The Southern Claims Commission case files offer the opportunity to distinguish two James Andersons, both previously enslaved, who lived in Liberty County in the 1870s. Claim #21414 was for a James Anderson who was identified himself as being 63 years old during his 1877 testimony.
For a full transcription of this claim, see: https://theyhadnames.net/2020/08/23/james-anderson-southern-claims-commission-2/
He said he had lived in Liberty County all his life, and that at the time of the Civil War, he belonged to Major Porter and was living on his plantation, about five miles from Midway Church. He testified that when the U.S. soldiers came there foraging, they took from him a bay horse, a wagon & harness, 6 hogs, 20 chickens, 12 ducks, and cooking utensils. He also said that Major Porter had been living in Savannah and was not testifying for him because he was dead. Plenty Porter, who said he lived at the same place, testified that he saw the soldiers take James Anderson’s property, and that he himself was 74 in 1873, had lived in Liberty County all his life, and had known James Anderson since he was a boy. He said that Galbo Porter and Barrak Porter could also testify that James Anderson was known as a supporter of the Union.
Edward J. Delegal, a 63-year-old white physician and former slaveowner, also testified for James Anderson. He said he had known him for 45 years and that he lived about 3 miles from him during the war and saw him frequently. He believed he was loyal to the Union. He said he was not present when the property was taken, but he did know that James Anderson had owned property.
James Anderson’s attorney, Raymond Cay Jr, informed the commission that this case was for the James Anderson “formerly of the Porter Place & living near to Riceboro Liberty Co Ga,” and that the other James Anderson, for claim $18546, was for “old James Anderson who lives near Sunbury in Liberty Co.”
For a full transcription of the other James Anderson’s claim, see: https://theyhadnames.net/2020/08/10/james-anderson-southern-claims-commission/
The Commission denied James Anderson’s claim, stating that there was little in the claim that could “be called an army supply,” and that it doubted that his horse or wagon was fit for army use.
Now that this claim has allowed us to “detangle” the two James Andersons, we see that this James Anderson was listed in the 1870 and 1880 U.S. federal censuses. His birth year was listed as 1810 in 1870 and as 1815 in 1880. In 1870, his wife Diana was 40 years old, and they had the following children listed in the household: Amy (18), Phoebe (12), Isaiah (7), Fanny (6), and Milton (20). In the 1880 census, his wife’s name was listed as Die (54), and the following were listed as his children: Amy (23), Ben (19), Isaiah (17), Fanny (16), Henry (12), and Julia (7).
No death record was found for James Anderson, but in the 1900 census, his wife Diana was listed as a 70-year-old widow, living with son Ben Anderson (39) and granddaughter Margaret Hall (16). Tragically, the census said that she had had 14 children and only three of them were living.
Slavery
“Major Porter” of Savannah appears to have been Major Anthony Porter (1788-1869), who was resident in Savannah but had land in Liberty County. Since he died after the Civil War, there are no probate records that would further identify James. Porter’s wife Louisa was the daughter of Adam Alexander, who was a slaveowner in Liberty County and who died around 1812. There is a Jim in his 1812 estate inventory but no way of knowing if perhaps this is the same Jim. The Porters married in 1824. It is interesting to note that Plenty Porter testified that Galbo Porter and Barrak Porter were enslaved on the Porter plantation; Adam Alexander’s 1812 estate inventory has the names Barrick and Jalbo. Jalbo, also spelled Galbo, was not that common a name in Liberty County.
“Porter Hall” at the Georgia College, in Milledgeville, is named after Major Anthony Porter.
To see the “other” James Anderson’s claim, visit this link: https://theyhadnames.net/2020/08/10/james-anderson-southern-claims-commission/
Citations:
1870 U.S. Census, Liberty County, Georgia, population schedule, Subdivision 181, p. 16, dwelling #155, family #156, enumerated on November 15, 1870, by W.S. Norman, James and Diana Anderson, digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 8/20/2020).
1880 U.S. Census, Liberty County, Georgia, population schedule, District 15, enumeration district 67, p. 180, dwelling #858, family #865, James and Die Anderson household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 8/20/2020).
1900 U.S. Census, Liberty County, Georgia, population schedule, district not listed, enumeration district 80, sheet #12, line number 8-10, Diana Anderson household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 8/23/2020).
Probate
Adam Alexander
“Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93L-PZW?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 344 of 689; county probate courthouses, Georgia.