Appy Mapp Deposition Notes from the
USCT Pension Files
DEPOSITION A
Case
of
Happy Nap alias Appy Mapp, No. 296749
On
this 13th day of August, 1889,
at Locus Mount, County of Accomack State of Va,
before me Thos Burke, a Special
Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Happy
Nap Alias Appy Mapp (Claimt.) who, being by me first duly sworn to
answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special
Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: I am about fifty years of age: occupation; farm laborer;
post office Grangeville, Accomack Co., VA
I am the identical Appy Mapp who served as a Private in Co. I, 2nd
Regt. U.S.C.Cav Vols and I am now an applicant for invalid pension Claim No.
296749.
I was living on the farm of my owner and master, George Mapp,
two and one half miles east of Pungoteague, Accomack Co., Va. at my
[illegible]. I had lived on that farm from the time I was a small boy- less
than ten years of age until I enlisted. The family Doctor for my master’s
family was Dr. Fred. Floyd of Locustville, Accomac Co. Va., now dead.
WAYNE K DRIVER (WKD)
RESEARCH NOTES:
GRANGEVILLE, VA PO: Based on some internet research and speculation, Grangeville,
Accomack, VA is located at the intersection of Wachapreague Road (route 180)
and Seaside Road (route 600). Approximately 2 miles east of Keller and 2.8
miles west of Wachapreague, VA.
Co. I, 2nd Regt. U.S.C.Cav: See analysis below.
Slave master, George Mapp: Based on the MAPP Family genealogy by Pat Scherzinger, George
Thomas Mapp was born on 3 Apr 1779 in, Accomack, Virginia, USA. He died on 13
Aug 1861 in Wachapreague, Accomack, Virginia, USA. He died about three years
before Appy’s enlistment in the Civil War.
Based on one of the deposition by his son, George Bowdoin MAPP, at the time Appy enlisted he was between slave
master due to the distribution of George Thomas Mapp’s estate. Upon further research of the Mapp family, I
see that George Thomas Mapp and his first wife Leah (Eliza) HARRISON (born 29 Jan 1784 died on 15
Jan 1835) had about 11 children. Only 3 were still alive a live at the time
George Thomas Mapp’s death.
·
George Bowdoin MAPP was born on 1 Dec 1812. He
died on 17 Oct 1891. George Bowdoin MAPP was the father of Dr. John Emory MAPP who was the interviewee to several depositions
concerning Appy MAPP.
1.
In the Index of the To
Special Examiner’s Report for Claim of Happy Nap alias Appy MAPP, No 296749,
it list the name of witnesses and rates their reputation. George Bowdoin MAPP’s reputation was listed
as Good. That seem like the highest
rating, at least what I have seen. I
have some witnesses listed as doubtful to include Appy’s last statement to the
examiner. I will further examine George’s deposition separately.
2.
At this time I do what to exam his, George Bowdoin MAPP’s
reputation. Based on the MAPP family
genealogy presented by Pat Scherzinger, George was married to Ann James EDMUNDS who was descendant of the Nannie WHARTON family who owned the WHARTON farm which was left to
Ann by her brother. George and Ann were Methodist and attended Burton’s Chapel (later known as Oak Grove
Methodist Church).
§ George was also a trustee when the new church was
dedicated on 15 Jan 1871
§ He was one of the seven superintendents who served the church
Sunday School during the first century of its existence.
§ When reporting the death of
George Bowdoin Mapp The Peninsula
Enterprise called him "a
sincere friend, kind father, affectionate husband and consistent Christian,
respected and loved by all who knew him”.
So why do I ring
up the reputation of this former slave owner? Based on several sources I have read
throughout the years, I have come to understand that not only were Quakers anti-slavery, but in the early
days of the Methodist and Baptist denominations, they too were anti-slavery. Some to extent that, when they converted,
they freed their slaves. Some that did not free their slaves, found it their
responsibility to keep them slaves to protect and provide education (secular
and Christian). I am not saying this is the case for George Bowdoin MAPP, but
it worth mentioning and exploring. I
myself and from other descendants of Appy MAPP the oral family history of how
the “white” MAPP’s always helped out the “black” MAPP. I see some of this in the way they presented
their testimonies for Appy and his wife Mary Susan MAPP.
Based on my reading of
Kirk Mariner’s book titled Slave and Free on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, there
came a time when old attitudes of slavery creeped their way back into the
Methodist Church. So much that there was
a split between denominational members for and against slavery. Out of this came the Southern arm of the
Methodist denomination. Few Churches in
the county remaining with the Northern group (Philadelphia Association). The church, Burton’s Chapel, remained with
the Northern group.
3.
Dr. John Emory MAPP submitted several
testimonies on behalf of Mary Susan MAPP’s claim to Appy’s pension. Dr. stated in one of his letters that he was
blind (most likely later in age). His
lineage is very interesting both historical and personal to Mary Susan
MAPP. One of Dr. MAPP’s sons with his
first wife, Margaret LECATO was Virginia State Senator George Walter MAPP who was known for his support of women rights during a time
and place which were at odds with this movement. He later ran unsuccessfully for the US
Congress. He practiced law with his
brother John Brooks MAPP and held
several other public offices. Dr. MAPP and
his wife had a daughter by the name of Fairy
MAPP who married Dr. Rooker J WHITE. Dr. WHITE was the personal physician to Mary
Susan MAPP and Dr. WHITE beard witness that Appy and Mary Susan were husband
and wife. Still ironic is that Margaret LECATO was the sister of Dr. George W. LECATO who submitted a
Medical Affidavit on behalf of Appy.
Even more ironic both men fought opposite sides of the Civil War.
·
Leah A MAPP was born on 27 Dec 1821.
She died on 15 Jun 1892. Married Henry Savage DAVIS, son of Savage DAVIS
and Peggy MAPP. Some key
observations/speculations on my part.
1.
Leah A. MAPP and Henry Savage DAVIS were close cousin from the Howson MAPP line.
2.
Henry Savage DAVIS was the son of Savage DAVIS who, according to
a Ancestry.Com Family Tree, was the brother of Thomas (M or W depending on the
record) DAVIS. Thomas DAVIS was listed
as the father of Mary Susan HAMAN,
wife of Appy.
3.
Appy MAPP has identified in several documents that his mother
was Leah MAPP. This could be a coincidence
since Leah A. MAPP and Henry Savage DAVIS also had a child born in the same
year, 1842, as Appy MAPP. Not to say that the birth dates are accurate. Also note that Henry and Leah A. were married
in 1841. In this deposition he identifies his age as about 50 (fifty). If his
age is in fact 50, he would been born in 1839, two years prior to Leah A.’s
marriage to Henry Savage DAVIS and 3 years prior to the birth of their first
child Alexine DAVIS was born in 1842.
·
William C Mapp was born on 26 Jun 1824. He
died on 5 Apr 1889
Dr. Fred. Floyd
of Locustville, Accomac Co. VA: The basis for Appy’s claim for benefit originate from the fact
that he was a health man prior to his enlistment in the war. Throughout his file there are testimonies
about his health prior and post military service. Several doctors, former soldiers, community
members and family members provide input concerning Appy’s health, injuries and
reputation. I did not find a deposition
from Dr. Floyd, but I assume Appy mention him to establish a baseline for
regular medical supervision. I would
speculate it was uncommon for a black man, as well as a slave, having a family
doctor. He also states that this doctor
was his master’s family doctor. I think
he was including himself as part of the family and I have seen where he was
referred to as being in the family household by other white MAPP’s.
I have no recollection of having been sick before I enlisted I
was always in good health and stout and hearty young man of twenty-five of age
when I enlisted. I had a good strong voice and my left foot and right side and
right shoulder were sound and fine from injury at the time I enlisted.
I enlisted at Pungoteague, Va., on January 1, 1864 in Co. I 2nd
U.S.C.Cav. and served as a private in said Co. and Regt until the Co. and
regiment was mustered out of service at Brazos Santiago, Texas February 1866. I
did not serve in any military or naval service before January 1864 and I have
not served in any military or naval service since February 1866 when I was
mustered out of Co. I 2nd U.S.C.Cav.
Company I, 2nd
United States Colored Calvary:
2d United States Colored Cavalry. This regiment was organized at Fort Monroe, VA, on
December 22, 1863, and assigned to duty in the Department of Virginia
and North Carolina. The 2d participated in Gen. Benjamin F. Butler’s operations
on the south side of the James River and against Petersburg and Richmond, May
4-28, 1864. These included the capture
of Bermuda Hundred and City Point, VA, on May 5, and events leading up
to and including the siege of
Petersburg. In February 1865 it was transferred to Norfolk, District of
Eastern Virginia. On June 10, 1865, the 2d
sailed from City Point, VA, to Texas where it was assigned duty on the Rio
Grande and various other areas of the state. The unit was mustered out on February 12, 1866.
Losses included 19
killed in action and 161 dead
from disease and other causes.
Appy MAPP
enlisted 10 days after the 2nd regiment was formed. In fact he enlisted on New Year’s Day 1864
which was one year after the Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863) and
the authorization of Colored Troops.
Pungoteague,
Accomack Co., VA:
Brazos Santiago,
Texas:
