Historical and Genealogical Documents for Florence Resident and former Morgan County, Alabama Confederate Camp Slave or Body Servant Reuben Patterson (ca. 1837-1928).

Title

Subject

People

Description

A collection of documents pertaining to former enslaved person Reuben Patterson.

Reuben Patterson (ca. 1837-1928), was born the slave of Andrew Malcolm Patterson (ca. 1791-1858) of Somerville, in Morgan County, Alabama. Reuben’s mother’s name was Julia Patterson (ca. 1806-1906). Since Reuben’s father’s name is not recorded speculation has tried to connect Reuben Patterson with Morgan County, Alabama Free Person of Color Pleasant Martin (ca. 1829-bet. 1900-1909). In 1861 Martin voluntarily petitioned the Morgan County probate court to become the slave of Malcolm Patterson’s son, Josiah Patterson (1837-1904) and allegedly changed his name.* However Pleasant Martin consistently shows up in Morgan (1860, 1867, 1868, 1880, 1896, 1900) and Madison County (1865, 1870), AL records under the name Pleasant Martin, while Reuben Patterson consistently shows up in Lauderdale County records (1867-1928) minus a few-months’ stay in Memphis, Tennessee in 1872.

* An 1861 law enacted by the Alabama Legislature allowed destitute free Blacks to petition their county probate court to be made slaves of whites of good moral character.

During the Civil War, Reuben, severely bow-legged, was the camp slave or body servant of Morgan County native, lawyer and later congressman of Tennessee Col. Josiah Patterson (1836-1904). Col. Patterson’s son, former Tennessee Governor Malcolm H. Patterson noted in a 1928 tribute to Reuben, written after his death, that “Rube was born a slave of my grandfather [Malcolm Patterson]. He and my father played together when they were children, only about six months separating their ages.”

According to the 1900 census, Reuben’s mother Julia Patterson had at least three children, all of them still living at the time, but we don’t know the names of any but Reuben. According to the 1850 Morgan County census schedule Malcolm Patterson had 3 enslaved persons—two 45-year-old males and an 11-year-old female. These slave censuses did not normally record the names of enslaved people, only their sex, race (Black, Mulatto, etc.) and age but no one of Reuben’s mother’s age (about 44 in 1850) seems to be enumerated. Perhaps Julia was accidentally skipped (a common occurrence); perhaps her husband was enslaved on another farm or plantation and Julia was there visiting him and enumerated there; or perhaps she had been hired out by Patterson to work for someone else, as skilled slaves often were. We simply don’t know. At present only two records survive for Julia Patterson: her 1900 census enumeration and 1906 Florence Times obituary. After Malcolm's death in 1859 his slaves may have been willed to his son Andrew Patterson, who owned 3 slaves in 1850 though no 1860 slave enumeration has been found for Andrew yet.

In his 1928 will Reuben named Elsie Thompson, of Hillsboro, AL, PH Patterson of Hughes, Arkansas, Janie Bates and Maggie Freeman (his wife Abbie’s niece) as his only heirs but that Bates and Freeman were his sole beneficiaries. Nothing further is known of these relatives.

Josiah Patterson was Col. of the 5th AL Cavalry, CSA and his body servant or camp slave Reuben was the 5th Alabama’s company bugler, forager, and its unofficial “horse swapper.”

Prof. Robert Durden writes that: “The ‘Negro’s Civil War’ is perhaps vastly more complex and perhaps more ambiguous or paradoxical, than most of us have realized.” This is certainly true when it comes to Blacks who served the Confederate war effort. Because strange though it sounds, and despite all of the restrictions and prohibitions placed on them by white society, for a variety of reasons, none of which had anything to do with supporting slavery, some enslaved and free people of color were willing, and in a few cases even eager, to support the Confederate war effort in various ways, including serving as “support staff” in the Confederate military. Some served as body servants or camp slaves, while others served as musicians, cooks, hospital orderlies, in labor battalions, etc., thus were not officially enlisted. Yet at the same time, what Prof. Clarence Mohr noted of Georgia Blacks in his Masters and Slaves in Civil War Georgia probably obtained elsewhere:

“Wartime experiences proved repeatedly that black allegiance to either side in the sectional conflict was conditional. Guided by a visceral skepticism concerning the ultimate intentions of all whites, Georgia bondsmen pursued the substance of liberty with little apparent regard for political theories or moral abstractions.”

Nevertheless, though the numbers are ultimately negligible, conservative estimates are that anywhere from 30,000 to 90,000 men of color, slave and free, served behind the lines and in Confederate armies, a few, especially near the end of the war, as actual enlisted soldiers. Free men of color who voluntarily served, such as Florence barber and liveryman James Goin (ca. 1836-aft. 1900), who worked for three months as the cook of the 4th AL Inf, CS, were paid (in Goin’s case $40 a month); enslaved men weren’t paid and typically had no choice.

Reuben Patterson was thus one of eleven Blacks, slave and free, from Florence-Lauderdale who served as cooks or camp slaves to white Confederate officers and privates.

Reuben Patterson religiously attended both local and national United Confederate Veterans Reunions, with the local papers tracking his attendance. In her autobiography Outside the magic Circle Virginia Foster Durr, a granddaughter of Josiah Patterson from Birmingham, mentions Reuben, who, she said, “had never come out of the slavery period, and he expected us to provide for him.” Whenever Reuben came to Birmingham for a UCV reunion Reuben would show up at the Durrs’ expecting room, board, money and a shot of whiskey, which the Durrs felt compelled to provide for their former slave.

In 1899 Nashville Tennessean John Trotwood Moore, editor of Trotwood’s Horse Review, interviewed Reuben for the magazine (this interview was republished in May of 1906 in Trotwood's Monthly). Recounting a few of his exploits during the war in the interview, Reuben stated that “being crippled [severely bow-legged] I seldom could walk much, so I was might nigh raised on a horse.... The war suited me fine. I got a new horse every time I wanted him.”

When Col. Patterson relocated to Florence in 1867 Reuben accompanied him, marrying Colbert/Franklin native Abbarilla “Abbie” Thornton in 1870. For many years Reuben (that “prince of cooks”) worked as a cook, first for the Presbyterian Female Synodical College, later for the US Gov't on the Muscle Shoals Canal (ca. 1887-ca. 1903) Commercial Hotel (1905), before the United Daughters of the Confederacy around 1915 presented him with a bootblack stand on the corner of Mobile and Court, which he had moved indoors into his own building by 1916, and later moved to Tennessee and Seminary by 1922.

Reuben and Abbie had no children, and were apparently parishioners of St. Paul AME Church. Though a registered voter and interested in the Civil Rights Bill of 1874, Reuben was recorded in his census enumerations as illiterate (as was Abbie). Reuben seems to have been a model citizen in every way—Reuben was one of several Black Florentines who worked heroically alongside their white neighbors to fight a large fire which destroyed a whole block of buildings on court Square in December of 1868; as a result of his actions Reuben was presented with an “elegant suit of clothes” by several whites; he published a “Card of Thanks” to these “gentlemen” in the Florence Journal of January 7, 1869. Reuben was a apparently a model citizen in every way—save one, that is. In October of 1907 he was arrested for moonshining however his attorney Emmett O’Neal persuaded the judge to dismiss the charge on several legal technicalities with the result that Reuben was acquitted.

Reuben and Abbie Patterson are buried in the black section of the City Cemetery in unmarked graves. Since the exact location of their graves is unknown, the Tennessee Valley Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans, assisted by the City of Florence historical Board in February of 1999 erected markers for Reuben and Abbie in a part of the historic Black section of the Florence City Cemetery on the hillside beneath St. Joseph Catholic Church in a public ceremony.

Creator

1. John Trotwood Moore

2. John Trotwood Moore

3. John Trotwood Moore

4. John Trotwood Moore

5. John Trotwood Moore

6. John Trotwood Moore

7. Malcolm Patterson

8. Malcom Patterson

9. Malcom Patterson

10. Virginia Foster Durr

11. Virginia Foster Durr

12. Virginia Foster Durr

13. US Census 1830

14. US Census 1830

15. Florence Journal

16. Florence Journal

17. Florence Journal

18. Florence journal

19. Florence journal

20. Reuben Patterson

21. Florence (AL) Times-Journal

22. Florence (AL) Herald

23. Florence (AL) Times

24. Florence (AL) Herald

25. Florence (AL) Times

26. Florence (AL) Times

27. Florence (AL) Times

28. Florence (AL) Times

29. Florence (AL) Times

30. Florence (AL) Herald

31. Florence (AL) Times

32. Florence (AL) Herald

33. Florence (AL) Herald

34. Florence (AL) Herald

35. Florence (AL) Times

36. Florence (AL) Times

37. Florence (AL) Times

38. Florence (AL) Times

39. Florence (AL) Times

40. Florence (AL) Herald

41. Birmingham (AL) News

42. Birmingham (AL) News

43. Florence (AL) Times

44. Florence (AL) Herald

45. Lauderdale County, Alabama Probate Court

46. Florence (AL) Times

47. State of Alabama

48. State of Alabama

49. Lauderdale County, Alabama

50. Birmingham (AL) Age Herald

51. Malcolm Patterson

52. Sherhonda Allen, Times Daily

53. State Alabama

54. State of Alabama

55. US Government

56. US Government

57. US Government

58. US Government

59. US Government

60. US Government

61. RL Polk & Co

62 . RL Polk & Co

63. RL Polk & Co

64. RL Polk & Co

65. RL Polk & Co

66. RL Polk & Co

67. Lauderdale County, Alabama Probate Court

68. Lauderdale County, Alabama Probate Court

69. Lauderdale County, Alabama Probate Court

70. Lauderdale County, Alabama Probate Court

71. Lauderdale County, Alabama Probate Court

72. Lauderdale County, Alabama Probate Court

73. Lauderdale County, Alabama Probate Court

74. Lauderdale County, Alabama Probate Court

75. Lauderdale County, Alabama Probate Court

76. Lauderdale County, Alabama Probate Court

77. Lauderdale County, Alabama Probate Court

78. Florence (AL) Times

79. Florence (AL) Times

80. Florence (AL) Times-News

81. Florence (AL) Times

82. Florence (AL) Herald

83. State of Alabama, Bureau of Vital Statistics

84. State of Alabama, Bureau of Vital Statistics

85. Unknown

86. Unknown

87. GW Landrum, Landrum, Landrum Studios

88. Robert W. Bentley, Sr.

89. Tennessee Valley Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans

90. Tennessee Valley Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans

91. Robert W. Bentley, Sr.

92. Robert W. Bentley, Sr.

93. Donald W. Murks

94. Donald W. Murks

95. Donald W. Murks

96. Charles Kelly Barrow and JH Segars

97. US War Dept.

98. US War Dept.

99. Gadsden (AL) Daily Times-News

100. Lauderdale County Tax Assessor

101. John Trotwood Moore

102. Birmingham (AL) News

103. Birmingham (AL) News

104. Anniston (AL) Star

105. Birmingham (AL) Age-Herald

Source

1. Trotwood's Monthly

2. Trotwood's Monthly

3. Trotwood's Monthly

4. Trotwood's Monthly

5. Trotwood's Monthly

6. Trotwood's Monthly

7. Florence (AL) Times

8. Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

9. Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

10. 1850 Morgan County, Alabama Slave Census.

11. Outside the Magic Circle

12. Outside the Magic Circle

13. 1830 Alabama US Census

14. 1830 Alabama US Census

15. Outside the Magic Circle

16. Florence Journal

17. Florence Journal

18. Florence journal

19. Lauderdale Tim,es

20. Florence Times-Journal

21.Florence Times-Journal

22. Florence (AL) Herald

23. Florence (AL) Times

24. Florence (AL) Herald

25. Florence (AL) Times

26. Florence (AL) Times

27. Florence (AL) Times

28. Florence (AL) Times

29. Florence (AL) Times

30. Florence (AL) Herald

31. Florence (AL) Times

32. Florence (AL) Herald

33. Florence (AL) Herald

34. Florence (AL) Herald

35. Florence (AL) Times

36. Florence (AL) Times

37. Florence (AL) Times

38. Florence (AL) Herald

39. Florence (AL) Times

40. Florence (AL) Times

41. Florence (AL) Herald

42. Birmingham (AL) News

43. Florence (AL) Times

44. Florence (AL) Times

45. Florence (AL) Herald

46. Florence (AL) Times

47. Florence (AL) Times

48. Florence (AL) Times

49. Florence (AL) Times

50. Birmingham (AL) Age Herald

51. Florence (AL) Times

52. Times Daily (Florence, AL)

53. Alabama, US Voter Registration 1867.

54. Alabama, US Voter Registration 1867.

55. 1870 Census Lauderdale County, Alabama

56. 1880 Census Lauderdale County, Alabama

57. 1900 Census Lauderdale County, Alabama

58. 1900 Census Lauderdale County, Alabama

59. 1910 Census Lauderdale County, Alabama

60. 1920 Census Lauderdale County, Alabama

61. R. L. Polk & Co.'s Tri-Cities Directory Comprising Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Ala., 1913-1914

62. R. L. Polk & Co.'s Tri-Cities Directory Comprising Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Ala., 1913-1914

63. R. L. Polk & Co.'s Tri-Cities Directory Comprising Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Ala., 1920-1921

64. R. L. Polk & Co.'s Tri-Cities Directory Comprising Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Ala., 1920-1921

65. R. L. Polk & Co.'s Tri-Cities Directory Comprising Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Ala., 1926

66. R. L. Polk & Co.'s Tri-Cities Directory Comprising Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Ala., 1926

67. Lauderdale County, Alabama Will Record, vol. 3, 1910-1929

68. Lauderdale County, Alabama Will Record, vol. 3, 1910-1929

69. Lauderdale County, Alabama Will Record, vol. 3, 1910-1929

70. Lauderdale County, Alabama Will Record, vol. 3, 1910-1929

71. Lauderdale County, Alabama Will Record, vol. 3, 1910-1929

72. Lauderdale County, Alabama Will Record, vol. 3, 1910-1929

73. Lauderdale County, Alabama Will Record, vol. 3, 1910-1929

74. Lauderdale County, Alabama Will Record, vol. 3, 1910-1929

75. Lauderdale County, Alabama Will Record, vol. 3, 1910-1929

76. Lauderdale County, Alabama Will Record, vol. 3, 1910-1929

77. Lauderdale County, Alabama Will Record, vol. 3, 1910-1929

78. Florence (AL) Times

79. Florence (AL) Times

80. Florence (AL) Times-News

81. Florence (AL) Times

82. Florence (AL) Herald

83. State of Alabama Bureau of Vital Statistics

84. State of Alabama Bureau of Vital Statistics

85. Reuben Patterson with an unnamed Confederate Veteran and Mrs. Ludie Patton of Sweetwater from a collection of photos from Sweetwater Mansion.

86. Mrs. Maggie Dalla Tanna

87. Landrum Studios

88. Robert W. Bentley, Sr.

89. Tennessee Valley Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans

90. Tennessee Valley Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans

91. Robert W. Bentley, Sr.

92. Robert W. Bentley, Sr.

93. Donald W. Murks

94. Donald W. Murks

95. Donald W. Murks

96. Black Southerners in Confederate Armies: A Collection of Historical Accounts

97. US Register of Civil Military and Naval Service 1863-1959

98. US Register of Civil Military and Naval Service 1863-1959

99. Gadsden (AL) Daily Times-News

100. Lauderdale (County, AL) Times

101. Courtland (AL) Enterprise

102. Birmingham (AL) News

103. Birmingham (AL) News

104. Anniston (AL) Star

105. Birmingham (AL) Age-Herald

Publisher

1. John Trotwood Moore

2. John Trotwood Moore

3. John Trotwood Moore

4. John Trotwood Moore

5. John Trotwood Moore

6. John Trotwood Moore

7. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

8. Newspapers.com

9. Newspapers.com

10. Ancestry Library Edition.

11. University of Alabama Press

12. University of Alabama Press

13. University of Alabama Press

14. Ancestry Library Edition

15. Ancestry Library Edition

16. Unknown Microfilm

17. Unknown Microfilm

18. Unknown Microfilm

19. Newspapers.com

20. Newspapers.com

21. Newspapers.com

22. Newspapers.com

23. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

24. Newspapers.com

25. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

26. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

27. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

28. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

29. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

30. Newspapers.com

31. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

32. Newspapers.com

33. Newspapers.com

34. Newspapers.com

35. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

36. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

37. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

38. Harwell Goodwin Davis Library, Samford University

39. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

40. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

41. Newspapers.com

42. Newspapers.com

43. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

44. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

45. Newspapers.com

46. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

47. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

48. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

49. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

50. Newspapers.com

51. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

52. UMI Microform

53. Ancestry Library Edition

54. Ancestry Library Edition

55. Ancestry Library Edition

56. Ancestry Library Edition

57. Ancestry Library Edition

58. Ancestry Library Edition

59. Ancestry Library Edition

60. Ancestry Library Edition

61. R. L. Polk & Co.

62. R. L. Polk & Co.

63. R. L. Polk & Co.

64. R. L. Polk & Co.

65. R. L. Polk & Co.

66. R. L. Polk & Co.

67. Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City Utah

68. Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City Utah

69. Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City Utah

70. Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City Utah

71, Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City Utah

72. Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City Utah

73. Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City Utah

74. Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City Utah

75. Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City Utah

76. Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City Utah

77. Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City Utah

78. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

79. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

80. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

81. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

82. Newspapers.com

83. FamilySearch.org

84. FamilySearch.org

85. Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

86. Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

87. The Landrum Collection

88. Robert W. Bentley, Sr.

89. Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

90. Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

91. Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

92. Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

93. Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

94. Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

95. Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

96. Southern Lion

97. Ancestry Library Edition

98. Ancestry Library Edition

99. Newspapers.com

100. Newspapers.com

101. John Trotwood Moore

102. Birmingham (AL) News

103. Birmingham (AL) News

104. Newspapers.com

105. Newspapers.com

Date

Contributor

Lee Freeman

Rights

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