Copyright © 1999-2009, Scott McKay
My Confederate ancestor was born July 20, 1833. His parents were James Ross and Mary Turrentine Nesbitt who lived on a large farm near Statesville, Iredale County, North Carolina. They were not wealthy but provided security and a comfortable home for grandpa, his two brothers and his eight sisters. He grew into a handsome man with blue eyes, fair skin and brown hair. About the time grandpa finished school his mother died and though he became restless and eager for adventures, he remained on the farm until he was twenty-one. About this time a family friend returned from Texas and told glowing tales of the great possibilities and advantages there especially for young men. Grandpa's father advised him to go to Texas and Joe bought a pair of mules and a wagon. He soon found an opportunity to join a wagon train composed of ten or twelve families going to Texas. Among hem was that of Dr. Lawrence and his wife, Adeline Long. They were especially kind to grandpa. He took his rifle, packed his Bible, placed his trunk in the wagon with many provisions and told everyone he was heading for Texas. It was in September when the wagon train families left their beloved North Carolina homes for Fort Bend County, Texas. The covered wagons were drawn by six mules to each wagon. The women and children traveled in three seated hacks each drawn by two big horses. Negro slaves rode horses to herd cattle.
Many months later in 1856 the families reached Texas and settled in Fort Bend County in the community of Pittsville. Land was bought, houses were built and Joe farmed on rented land.
When the War Between the States began, he, along with the other young men from the county, was anxious to enlist in the Confederate Army for all were strong believers in States Rights.
The records show that grandpa belonged to Company A, 10th Regiment, Texas Infantry. He was a private in Captain John R. Kennard's Company called "the Grimes Boys", Nelson's Regular Texas Infantry. This subsequently became Company A, 10th Regiment, CSA. He enlisted at Anderson, Texas, October 12, 1861 and was mustered into service at Virginia Point (also known as Fort Hebert) October 20, 1861. The company muster roll for September and October 1862 shows him discharged on September 5, 1862 surgeon's certificate of disability. He enlisted again on November 8, 1862 in Grimes County and was in Company H, Bates' 13th Regiment. M R for November and December 1863 shows him absent on detached service on Cedar Lake, December 16, order of General Magruder.
When word came that Lee had surrendered grandpa walked back to Pittsville. Much of the journey home had been made without shoes as they had been literally worn off his feet. He became the manager of the Rice Estate and was given the use of a house. On February 6th 1868 he married Miss Margaret Sheriff in the home of her parents, William and Eleanor Gill Sheriff who had moved from Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies, by way of Virginia and Refugio, Texas to Pittsville. Margaret was much younger (4-?-1849) than grandpa and had better and more varied advantages. She was very capable and they lived through the long hard twelve years of the Reconstruction Period as best they could. It was during this time that their four children were born. Their eldest child was my father, William Lawrence Nesbitt (3-7-1869) named for Dr. Lawrence, the North Carolina friend.
Grandpa, with grandmother's help, worked hard and gradually became a well to do land owner, stock raiser and farmer. They built a large comfortable two story home on their prairie land near Pittsville as the soon were financially able (1881) after Reconstruction. It was not healthy to live in the Brazos Bottom and the children would be nearer a good school.
Grandpa's health began to fail several years before he died in his home (June 16, 1905). He was laid to rest in old Union Chappell Cemetery which is located between Fulshear and Brookshire. He was a Methodist, a prohibitionist and a democrat. Pronounced in all his convictions, he made his influence felt.
Among his living descendants are cousins Miss Lee Nesbitt
of Columbus, Texas and Burton Nesbitt McComb of Baton Rouge, La.
Notes
Pvt. Joseph B. Nesbitt - Age 28 upon enlistment with Co. A, 10th Texas Infantry, at Virginia Point, Galveston, Texas, on October 20, 1861. Pvt. Nesbitt was admitted to the hospital sick on November 14, 1861, the sent on Sick Furlough. He was admitted sick to the hospital at Brownsville, Arkansas, on May 18, 1862.
Pvt. Nesbitt was medically discharged at Camp Hope,
Arkansas, on September 6, 1863. According to his discharge certificate, he was
a native of Iredelle County, North Carolina; he stood 5'9" tall with dark eyes,
light hair and a fair complexion. Additionally, the certificate stated that
Pvt. Nesbitt was a farmer from Anderson, Grimes County, Texas, prior to
enlistment,
Copyright © 1999-2009, Scott McKay