of the Savannah River, about thirty miles above Augusta.

...There he was joined by Colonel Andrew Pickens, who brought with him two hundred and fifty men of his regiment. Although the senior in rank, Colonel Dooly yielded the command in deference to the fact that Pickens had contributed more than two thirds of the troops constituting this little army. With this united force it was resolved to attack Hamilton without delay. Accordingly, on the night of the 10th of February, Pickens and Dooly crossed the Savannah at Cowen's ferry, three miles above Hamilton's encampment, and prepared to charge the enemy early the next morning. To their surprise and regret they found that the British officer, in entire ignorance of the impending danger, had departed on an excursion through the country to visit its forts and administer oaths of allegiance to such inhabitants as he chanced to meet. Conjecturing that Carr's Fort would be the first point visited by the enemy, Captain A. Hamilton was directed, with a guide, to proceed rapidly to that point and arrange for its defense with such men as he might find there congregated. Pickens and Dooly, moving with their command, intended to fall upon the rear of Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton as he should be engaged in an effort to reduce the fort. Captain Hamilton arrived in season to execute the order with which he was charged, but found that there were only seven or eight aged and infirm men in Carr's Fort who, dreading consequences, refused to undertake the defense of that post. The Americans were so close upon the heels of the British as they entered and took possession of the fort that they were compelled to leave their horses and baggage outside the stockade. A brisk fire was opened on both sides, but without effect. A siege was determined on; and, in order to cut the besieged off from all access to water, Captain William Freeman, with forty men of his company, in gallant style dashed through an open space exposed to the guns of the fort, and took possession of a newly constructed log house which effectually commanded the only source whence the enemy could hope to obtain a supply of water.

...Without food and water it was confidently believed that the enemy could not hold out more than twenty-four hours. Moreover, the possession of the log house near the water gave the assailants command of the tops of the huts inside the fort whence the most injurious fire proceeded. The happy anticipations of the Americans were doomed to disappointment. About ten o'clock at night Colonel Pickens received, at the hands of Captain Ottery, a dispatch from his brother, Captain Joseph Pickens, informing him that Colonel Boyd, with eight hundred loyalists, was moving through Ninety-Six District toward Georgia, destroying by fire and sword whatever lay in its path. It was deemed proper, without delay, to raise the siege and move against Boyd. A proposition was made by some volunteers to apply the torch to the fort at several points at the same time, and thus to compel quick surrender. In tender consideration of the women and children who were within, the idea was abandoned. Carrying off their wounded, the Americans departed leaving Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton in the fort without horses and baggage. As soon as Pickens and Dooly were out of hearing, he quitted Carr's Fort, retreating upon Wrightsborough, where he occupied a small stockade fort for a few days and then rejoined Colonel Campbell at Augusta. In the affair at Carr's Fort the British lost nine killed and three wounded. The American casualties amounted to five killed and seven wounded.

Retiring from Carr's Fort the Americans recrossed the Savannah River near Fort Charlotte and advanced toward the Long Cane settlement to meet Colonel Boyd. Hearing of his advance, Captain Robert Anderson, of Colonel Pickens' regiment, summoning to his aid Captains Joseph Pickens, William Baskin, and John Miller, with their companies, crossed the Savannah River with a view to annoying Boyd when he should attempt the passage of that stream....In order to avoid Pickens and Dooly, Colonel Boyd changed his route and approached the river at Cherokee ford. Here, upon a commanding elevation, was a block house mounting tow swivel guns and garrisoned by a lieutenant and eight men. A quiet passage having been demanded and refused, Boyd proceeded up the river about five miles, and there placing his men and baggage on rafts, and swimming his horses, effected a crossing. His instructions to his men were to land at different points on the opposite shore. This circumference, in connection with the tall canes growing along the river bank, so confused the small force under Captain Anderson that it did not render an opposition as effectual as might have been expected. That the passage of the river was sharply contested, however, will be readily conceded when we remember that the Americans lost sixteen killed and wounded and an equal number of prisoners. Among the latter were Captains Baskin and Miller. Colonel Boyd acknowledged a loss of one hundred killed, wounded, and missing.

Retreating rapidly, Captain Anderson formed a junction with Colonels Pickens and Dooly and united in pursuit of the enemy....

Seemingly unconscious of the approach of danger, the loyalist commander had halted at a farm on the north side of Kettle Creek, and turned out his horses to forage among the reeds which lined the edge of the swamp. His men, who had been on short allowance for three days, were slaughtering bullocks and parching corn....

As Colonel Pickens neared the enemy, Captain McCall was ordered to reconnoitre his position, and, perceived, to acquire the fullest possible information of the status of affairs. Having completed his observations, that officer reported the encampment formed at the edge of the farm near the creek, on an open piece of ground flanked on two sides by a cane swamp, and that the enemy was apparently in utter ignorance of any hostile approach. The Americans then advanced to the attack. As they neared the camp the pickets fired and retreated. Hastily forming his line in rear of his encampment, and availing himself of the shelter afforded by a fence and some fallen timber, Boyd prepared to repel the assault....Colonel Boyd defended the fence with great bravery, but was finally overpowered and driven back upon the main body. While retreating he fell mortally wounded, pierced with three balls, two passing through his body and the third through his thigh.

The conflict now became close, warm, and general. Some of the enemy, sore pressed, fled into the swamp and passed over the creek, leaving their horses, baggage, and arms behind them.

After a contest lasting an hour the Tories retreated through the swamp....Bloody and obstinate was the conflict. For some time the issue seemed doubtful. At length the Americans obtained complete possession of the hill; and the enemy, routed at all points, fled from the scene of action leaving seventy of their number dead upon the field, and seventy-five wounded and captured. On the part of the Americans nine were slain and twenty-three wounded....This engagement lasted for one hour and forty-five minutes, and during most of that time was hotly contested.

As the guard having charge of the prisoners captured when Boyd crossed the Savannah River heard of the disaster which had overtaken the main body, they voluntarily surrendered themselves, thirty-three in number, to those whom they held in captivity, promising, if allowed to return in peace to their homes, to take the oath of allegiance to the government of the Confederated States.

...The prisoners captured at Kettle Creek were carried to South Carolina, tried, found guilty of treason, and sentenced to death. Only five of the most noted offenders were executed. The others were pardoned....In the affair at Carr's Fort and in the engagement at Kettle Creek the Americans possessed themselves of some six hundred horses and a large quantity of arms, equipments, and clothing. This accession to the scanty stores of the patriots was most opportune and valuable. In the general gloom which was encompassing all, this victory shone line a star of substantial hope, dissipating despair and enkindling confidence in the hearts of the Revolutionists. From the banks of this insignificant stream, rendered historic by the prowess of Pickens, Dooly, Clarke and their valiant followers, there arose a martial shout which proclaimed the restoration of Whig ascendency in Upper Georgia and the discomfiture of the Royalist cohorts. With no uncertain sound did the bugle-blasts then blown summon to further feats of patriotic emprise, and admonish the king's officers that Georgia was not wholly within their grasp."

William Baskin, Jr.

II. William Baskin, Jr. (born abt. Feb. 14, 1735/36 in PA, died Apr. 9, 1804 in Abbeville, SC)

married Ann Reid (born Dec. 25, 1747, daughter of George Reid) on Jan. 12, 1769 in

Abbeville, SC.

1. Mary Baskin (born Oct. 5, 1769 in Lowndesville, Abbeville County, SC, died Dec. 25,

1840 in Polecat Springs, Macon County, GA) married Adam Jordan Files on Apr. 30,

1790 in SC.

2. Margaret Baskin (born Mar. 20, 1771, died young).

3. Elizabeth Baskin (born Nov. 19, 1772 in SC, died Aug. 6, 1860 in MO) married her cousin,

John Craig Baskin (son of Charles Baskin & Mary Craig) on Dec. 24, 1795.

4. Ann Reid Baskin (born Apr. 3, 1774 in Abbeville, SC, died about 1844 near Clinton, AL)

married William Harkness.

5. Rosannah Baskin (born Mar. 17, 1776 in Abbeville, SC, died Aug. 9, 1840 in Botts County,

GA) married James Harkness.

6. William Cander Baskin (born about May 24/28, 1778 in Abbeville, SC, died Feb. 12, 1853

in Buena Vista, MS) married his mother's cousin, Margaret Reid, about 1803.

7. George Reid Baskin (born Jan. 13, 1780, died young).

8. Thomas Stuart Baskin (born Feb. 6, 1782 in Abbeville, SC, died about 1837 in Lexington,

MS) married Mary Noble on Jan. 21, 1806.

9. John Alexander Baskin (born Oct. 21, 1783 in Abbeville, SC, died June 1, 1869 in LA)

married Sarah Noble on Jan. 11, 1811 in Abbeville County, SC.

10. Margaret Cander Baskin (born Dec. 9, 1786 in Abbeville, SC) married John Hamilton on

Mar. 12, 1807.

11. James Hall Baskin (born Dec. 9, 1786 in Abbeville, SC, died about 1877 in Lowndesville,

Abbeville County, SC) married Margaret Hartgrove Thomson on Dec. 23, 1813.

William Baskin, Jr.

William Baskin, Jr. was the third son in a large colonial family. As such, he would have known from a young age that he would have to make his own way in the world. His older brother, John, would have received most of any inheritance, and his many sisters would likely have required dowries upon their marriages. This would leave little cushion for William Jr. to count on for his future. Many "second sons" in well-to-do families at this time would be expected to join the military, and growing up on the frontier would certainly have encouraged this path as well. Young William and his family grew up in very dangerous areas of the colonial frontier, and fear of Indian attacks would be very real to them. Add to this the fact that the Baskins were Scotch-Irish, still outcasts among the English colonists, and it's no wonder William Jr. was a fighter - he had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

William was born on the Pennsylvania frontier about Feb. 14 1735/36. The family moved to newly opened lands in Orange County (later Augusta County), Virginia in 1740 with John Pickens' family and others where they were granted land to settle. This would have been more frontier land meant to be settled in order to provide a buffer between the colonists in the east of Virginia and the native population of that land. Obviously this would not have been an ideal situation to move into, but the Scotch-Irish had little choice if they wanted to own land. William Jr. undoubtedly learned to work the land and hunt during this time as the family grew. While growing up in Virginia, William's family attended Augusta (Stone) Presbyterian Church where the noted Rev. Craig led the congregation. For the Scotch-Irish and all Presbyterians at this time, the church was important in both spiritual and secular matters. Disputes between neighbors, cases of adultery, punishment for crimes were all handled by the elders of the church in these communities, not local government agents, for often there were none. The records of the church mention the Baskin family often as William Baskin, Sr. seems to have been very active in the church. William Jr. and his siblings must have grown up in a strict, harsh, hard-working community of survivors.

It is no surprise then that John and William both joined Captain Christian's company on Aug. 9, 1756 when war was declared on France and their Indian allies. Although too sickly to fight, their brother, Thomas, helped by collecting provisions for the militia as well. William seems to have really taken to military life as he continued his service at Fort Ligonier in 1761-62, and received 40 GBP (Great British Pounds) on Dec. 11, 1766 from the Virginia House of Burgesses for meritorious service under Col Bouquet on the expedition against the Shawnee and Deleware Indians.

We can assume that young William returned home after the French and Indian War, and soon moved to Abbeville, SC with the rest of the family. There the family attended Rocky River Presbyterian Church, and there are still Baskins in the area today. John, James, Thomas's widow, Margaret, Charles and William, Jr. all took up land near each other in Abbeville County, but soon after the move, William Sr. died. A few years later, in 1767, John died, too, and Charles chose to return to Virginia. When rumblings of revolution began in New England, the Baskins were in South Carolina, one of the last colonies to join the war. The Baskin brothers, however, seem to have wanted this break from England, as William, Jr. and his younger brothers, James and Hugh, joined the fighting in 1777. At Charleston on April 18, 1777, William Jr. was commissioned Captain in the South Carolina Militia under Col. Andrew Williamson, and his brothers were a lieutenant and sergeant, respectively, in their brother's command. William Jr. was taken prisoner at the battle of Carr's Fort in 1779, and released after the Battle of Kettle Creek in Feb. 1779. He lost a horse at Sawty on November 15, 1781 on campaign against the Cherokee Nation under General Pickens. On this expedition, James was wounded, but lived to tell the tale.

By the time William returned home, the world was a different place. The Baskins now lived in the United States of America, which was a new country indebted to France for aid during the war and trying to create a new form of government. It was an unstable place to be, but the Baskins were used to instability from years of frontier living. Now it was time for Captain William Baskin, Jr. to return to his farm and make a life for himself and his own family. His wife, Ann, had made due while William was away fighting, and had been raising their growing brood. Sadly, two of their children died young - Margaret and George - but the others seemed to be well. When he came home from war, William seems to have become an authority figure in the community. He began to be called "Esquire" in records from the time, which means he was an attorney, which makes sense since he served as Justice of the Peace in Abbeville in 1785. In the first census of the United States in 1790, he is listed as "Captain William Baskin" and had in his household 3 free white males age 16 and up, 5 free white males under 16 years of age, 7 free white females, and 7 slaves. In 1796 he served as executor of his brother, Hugh's, estate; and in 1804, at about the age of 69, Captain William Baskin, Jr. finally died. His children and grandchildren would be the first generation of Baskins to grow up in the United States of America thanks to men like him who fought for that opportunity.

Note: My research into the history of these times continues. I have found an account of the Battle of Carr's Fort which I intend to share with you, and I am always trying to flesh out the details of life on the frontier. As you may have noticed, we are beginning to touch on sensitive areas of American history: the treatment of Native Americans and slavery. There is a lot of history to be learned, and I find it more rewarding and interesting when I can attach these issues to our family history. I'll keep you all posted on my findings, but if any of you are history buffs, please feel free to share information/thoughts with me as well!

Books and Links on the Scotch-Irish

I will post more family history tonight, but if anyone wants to know more history of the Scotch-Irish (or the Scots-Irish, Ulster Scots - whatever you want to call them!), here are a few books and links that I have used in my research:

Books:

Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America by Jim Webb - Very readable and entertaining as well as informative. Mr. Webb's family took a different migratory route from ours, but I'm sure there are similarities regardless.

Women of the Frontier (Scots-Irish Chronicles) by Billy Kennedy - This is another entertaining but still informative book. It gives personal stories of individual women who would otherwise have been lost to history. The men weren't out there on their own, after all!

The People with No Name: Ireland's Ulster Scots, America's Scots-Irish, and the Creation of a British Atlantic World, 1689 - 1764 by Patrick Griffin - This is a more academic, less entertaining book, but still worth reading. The Rev. Craig (who you may remember from the story of William Baskin, Sr.) is mentioned. This book emphasizes how the church structure and politics of the time affected these people, our ancestors, lives.

Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch-Irish_American

Good for a quick overview...

http://www.tinklingspring.org/

I've emailed the museum here for any genealogical information they may have for us - I'll let you know what I find out, of course! William Baskin, Sr. and his family attended services here and 3 of his children were baptized by Rev. Craig here. Check the "History" section under "About Us" for more information and drawings of the old church.

http://augustastone.org/templates/System/default.asp?id=41485

I'll have to make a pilgrimage to get info from this church. This site explains how this church and Tinkling Springs are related. The Baskin family may have attended services here as well.