Harriet Ann (Watson) Whitehall (abt. 1837 - 1930)

Born about 28 Dec 1837 in Chillicothe, Livingston, Missouri, United States

Wife of Miles G Whitehall — married about 1856 in Livingston, Missouri, United States

Descendants

Died 28 Apr 1930 at about age 92 in Schuyler, Colfax, Nebraska, United States

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Biography

Harriet (Watson) Whitehall is a part of US Black heritage.

Harriet Ann Watson was born on 28 December 1837 at Chillicothe (Medicine Creek), Livingston County, Missouri. She was enslaved by Spence Hall Gregory until she was 12 years old, when she was sold to his brother Manloff Robertson Gregory who lived three miles away.

Harriet married Miles G Whitehall around 1856. They had eleven children.

In 1863 her husband enlisted in the Union Army and served the remainder of the war and a year beyond as a private in the 1st Missouri Colored Infantry of the US Army, which became Company A of the 62nd Regiment US Colored Infantry. Miles was mustered out with his regiment on 31 March 1866.^[1]

In the 1870 census Miles and Harriet were farming in Morris Township, Carroll County, Missouri, with six children and Miles's 80-year-old father J Whitehall.^[2]

In 1880 they were farming with nine children in Bates Township, Carroll County, Missouri.^[3]

In 1885 they were farming with seven children in Shell Creek Precinct, Colfax County, Nebraska.^[4]

Miles passed away in 1889. In 1890 Harriet was receiving a Civil War Widow's pension and living in Schuyler, Colfax County, Nebraska.^[5]

In 1910 she was 70 years old and living alone in Schuyler. She owned her home. This census notes that she had given birth to 11 children and 9 were still alive. ^[6]

In 1920 she was 80 years old and living in Schuyler next door to her sons William, Herbert, and John. William and Herbert were working as broom makers and John was farming his own farm.^[7]

On 8 April 1930 she was 92 years old and living in Schuyler next door to her sons Ralph and William. Her son Henry was living with her.^[8]

Harriet Ann (Watson) Whitehall passed away on 28 April 1930 at her home in Schuyler and was buried at Schuyler Cemetery.^[9]

OBITUARY - Fremont Tribune (Fremont, Nebraska), 30 April 1930

FORMER SLAVE IS

DEAD IN SCHUYLER

Mrs. Harriet Whitehall

Born in Slavery

SCHUYLER, April 30—Mrs. Harriet Whitehall, a negro woman who was born in slavery, and who has been a resident of Schuyler for the past 47 years, died at her Schuyler home at 5:30 a.m. Monday morning after an illness of three weeks. Death was attributed to old age complications.

The funeral services will be conducted at the O'Callaghan chapel Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m., with Rev. Alfred Whitehall, the deceased's grandson, a pastor of the Methodist church in St. Joseph, Mo., officiating.

Mrs. Whitehall, formerly Miss Harriet Ann Watson, was born on a plantation at Medicine Creek, or Chillicothe, Mo., December 28, 1837.

When 12 years of age she was sold into slavery bringing $500 for her services. She was married to Miles G. Whitehall before the Civil war, and three of their 11 children were born in slavery. Mr. Whitehall, who died in Schuyler in 1889, fought in the Civil war, serving in the 62nd regiment of Company A of Missouri, in the great conflict which freed the slaves of America.

Mr. and Mrs. Whitehall came to Schuyler and Colfax county October 1, 1883, where the family has since resided.

Besides the husband she was preceded in death by three of their children.

The surviving children, in the order of their ages, are: Mrs. Lowery, of Columbus, John G. Whitehall of Fremont; William W. Whitehall of Schuyler; Henry S Whitehall of Denver; Mrs. W. C. Turner of Newton, Kan.; Mrs. Emma F. Miller of Kansas City, Mo.; Herbert O. Whitehall of Lincoln and Ralph A. Whitehall of Schuyler. The children range in ages from 68 years to 47 years. Twenty-two grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren also survive.

John G. the son who resides at Fremont will probably not be able to attend his mother's funeral because of his health. He was severely burned in a fire several months ago.^[10]

Research Notes

• "Grand Old Lady, Dead" - https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-schuyler-sun/135164819/

• "Mrs. Harriett Whitehall, An Old Resident of Schuyler, Born In Slavery, Interesting Woman" - https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-schuyler-sun/135165359/

Sources

1. ↑ Regiment Details - National Park Service Website - The Civil War, Battle Unit Details. United States Colored Troops. 62nd Regiment, United States Colored Infantry. Link to NPS Website
2. ↑ 1870 Census - "United States Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4X8-YFD : Thu Oct 05 01:03:05 UTC 2023), Entry for M Whitehall and H Whitehall, 1870.
3. ↑ 1880 Census - "United States Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M66K-P8W : Wed Oct 04 07:21:43 UTC 2023), Entry for Miles G. Whitehall and Harriet Whitehall, 1880.
4. ↑ 1885 Census - "Nebraska State Census, 1885", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X3XV-PQW : Wed Oct 04 10:56:47 UTC 2023), Entry for Miles Whitehall and Harriett Whitehall, 1885.
5. ↑ 1890 Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War - "United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K83Q-8MK : Sun Nov 12 16:16:17 UTC 2023), Entry for Miles G Whitehall and Harriet, 1890.
6. ↑ 1910 Census - "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLW1-MSX : Fri Oct 06 23:41:02 UTC 2023), Entry for Harriette Whitehall, 1910.
7. ↑ 1920 Census - "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCVL-C4D : Wed Oct 04 06:30:25 UTC 2023), Entry for Harriett Whitehall, 1920.
8. ↑ 1930 Census - "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQK9-9R9 : Wed Oct 04 20:21:45 UTC 2023), Entry for Harriet Whitehall and Henry S Whitehall, 1930.
9. ↑ Find a Grave - database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47230618/harriette-whitehall: accessed 13 November 2023), memorial page for Harriette Watson Whitehall (27 Dec 1840–28 Apr 1930), Find a Grave Memorial ID 47230618, citing Schuyler Cemetery, Schuyler, Colfax County, Nebraska, USA; Maintained by Anonymous (contributor 47035903).
10. ↑ Obituary - Fremont Tribune (Fremont, Nebraska), 30 Apr 1930, Page 3. Newspapers.com Sharing Link